The Theocratic Inclinations of the Republican Electorate

By Kevin Phillips

This article appeared in the May 1, 2006 edition of The Nation.

April 13, 2006

Should a political leader rely on religion when making policy decisions? (Source: ABC/Washington Post poll, April 2005)

Kevin Phillips offers statistical evidence that when it comes to mixing God and government, Republicans differ greatly from the rest of the electorate.

  Yes No
Conservatives 63% 32%
Republicans 62 35
National sample 40 55
Independents 38 59
Moderates 36 58
Democrats 27 65
Liberals 20 77

Which worries you more, politicians inattentive to religion or politicians too close to religion and its leaders? (Source: CBS News/New York Times poll, Nov. 2004.)

  Inattentive Too close Depends/unsure
Republicans 53% 30% 17%
National sample 35 51 14
Independents 29 53 18
Democrats 25 65 10

Should religious leaders try to influence politicians' positions on the issues? (Source: ABC News/Washington Post poll, May 2004.)

  No Yes
White conservative evangelicals 37% 62%
White churchgoing evangelicals 46 53
Conservatives 49 49
Republicans 50 48
White evangelicals 53 46
Catholics 65 34
National sample 64 35
Independents 67 32
Moderates 69 29
Democrats 71 28
Nonevangelical Protestants 70 27
Seculars 77 22

Do you think religious leaders should try to influence government decisions? (Source: Associated Press/Ipsos poll, International Comparisons, June 2005.)

  Yes
United States 37%
Italians 30
Canadians 25
Australians 22
Koreans 21
Germans 20
British 20
Spanish 17
French 12

About Kevin Phillips

Kevin Phillips has been an author and commentator for four decades. more...
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