Disclaimer: This is one of those posts where I am terrified to hit publish, but I just have to get it out there.
Thanks to my friend Miri and a few of her posts (this one on abortion and this one on social programs for the poor and Christ's teachings about the poor, I've had something on my mind.
We all know the majority of LDS people (at least in Utah) vote Republican. I could be wrong, especially since I couldn't find a source, but I think I remember reading it used to be the other way around. It used to be traditional for LDS people to vote Democrat. (If this sounds familiar to you and you can get me a source, I would gladly appreciate it.)
So what happened? When did the tide turn? I'm guessing it had to do with Roe V. Wade and the ERA. I'm actually really hoping it did.
You might ask me why. I'm against making abortion illegal and I'm a feminist that thinks the ERA should have passed. So why do I hope the deciding vote is about abortion? Because the likely alternative makes me sad. I see two of the the main differences between Democrats and Republicans to be their stance on abortion and their stance on social programs.
I sincerely hope that most LDS Republicans would tell me they are Republican because of the Democrat stance on abortion. I wouldn't agree with it, but it would be an easier pill to swallow. If you didn't click on the link about Christ's teachings about the poor earlier, please do now. Miri put together a great list of scriptures about caring for the poor.
I really like what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said at BYU in 2007: "My faith and political beliefs are deeply intertwined. I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it." Utah state senator Ben McAdams also said something to that effect in September. He's part of a new LDS Democrat caucus, the existence of which makes me happy. What they say makes sense to me. And to expand it, I would love to hear other Christian Democrats say "I am Democrat because I am a Christian."
3 comments:
Good for you for hitting publish! It would be comforting to know that abortion is the only reason they vote that way. Gay marriage has to be in there too, though, and I think it's probably about equal in importance, don't you?
It's kind of meager comfort, when I think about it. Because what's ultimately the most frustrating to me is that people think those two issues are more important than absolutely everything else, especially since the "everything else" includes caring for the poor--which, unlike policing other people's adherence to our moral standards, actually IS something that every Christian is required to do.
You're completely right. Gay marriage is probably the other main issue. Like you said in the second paragrpah, they see abortion and gay marriage as the moral crises our nation is facing right now. I see our moral crisis as being our inability to take care of our needy.
Well said, Megan. My husband and I have this conversation often. I especially like your Reid quote. Thanks!
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