Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has sent a public letter to national election pollsters, blasting them for only asking Republicans about their religious practices.
“So far, exit polls, media reports and pundits have largely missed the story because they’re using an outdated script, which leaves the impression that religion and faith matter only to Republicans,” Dean said in a letter on Friday.
Following on earlier complaints by progressive evangelicals, Dean notes that Democratic voters in the Iowa caucuses and Michigan primary weren’t asked about their religion, while Republicans were. In South Carolina, exit pollsters asked Republicans extensively about their faith, while Democrats were only asked how often they attend worship services.
I suppose the pollsters have come to the conclusion that religious faith is more important to some political demographic categories than others. And since defining demographic preferences is what pollsters do, they probably think asking Democrats about religious faith is not the best use of their resources. Of course, what is really important here is that no one’s feelings are hurt. So, in fairness, the pollsters really should ask questions that sooth rather than chaff. It’s the modern thing, you know.
I would be careful what I ask for. The Democrats could be quite embarrassed by what their supporters tell pollsters “about their religious faith.”
Jim, you might be surprised. There are still a lot of Catholic Democrats out there. I think the point is that when GOP polls report religious affiliation and Dem polls do not, it reinforces the notion that the GOP has a lock on the religious vote. It does not, and should not (No secular political party should).
J’daP – Please note I observe the choices the pollsters make. They are the professional of political observation and they seem to be observing a lack of religious interest in political Democrats. Facts is facts. Sad to observe Gov. Dean’s wish it were otherwise. Must be his good Piskie roots shining through.
Howard Dean takes his religion very seriously. He left the Episcopal Church of the burning issue of where to put a bike path.
#2, what can you possibly be thinking ? The GOP no more has a corner on people who are following God or Jesus than Anglicans have a corner on orthodoxy.
Face it, #6, you can guess a left-liberal’s “theology” with 98% accuracy by reading DNC press releases. Politics informs the Left’s theology. The opposite is the case for Republicans and the evangelicals who inhabit the party.
You gotta wonder about the religious faith of a party that has supported the eradication of over 50 millions human beings. There are about 1.5 million abortions in the US annually. Makes me wonder who deserves “justice” and who doesn’t!
Peace,
Barry
Nowhere in the Constitution of the US is it stated that ANY religion is a qualification for elected office. The next time a pollster phones you and wants to talk about religion as a qualification you could quote my first sentence in this blog; tell them it is none of their business; tell them goodbye and hang up. I have seen pollsters take answers of any kind and twist them so out of shape as to be non-recognizable. I have had to remind more than one person that the US still supports a SECRET ballot and as a result it’s none of their business how I vote.