Values Voters: Iraq High in Importance

So-called "values voters" surprised many people in the 2004 election. Socially driven and politically oriented, they helped propel George Bush to a second term. But this year, many believe that values voters are taking a more critical look at the political landscape. Ron and Gwyn Bergthold of Nashville, Tennessee enjoy making cookies with their kids, working puzzles -- and following politics. Social issues like Tennessee's marriage amendment and abortion are very important to them. But this year, it's Iraq that's number one on their mind. Ron said, "It is frustrating. I think we're doing the right thing." A Pew poll released this month shows that the Bergtholds are not alone. Twenty-five percent of those surveyed said that Iraq is the most important issue. Last week in Nashville, the Bergtholds joined 3,000 other conservatives at a political rally. Focus on the Family's public policy group sponsored the gathering. Events like the rally are designed to energize values voters, voters that both parties are desperate to court. As one speaker noted, everyone is getting religion at election time. Dr. James Dobson and other conservatives are hoping that marriage amendment measures in eight states will motivate values voters. "For 5,000 years, this has been the basic social institution in all the world," Dodson said. And they're hoping that corruption issues, like the Foley scandal, will not deter them. Dobson said, "What Mark Foley did is wrong. But it is still important to go to the polls and let our voices be heard." Jeffrey Bell is the Republican strategist who first identified the "values voter" trend in the fall of '04. And his prediction came true: election exit polls showed "moral value issues" like gay marriage and abortion were the number one priority for one in five voters. But this time around, Bell says that social concerns are not motivating the voting bloc as much. That's due in part to President Bush's decision not to pursue a federal marriage amendment. Also, Bell thinks voters are less concerned about upcoming Supreme Court vacancies. "They might not, when they're questioned, say, 'Yes, I voted on social issues. I voted on values issues,'" Bell said. "They might say, 'This time I voted on foreign policy or economics.'" More liberal evangelicals are hoping that values voters will indeed broaden their agenda this fall. Amy Sullivan of Red Letter Christians said, "Most Americans don't go home at night and really worry seriously about abortion and gay marriage." Sullivan is one of the leaders of Red-Letter Christians. It's named for Jesus' words, highlighted in red in many Bibles. Red-letter Christians say they want to advance causes like fighting poverty and caring for the environment. "They're adding new issues to the table and making it legitimate to care about other things if you're an evangelical," said Sullivan. But if values voters do focus on new topics November 7th -- who will they vote for? Bell said, "They're still social conservatives, but if they vote on other issues the Republicans aren't favored as much." Of course, the GOP is the starting point for most values voters. And many are like Ron Bergthold, who says he's been disappointed recently. But he still leans Republican. "Socially, they are still better on most of the issues--right-to-life," Bergthold said. Indeed, an August Pew poll found Democrats with a serious "God" problem. Just 26 percent say the party is "friendly" to religion -- while 47 percent say Republicans are. But all that may be changing. More and more candidates on both sides are talking "God talk." And conservative strategists say values voters are thinking more independently than ever. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council said, "There's a growing maturity among evangelical voters. They're not voting the party line." Even at the Nashville rally, the talk was not all partisan. Dana Pasour said, "I think it's wiser. Don't go straight party. Just go for each individual issue and each individual person." But the question is not just how values voters will vote. It's also -- how many will vote? "You'll have marginal values voters that will probably not show," Perkins said, "when you combine the Foley episode and a question about really what is the direction of the Republican Party." And that possibility presents new scenarios for both parties. For Democrats, it's an opportunity to attract a voting group that's been deeply aligned with the gop. For Republicans, it's a mandate to energize its core -- folks like the Bergtholds who try to be both realists and optimists as they talk about Washington. Gwen Bergthold said, "I'm sure there's a lot of Republicans doing horribly disgusting things. And I'm sure there's a lot of Democrats doing horribly disgusting things. And the only thing I can do about it is to try and find candidates who are more upstanding." And with both houses up for grabs, attracting values voters has never been more important.