1. From the Pew to the Voting Booth: Political Activism and American Christian Evangelicals Chris Grant, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Political Science Assistant Director of Service Learning, MCSCD Mercer University

2. Some Terms Born-Again Born-Again –Salvation experience defined by accepting Christ as personal savior Fundamentalist Fundamentalist –Belief in the literal interpretation of the Bible Evangelical Evangelical –Takes the command to share the Gospel seriously Pentecostal Pentecostal –Infilling of the Holy Spirit in a second step to salvation Charismatic Charismatic –Usually Pentecostal using contemporary worship style

3. The Core of the Modern Christian Conservative Movement Core Issues: Core Issues: –Preservation of Traditional Cultural Norms –God’s blessings are usually evidenced in material wealth –America’s “Manifest Destiny” as a “City on a Hill” –U.S. is Caretaker of God’s promise to Israel

4. The Southern Origins of the Modern Christian Conservative Movement Southern Distinctiveness Southern Distinctiveness –States’ Rights  Traditions under siege –Segregation  Painful enforcement –Religious Homogeneity

5. The Perception of Threat to Conservative Christians Threats in the 1960s Threats in the 1960s –Women’s rights –Viet Nam protests  Hippies –Free Sex –Drug Culture Galvanizing Moment Galvanizing Moment –Roe v. Wade (1973)

6. Presidential Election in 1976: Politics of the “Born Again” Carter won 10 of 11 southern states Carter won 10 of 11 southern states First modern candidate from the “deep south” First modern candidate from the “deep south” First candidate to discuss faith as a political issue First candidate to discuss faith as a political issue Last Democrat to win a majority in the South Last Democrat to win a majority in the South

7. The Carter Presidency: A Battle Cry for Traditionalists 1977 Conference on the Status of Women 1977 Conference on the Status of Women 1978 Conference on the Family 1978 Conference on the Family “Malaise” Speech “Malaise” Speech Iran-Hostage Crisis Iran-Hostage Crisis

8. Origins of a Movement A sense of betrayal on the part of Carter A sense of betrayal on the part of Carter Issue Specific Organizations Issue Specific Organizations –Eagle Forum (Phyllis Schlafly)  Fight ERA –Focus on the Family/Family Research Council (James Dobson)  Preserve Traditional Family Norms –American Family Association (Douglas Wildmon)  Eliminate indecency on television The first fully political organization: The Moral Majority 1979 The first fully political organization: The Moral Majority 1979 –Pro-life –Pro-traditional family –Pro-national defense –Pro-Isreal

9. Presidential Election in 1980 Ronald Reagan made a direct appeal to religious conservatives and southerners Ronald Reagan made a direct appeal to religious conservatives and southerners –Traditional American Values on family and God –Peace through strength –Subtle race message Won in an Electoral College landslide Won in an Electoral College landslide

10. The 1980s the Movement Solidifies Reagan adopts most of the agenda Reagan adopts most of the agenda Congress is an obstacle Congress is an obstacle –Senate controlled by Republicans (but not all are aligned with movement) –Efforts made to engage in internal politics of the GOP The end of the Moral Majority The end of the Moral Majority The Robertson campaign (1988) The Robertson campaign (1988) The birth of the Christian Coalition (1989) The birth of the Christian Coalition (1989)

11. The Objectives of the Christian Coalition of America Represent the pro-family point of view before local councils, school boards, state legislatures and Congress Speak out in the public arena and in the media Train leaders for effective social and political action Inform pro-family voters about timely issues and legislation Protest anti-Christianity bigotry and defend the rights of people of faith www.cc.org/about/cfmwww.cc.org/about/cfm (accessed 9/13/2005)

12. The Clinton Years 1993-2001 Christian Coalition Regrouping and Outreach Christian Coalition Regrouping and Outreach –Ralph Reed –African-Americans, Catholics, and Jews The Republican Revolution of 1994 The Republican Revolution of 1994 Rush Limbaugh and the Rise of Conservative Media Outlets Rush Limbaugh and the Rise of Conservative Media Outlets The Next Generation The Next Generation –Tom DeLay –Rick Santorum –Sam Brownback

13. The “W’ Years 2001- Bush v. Gore Bush v. Gore “W” stands for VICTORY “W” stands for VICTORY 2004 (The Rove Plan) 2004 (The Rove Plan) –Estimated 1.5 million conservative Christians did not vote in 2000 –I-4 Corridor –Gay Marriage Initiatives in 11 states

14. Exit Polling from 2004 Born-Again Christians voting for Bush 78% (2 nd most powerful pillar) Born-Again Christians voting for Bush 78% (2 nd most powerful pillar) –23% of the sample African-Americans voting for Kerry 88% African-Americans voting for Kerry 88% –11% of the sample http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.htmlhttp://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html accessed 9/13/2005 http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html

15. GOP Gains in the U.S. House 1976-2004 The realignment of Conservative Christian Voters contributed to the 1994 GOP takeover in the House of Representatives The realignment of Conservative Christian Voters contributed to the 1994 GOP takeover in the House of Representatives Other factors included white southerners, growth of suburbs, redistricting, and increased American affluence Other factors included white southerners, growth of suburbs, redistricting, and increased American affluence –Data taken from Congress and Its Members. 2005

16. Presidential Election in 1992 Last Democrat to carry Georgia in a Presidential Election was Bill Clinton in 1992 Last Democrat to carry Georgia in a Presidential Election was Bill Clinton in 1992 Won in 89 Counties, tied in 1 Won in 89 Counties, tied in 1 Clinton was a member of a Southern Baptist Congregation Clinton was a member of a Southern Baptist Congregation

17. 2004 Presidential Election in Georgia Kerry won only 25 counties. Kerry won only 25 counties. Kerry did not carry any of the majority white suburban counties Kerry did not carry any of the majority white suburban counties Lost many rural counties Lost many rural counties

18. Concluding Thoughts Future of the Movement Future of the Movement –New Threats? Republican Majority Republican Majority –A Blessing or a Curse? Changing Christian Theologies Changing Christian Theologies –Race –Role of Women

19. Further Reading “God’s Politics” Jim Wallis “God’s Politics” Jim Wallis “Dixie Rising” Peter Applebaum “Dixie Rising” Peter Applebaum “God at the Grassroots” Mark Rozell et al. “God at the Grassroots” Mark Rozell et al. “The Christian Right in American Politics” John Green et al. “The Christian Right in American Politics” John Green et al. Maps from www.presidentelect.org. Maps from www.presidentelect.org.www.presidentelect.org