Author Topic: A majority of nonwhite Christians in Texas self-identify as “conservative.” So, why do they vote for  (Read 749 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Online Elderberry

  • TBR Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 24,280
Texas Scorecard By Grant Hillman August 27, 2019

A majority of nonwhite Christians in Texas self-identify as “conservative.” So, why do they vote for Democrats?

Where’s the Disconnect?

In the decades following the “counter-cultural” social revolutions of the 1960s, the Republican Party has claimed to have cornered the market, not just on conservative political ideologies but on self-identified Christian voters as well. The peak of the Republican/Christian crossover was arguably during the 1980s, as Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush turned the Evangelical Christian surge into three consecutive terms of Republican control in the White House.

However, nothing lasts forever.

The Trump era of journalism has produced an onslaught of articles and studies heralding the evolution of a brand-new America: a more ethnically diverse, socially progressive, and less Christian America.

Democrats celebrate this vision, as their party bets its future on intersectionality—the theory that discrimination by class, race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation are related and should be combated together. As per the recent debates, the plethora of Democrat candidates competing for the 2020 nomination seem to view themselves as the saviors of these “oppressed” classes. A large source of the “oppression” they allude to comes from the traditional Christian worldview.

One would think Republicans would notice this trend and scramble to appeal to traditionally Christian voting demographics. Yet Democrats still have a monopoly on many groups who would otherwise be considered “socially” conservative.

The Pew Research Center conducted a nationwide Religious Landscape Study in 2014, which included polling of over 2,500 adults in Texas. With all individuals considered, a plurality of all Texas Christians leans Republican (43 percent), while 37 percent lean Democrat. A plurality also identifies as conservative (44 percent), while just 18 percent of those polled identify as liberal. A majority of those polled (57 percent) believe abortion should be illegal in most or all cases, and a majority (53 percent) oppose same-sex marriage.

At first glance, this picture looks good for Republicans. With 77 percent of Texans identifying with some Christian denomination and much of this constituency espousing socially conservative views, it should not be difficult to harbor support from all groups occupying this sphere. Closer analysis of the data, however, paints a different picture.

Articles heralding massive demographic shifts within Texas and prophesying the doom of Lone Star State Republicans have become a media constant since the near miss of “Betomania” last November. While much of the coverage on this issue is highly sensationalized and exploited for partisan gain, the underlying theme cannot be ignored away.

While 44 percent of Texas Christians affiliate with either the “Evangelical” or “Mainline” Protestant denominations (which are historically considered to be primarily “white”), the growing ethnic diversity in Texas places more importance on the historically “nonwhite” denominations—this includes “black” Protestantism and Catholicism, with the latter demographic being highly populated by Hispanics.

This is where things start to go wrong for Texas Republicans. While a plurality of black Protestants and Catholics in Texas self-identify as politically conservative (both 34 percent), each constituency has a solid allegiance to the Democrat Party (45 percent for Catholics, 74 percent for black Protestants).

More: https://texasscorecard.com/state/wheres-the-disconnect/

Offline skeeter

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26,717
  • Gender: Male
Because appeals to racial solidarity are compelling, and the rats depends upon them.

Offline XenaLee

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15,398
  • Gender: Female
  • Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
Because they're ignorant and/or stupid.   They have no idea what being a Conservative really means.  If they did, they could never vote for ANY of the radical left Democrats.  They need to be educated, but sadly, I don't see that happening.
No quarter given to the enemy within...ever.

You can vote your way into socialism, but you have to shoot your way out of it.

Online Cyber Liberty

  • Coffee! Donuts! Kittens!
  • Administrator
  • ******
  • Posts: 79,867
  • Gender: Male
  • 🌵🌵🌵
Because their parents were Democrats, and they heard nothing but "Republicans are evil!" their entire formative years?
For unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death — if you’re unvaccinated — for themselves, their families, and the hospitals they’ll soon overwhelm. Sloe Joe Biteme 12/16
I will NOT comply.
 
Castillo del Cyber Autonomous Zone ~~~~~>                          :dontfeed:

Offline XenaLee

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15,398
  • Gender: Female
  • Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
Because their parents were Democrats, and they heard nothing but "Republicans are evil!" their entire formative years?

It goes right back to that "ignorant/stupid" aspect.   They literally are too stupid to think for themselves.
No quarter given to the enemy within...ever.

You can vote your way into socialism, but you have to shoot your way out of it.

Online Cyber Liberty

  • Coffee! Donuts! Kittens!
  • Administrator
  • ******
  • Posts: 79,867
  • Gender: Male
  • 🌵🌵🌵
It goes right back to that "ignorant/stupid" aspect.   They literally are too stupid to think for themselves.

"Ignorant" because all they ever heard was "Republicans are evil;" "Stupid" because they've never tested that expression.

 :beer:
For unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death — if you’re unvaccinated — for themselves, their families, and the hospitals they’ll soon overwhelm. Sloe Joe Biteme 12/16
I will NOT comply.
 
Castillo del Cyber Autonomous Zone ~~~~~>                          :dontfeed:

Offline Absalom

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,375
The label conservative is a cliche' parroted incessantly on tee-vee, talk radio and political discussion sites.
For the vast majority, conservatism is about 'my rights' like guns, lower taxes, immigration or some such.
Such notions are utter nonsense, as Principled Conservatism is a set of moral principles derived from the Natural law and has absolutely nothing to do w/any economic system, all political systems or any structured religion. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!!!
 

