What does the republican provide to the Bible Belt & mid west religious that makes them vote in high numbers?

I live in the "mid west". I am a Republican who usually votes with my party. I have always been very religious.

However, I am guessing that by "religious" you actually meant to type "Christian". I have never practiced Christianity. I follow another religion. I'm not offended though. Many people mistakenly interchange the words religious and Christian.

My religion doesn't effect my vote. However, it does effect the votes of some Christians that I know. They are against abortion--especially elective, late term abortions. I agree with them on the latter. Sadly, the only thing that Republicans have done is to stop it from becoming common.

Many Christians want a time of silence for prayer in public schools. Some want school-led prayer. I disagree with this. Republicans haven't done much on this subject.

Many Christians want to keep references to God on their money and in the Pledge of Allegiance. I'm neutral on this subject. Since the word "God" is vague, I'm not offended. So far, Republicans have been successful in this area.

Most Christians want to keep references to God on historical buildings. I completely agree with this. Republicans have been successful with this.

Many Christians want to keep marriage as the union between a man and a woman. I only partially agree with this. I feel that marriage is a religious rite and each religious institution should be in full control over what their requirements are for that rite. However, as a religious rite, I believe that NO marriage should be acknowledged by the government or used to determine benefits. Republicans have successfully defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

They are against the idea of a world government. I agree with them. Republicans tend to not like the UN as much as Dems.

Some Christians want to send their children to private, religious schools, especially when their public schools are failing. They favor school vouchers to help offset the price. I agree with them. I feel that school tax money should follow the child rather than just be poured into failing schools. I favor school choice for all parents. Republicans in many states have school voucher programs. Our state had it until a Dem took office.

Some Christians want the theory of Creationism taught along with the theory of Evolution. I partially disagree with this. I would only agree with it if equal time were given to all world creationism stories. That would be a nightmare to try to cover. I have no idea how Republicans are doing on this issue.

Of course there are many Christians that believe differently and vote differently. I can't really generalize about every Republican, Christian, or Religious person. These are just some of the issues that my Christian friends talk about.

1) What does the republican provide to the Bible Belt & mid west religious that makes them vote in high numbers?

Do religious people in those regions vote in higher numbers than in other regions? Really? Your evidence does not support the claim made in your question.

2) I asking because I don't see the modern republicans really doing much to please their follow religious voters.

This may be true. Do you think everyone who votes Republican votes for religious reasons?

3) How is my question stereotypical?

It assumes

a) that all voters

b) from the bible belt and "mid west"

c) that are religious

d) vote Republican

e) therefore, all of the Republican votes from those regions are religiously-based

I don't think you could have included much more in the way of stereotype if you tried.

BTW - I'm not offended.

As for the "meat" of your question - your premise is faulty. You wrote

I don't see the modern republicans really doing much to please their follow religious voters

While this may be true, in general the Democrat candidates do absolutely *nothing* to support, politically, the moral issues of their potential constituents.

I don't always vote Republican - but when it comes to moral issues, Republican candidates almost always support at least some Christian agenda, while Democrat candidates almost always support fewer Christian agenda.

In other words, for a Christian, it's not hard to evaluate a candidate in this manner:

Which is the better person? Which claims he will attempt to make the country a more moral place (a place where good acts are encouraged and sinful acts are discouraged), and which claims he will attempt to make the country a *less* moral place?

To put it more simply: do you vote for the guy who says he supports policy promoting some good and prohibiting some evil, or the guy who says he supports policy promoting some evil and prohibiting some good?

For those Christians all over the country who consider moral issues to be important issues in deciding which candidate to support, the choice is usually very clear - and, as it so happens, usually (but certainly not always) Republican.

Jim, http://www.bible-reviews.com/

I'm religious, but not necessarily Republican. I haven't liked a Democratic presidential nominee since Jesse Jackson, and he screwed that up.

I don't live in the Bible belt (my state hasn't voted for a Republican in ages).

I actually tend to vote Democratic at the local level, but Republican for president.

I think it's because my mother is a Democratic politician. She has introduced me to many major politicians. I have voted for most of these politicians that I have met. But I have never met any of the Democratic presidential candidates (except Jesse Jackson, hence the support).

But Democrats tend to support:

1. Abortion

2. Gay marriage

3. Banning capital punishment.

4. Removal of religious influences in public places and schools.

I think those are good reason why religious people would be against Democrats.

I'm not really all that religious but alot of it has to do with the abortion issue. Abortion is a big deal to most religious people. Republicans are the party against abortions.

Also, Republicans are the party that tend to hold a higher value in terms of family values and put more money and support into areas that bolster family and community values.

On the flip side, Democrats tend to favor things that the religious groups don't like such as gay marriage (although the Demcrats kicked the gays in the gonads this time around), embryonic stem cell research (yes the embryonic distinction is of critical importance), abortion, and legalized marijuana.

Republicans tend to be more for community (which the religious groups like) and Democrats tend to be more geared toward the individual which religious groups don't usually like.

I am a Christian, I live in the Bible Belt, and I voted Republican. I do not use my religion as a reason to vote Republican. I am not a socialist and I do not agree with abortion of any kind. These were my reasons for voting for McCain rather than Obama. I think your question is stereotypical.

Im moderate and the only thing I disagree on with the "Religious right" is life at conception and "Seperation of church and State"

But the Religious right is certainly not going to agree with the left on those issues either.

Moderate Republicans and the Religious Right agree on pretty much everything else.

I am religious, but not Republican. I do, however, live in a Bible Belt state of South Carolina.

And the reason they flock so readily to the Republicans is the abortion issue, and the gay marriage issue. It doesn't matter a lick what else the Republicans talk about, as long as they are against abortion and gay marriage then the Religious Right will stick with them.

Those are the only two issues the Religious Right really care about. They will do their best to justify the rest of the Republican platform, but they only do that as an attempt to say that Republicans are always right and Democrats are always wrong.

For whatever reason, they do have a significant amount of trouble wrapping their heads around the idea that it is possible to be right on some issues and wrong on some issues. No matter what the Democrats stand for, even if its in the Bible (like taking care of the Earth or being peaceable for examples), they are wrong. Because in the minds of the Religious Right, anyone not with them is evil.

They vote lockstep with the Republicans, and in such large numbers, because in their minds that is tantamount to fighting Satan.

They just listen to what other people tell them.

They think being pro life matters more than anything else even though the republicans have not done anything about it since Roe Vs Wade was established. They will vote against their own interest because they think they are doing the "moral" thing. Like God cares who you vote for.

I call it irrational.

I am an independent, however when McCain answered that conception is when life starts he earned my vote. I am a Southern woman that believes in God and I am not thrilled with abortion laws. (In life or death situations I say they are needed) I don't like people who try to take my guns. Dems are bad about trying to do this. I could go on and on but that is the gist that I think you were looking for. I could give a flip if Bob and Steve marry but I don't think they deserve to get some tax break for it. I will get a lot of hate for it but it's how I think and you wanted to know.

A respect for the US Constitution and an understanding that this nation was founded on the concept of the supremecy of the individual.

Those are ideas that appear to be foreign to today's liberals.