Why do I get this feeling that you only changed because of your new girlfriend?
I know what conservative Christian Evangelical pastors preach: There should be political unity in any relationship and it should be decidedly Republican.
Nope. Wrong again!! On both counts!! I changed it because of my PERSONAL views, not due to any person. Although, my girlfriend helped show me the good side of McCain, but I had been slowly trending that way for the past couple months, anyway, as much as I wanted to deny it, my views were shifting.
The Christian church is mostly Republican, but there are plenty of evangelical believers who are Democrat. The older generation has a lot of Democrats in it (FDR/JFK/LBJ type Democrats) and amongst the younger crowd the Democrats are gaining in number. The pulpit is never used to promote one party or the other. If they did, they would lose their tax exempt status. Some prominent Southern Baptist Democrats: Former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton and Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry and if he wins, Mississippi Senator Ronnie Musgrove. (Harry can correct me if I'm wrong).
I love the subtle implication here that only evangelicals/fundies are Christians.
Yeah. Seriously. Though if there is one thing to take away from this, it is the fact that it is very hard to have differing views than your significant other and family. I doubt that Okie changed his politics at all to get to the point where he is today. What has happened, however, is that social pressure have been placed on him to vote a certain way. This is probably what JS could be getting on to- no matter how hard you campaign and how well you debate, its really social cohesion that makes the vote. That means, that even though a majority might not believe in the right-wing agenda, the majority of employers, higher-ranking/influential (in non-hierarchical churches) and parents do. Sure, you may worry about getting carted off to jail for smoking pot, or wanting to not be bankrupted from being dumped by your insurance in mid-treatment, but what will your dad, girlfriend, or pastor say?
Seriously, though. I am, like JS and Beet, pro-choice and Christian. I've tried to talk to Jesus and he basically says that though he disagrees, he will still tolerate my views and welcome me into the communion. However, what if I am wrong? What can I be if I cannot be Christian? I know there is a God, but why would God create me only for me to find his laws repugnant on a visceral level?
I mean, if God gives me lemons, do I find a new God? Oh the blasphamy is killing me on the inside.
Also, even though Brown wasn't chipped away in the KY and Seattle case, it did make Brown harder to enforce....and when decisions become difficult to enforce, the court begins to reconsider its decisions. This is what O'Connor considered in whether Roe should be dropped or kept in PP v. Casey.