Offline XenaLee

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15,398
  • Gender: Female
  • Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
The label conservative is a cliche' parroted incessantly on tee-vee, talk radio and political discussion sites.
For the vast majority, conservatism is about 'my rights' like guns, lower taxes, immigration or some such.
Such notions are utter nonsense, as Principled Conservatism is a set of moral principles derived from the Natural law and has absolutely nothing to do w/any economic system, all political systems or any structured religion. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!!!

The main theme of Conservatism is "less government" control and regulation over all aspects of our lives.  The Democrats have and probably always will represent more, if not total, government control.   They represent the antithesis of a free and constitutionally protected citizenry.
No quarter given to the enemy within...ever.

You can vote your way into socialism, but you have to shoot your way out of it.

Online Cyber Liberty

  • Coffee! Donuts! Kittens!
  • Administrator
  • ******
  • Posts: 79,867
  • Gender: Male
  • 🌵🌵🌵
The label conservative is a cliche' parroted incessantly on tee-vee, talk radio and political discussion sites.
For the vast majority, conservatism is about 'my rights' like guns, lower taxes, immigration or some such.
Such notions are utter nonsense, as Principled Conservatism is a set of moral principles derived from the Natural law and has absolutely nothing to do w/any economic system, all political systems or any structured religion. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!!!

For unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death — if you’re unvaccinated — for themselves, their families, and the hospitals they’ll soon overwhelm. Sloe Joe Biteme 12/16
I will NOT comply.
 
Castillo del Cyber Autonomous Zone ~~~~~>                          :dontfeed:

Offline Absalom

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,375
The main theme of Conservatism is "less government" control and regulation over all aspects of our lives.  The Democrats have and probably always will represent more, if not total, government control.   They represent the antithesis of a free and constitutionally protected citizenry.
---------------------------------
Respectfully yet emphatically, less government is NOT the main theme!
Conservatism is an array of enduring principles governing our conduct
involving attitudes, behaviors and sentiments about our fellow Man; which
are completely independent of economics, politics and religion.
These are the thoughts of Russell Kirk and paraphrased from Edmund Burke,
the English Whig and modern Father of Conservatism.
The more/less government fandango is nothing but more politics which 
political types obsessively rant and rave about.

Offline Sanguine

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 35,986
  • Gender: Female
  • Ex-member
So, what are we going to do about it?

Online Cyber Liberty

  • Coffee! Donuts! Kittens!
  • Administrator
  • ******
  • Posts: 79,867
  • Gender: Male
  • 🌵🌵🌵
So, what are we going to do about it?

Teach the ignorant, there's no hope for the stupid.  And never, ever call the Rats "evil" in those discussions.
For unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death — if you’re unvaccinated — for themselves, their families, and the hospitals they’ll soon overwhelm. Sloe Joe Biteme 12/16
I will NOT comply.
 
Castillo del Cyber Autonomous Zone ~~~~~>                          :dontfeed:

Offline Victoria33

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,457
  • Gender: Female
Because their parents were Democrats, and they heard nothing but "Republicans are evil!" their entire formative years?
@Cyber Liberty
@Applewood

What you wrote was true in earlier Texas history.  The state was only Democrat all my life until 1978 when Texas elected William P. Clements, Jr., the first Republican Governor in over 100 years.  Children of those Democrats before 1978, only knew to vote as their parents did and their children did the same thing, were Democrats.  They didn't hear "Republicans are evil", they just blindly did what their parents did. As time passed and communication expanded, from newspapers/radio/mail, to TV, that did it and political news was then before their eyes constantly.  That is when people began to change their former automatic voting for one party, to voting for a different party for a reason; it was not automatic anymore.

As to  "...'black' Protestantism and Catholicism, with the latter demographic being highly populated by Hispanics.'"

Not breaking it down to percentages of this or that, I think many of these two groups of people have separated their religion from politics.  In church, they believe in Jesus Christ.  In politics, they are voting for "free stuff" via Democrats (avoiding thinking of abortion).

Online Cyber Liberty

  • Coffee! Donuts! Kittens!
  • Administrator
  • ******
  • Posts: 79,867
  • Gender: Male
  • 🌵🌵🌵
@Cyber Liberty
@Applewood

What you wrote was true in earlier Texas history.  The state was only Democrat all my life until 1978 when Texas elected William P. Clements, Jr., the first Republican Governor in over 100 years.  Children of those Democrats before 1978, only knew to vote as their parents did and their children did the same thing, were Democrats.  They didn't hear "Republicans are evil", they just blindly did what their parents did. As time passed and communication expanded, from newspapers/radio/mail, to TV, that did it and political news was then before their eyes constantly.  That is when people began to change their former automatic voting for one party, to voting for a different party for a reason; it was not automatic anymore.

As to  "...'black' Protestantism and Catholicism, with the latter demographic being highly populated by Hispanics.'"

Not breaking it down to percentages of this or that, I think many of these two groups of people have separated their religion from politics.  In church, they believe in Jesus Christ.  In politics, they are voting for "free stuff" via Democrats (avoiding thinking of abortion).

That's a pretty sound analysis.  Kudos, @Victoria33!
For unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death — if you’re unvaccinated — for themselves, their families, and the hospitals they’ll soon overwhelm. Sloe Joe Biteme 12/16
I will NOT comply.
 
Castillo del Cyber Autonomous Zone ~~~~~>                          :dontfeed: