Have any other Christians gone from Republican to Democrat in the last few years?

Question

If so, for what reasons?

I have become very disappointed in the policies and aims of the GOP since halfway through Bush's first term. There was a pretense of moral authority when coming into the White House (on the heels of Clinton's sexual indiscretions), but that has all gone awash for me with unjust wars, increased fuel dependence, raping natural resources, fighting nationalized health care for children, protecting corporate interests that ultimately ruin local economies, and then some. I am pro-life, but Republicans do not have a monopoly on this view, as many, many Republican candidates are, at least in practice, pro-choice. And since pro-life Bush has been in office, not even laws already on the books are being enforced. In other words, being "pro-life" is no longer a reason to be a Republican and I think this will be more obvious on the GOP '08 ticket.

What do you think?

Primoa, I acknowledge your concern, but my point is that Republicans are not all pro-life and those who are do not act on their convictions. If Guiliani wins the '08 ticket, Republicanism will have lost it's pro-life stance, officially.

Answer 1

I'm a pro-life Democrat Christian. Pro-life has to mean not waging those unnecessary wars, not leaving the poor in the cold.

I saw an interview with Fred Thompson the other day when he was talking about how Barack Obama wants to lift the tax cap on the payroll tax and how that would hurt small business owners. But the trick he's playing at is defining "small business owner" as anyone who runs a sole proprietorship, whether a CEO getting speaking fees on the side or the Koch family pulling in millions and millions a year from their massive company. Lifting the cap would mean that I, who pay the payroll tax on 100% of my earnings would be in the same boat with them, who don't pay it over $97,000. It's a fairness issue, investing in the country that has provided the public infrstructure, labor pool supports, economic framework and such for you to become successful.

Gone are the days of the Contract With America when they'll just come out and tell you what they mean. Back then they spelled out in the Contract they wanted to leave women with unwanted and accidental pregnancies out in the cold regardless of circumstance. In other words, they want it to be a shameful thing to have an unwanted pregnancy and want society to turn their backs on those women and offer no support. in that spirit the first round of Bush tax cuts had Bill Frist ax Medicaid pre-natal care for poor mothers. But they openly want to overturn Roe so they get to claim they are pro-life. It's a trick.

Welcome to the fold. We need to make changes, yes. Some of the secular folks have brought some unreasonable ideas to teh table, in my opinion, But we are not a party about autonomy and doing what I please, all others be damned and relativism and destroying families. Quite the contrary, we want to affirm morality and its community context - I am my brother's keeper, I should love my neighbor. Most of all, we want to restore humility to the executive office.

True, politics is inherently corrupt to some extent. No politician can ever be expected to be perfect. But we can decide broadly what kind of world we want to move toward. Glad to have you working among us. Welcome.

Answer 2

No, I have not changed to the democratic way of thinking. I have become more independent minded than straight up republican minded. I voted for a democrat in our local election because I did not feel that any of the republicans were qualified to handle the job. As for president of the US. There are no democrats that I would vote for and a few republicans that I will not vote for. I am still trying to decide who best represents me.

Answer 3

I've never been a republican, but I have always felt the democratic party better represented the Christian belief. No - not the fundamentalist right wing branch; but I don't consider them to be true Christians. Christ's basic teachings were of peace, tolerance, and helping the poor and needy. The republican party is just the opposite of that.

As for abortion - I simply don't believe a fetus is a human being. I understand why some might. Even so, our judicial system has ruled in favor of abortion rights and we each have the right to decide for ourselves. Government should not legislate based on one religion; our democracy is founded on freedom of religion. As for gay marriage; gay people exist whether you like it or not. Most cannot change. If gay sex is a sin....well so what? Everyone sins. Unmarrieds have sex. Married people cheat. They have sex which the Bible would consider immoral. People divorce and remarry (also a sin according to the Bible. Yet the church seems only obsessed with sin committed by gays. And what would you have a gay person do - spend his/her life abstaining? At least let them make a committment to one person - whether you believe it is a sin or not. Just like re-marrying.

Answer 4

I always go under these assumptions when coming into an election:

The best people will never run

and as a result

We in some way get the candidates we deserve.

I will vote for whom I feel is the best person, that said I lived in California for over 30 yrs and with the electoral college system you essentially are voting democrat no matter what you vote, and now I live in Texas and am voting republican no matter what I vote--I understand why they have the system, but I don't like it.

I only hope we get two candidates from the main parties who I can live with no matter how it goes. Usually for me, it is never one of the main candidates that I want to get through for either party.

The issues I am mostly concerned with are the economy and national security (though I try to consider the complete package, and decide how much a candidate is likely lying to me). I can accept candidates that disagree with me, but I like them to do it up front, as opposed to misstating their positions.

Answer 5

Abortion is a pretty pathetic reason to allow yourself to be duped by the GOP campaign machine.

GOP political hacks who never cross the threshold of a church know the pro-life Christians are committed to the GOP, so the GOP is free to support many anti-Christian ideas – like discrimination against strangers in our land, exploitation of child labor in China, war, torture, exploitation of God’s natural creation, and rather than doing for the least, doing things that hurt the least of these.

The bottom line to party politics is who would Jesus water-board? Who would Jesus extend tax cuts to – the ultra-wealthy Sadducees, or the widows, orphans and aliens?

Who would Jesus support? Big business, or the children?

Where would Jesus protest? Outside a prison where a fellow criminal was also facing execution? Or outside a women’s health clinic?

Godspeed.

Answer 6

Primoa:

You will always stand for truth AND you will always be Republican?

What was it that Jesus said about a "house divided"?

If Republicans stand for truth than the Democrats stand for the NRA and low taxes.

To the question: I used to consider myself a moderate who voted for both parties, but now I see many republicans as insane and principled in the wrongest of ways. Some are just off the charts and hatefull. Not to mention "I'm for family values but I like to meet men in airport restrooms while my wife doesn't know".

I am not a Democrat, but the current administration and congressional republicans have made me a radical liberal.

Answer 7

not quite.

i am not really happy enough with either side so I'm more of an independent. I can't say yes to abortion and gay marriage or yes to the problems that republicans stereotypically have, so rather than aligning myself with a party I judge each issue on its own merits. Wish you could vote that way..

Answer 8

The Republican party is soooo over. The neo-cons are done, the "right wing Christian fundies" are all going back to exploiting their flocks again to get as much money out of them as they can.

Welcome to the real world...

And, FYI: Those who proclaim to be "pro-life" believe in and support the death penalty. They are not pro-life, they are anti-abortion....which shows how simpleminded they are.

Answer 9

I'm disenchanted with Republicans and don't see a great candidate emerging (...maybe Ron Paul?)

But the Democratic candidates are still even worse...so it's a conundrum.

Answer 10

Actually I went from Democrat to Republican. A visit to my local post office caused me to switch my party affiliation.