Lifelong Republican voter turned Democrat voter the last 2 cycles ✋. I feel like the low favorability of the Democratic Party has more to do with Republican marketing than disappointment with the Democrat’s policies. The far-right takeover of the Republican Party has been in the works for 40 years now - hardcore for 20 - and finally work…
Lifelong Republican voter turned Democrat voter the last 2 cycles ✋. I feel like the low favorability of the Democratic Party has more to do with Republican marketing than disappointment with the Democrat’s policies. The far-right takeover of the Republican Party has been in the works for 40 years now - hardcore for 20 - and finally worked to move moderates to the right in the last few years. But in my opinion, it has much less to do with what the Dems actually did (or didn’t) accomplish, and much more to do with the very loud narrative coming from the right. Having worked for and been involved in evangelical ministry, I can tell you there has been an organized, tactical plan to takeover government “in the name of Jesus”that appears to be working. I see no comparable organization on the left. And let’s face it, most people have no clue how government really works (me included prior to Sharon), and unfortunately lots aren’t interested in learning. So now we have a government moving towards authoritarianism, Christian Nationalists who feel that God’s will is finally being done, a middle that somehow felt that replacing an ineffective old man with an angry old man was a good idea, and the left whining about their ideals with no clear way to accomplish them.
Melissa - 100% yes. Democrats are far from perfect, but Biden provided billions of dollars for climate change research and technology, they’ve protected healthcare access as much as possible despite strong republican resistance, they’ve tried to protect access to reproductive healthcare, they’ve acknowledged racial bias and dramatically improved the lives of LBGTQ+ folks, they’ve tried to improve public infrastructure and feed children. They are simply incapable of fighting the ultimate trifecta of Christian-nationalism/white supremacy, Wall Street prioritization of shareholder value above all else (desire for zero regulation and no protection for workers) and the Fox News/extremist social media rabbit hole.
Democrats lacked the clear, poignant message and strong organization to fight this, and I honestly don’t know what the solution is.
Agreed, which is part of why I switched to voting for the Democratic Party. But like I told my kids when they were in HS - nobody cares about that stuff if they can’t pay for groceries. And even though inflation was due to a GOOD economy, too many people don’t understand how that works, and they only listened to the loud mouth blaming Biden for literally everything. And they believed it, because acknowledging a FB meme is easier than taking the time to learn how government works.
Republicans have used churches as a basecamp for their far right message for years. If you weren’t involved with it, you would have had no idea how long it’s been brewing and how far reaching it was/is. Democrats need a similar vehicle to get their message out to the masses, and like you said, it needs to be clear and organized.
Oh my gosh, Melissa! This thread is timely as just tonight I watched the Shiny Happy People documentary about the Duggars. The last couple of episodes where they talk about how the IBLP and Bill Gothard has been organizing to take over the country for decades. Madison Cawthorn and the whole crew of young members of that homeschool culture who were brought up to infiltrate politics and spread their cult-like beliefs into America. Politics. It was 😳.
I haven’t watched that one yet, Cristy. I started The Family, but didn’t complete it. It lays out the plan to takeover politics since like the ‘70’s or something. I couldn’t keep watching it. There’s another one coming out called The Religion Business about the money these mega ministries are taking in and not paying taxes on. Anyway, I worked for Kenneth Copeland Ministries and it was one of the most bizarre experiences of my life. I’ll have to write about it more. There is definitely a dark underbelly of politics and religion that is dangerous and nothing like Christ, and it’s taking hold in ways I never thought I would see in my lifetime. Something has to be done to stop it.
Completely agree with your response. Many Americans are exhausted, struggling financially and have zero time. It’s a shame that they’ve been tricked into believing in trickle down economics and tax breaks for the wealthy. I do believe it’s possible to have both a good business climate + a strong safety net.
Melissa…I couldn’t agree with you more. I was a lifelong Republican, too, turned Democrat the last 3 cycles. I also came from an evangelical background. The Christian Nationalist movement has been very organized and calculating. They back Project 2025. They have precise and detailed plans to build their coalition and set their agenda in place. I don’t see that kind of discipline with the Democratic party and leadership. Bipartisanship was great and necessary until Trump with his authoritarian rule. We need to fight this. We will lose everything we believe in. The Christian Nationalists will NOT stop or give up because they believe, as you said, that they are doing God’s will. I am a Jesus follower. My political beliefs changed but not my faith. The Christian Nationalists are following a political ideology not the words or actions of Jesus.
Yes this!! I just got told last week that I’m evil because I don’t support Trump because he doesn’t support abortion and homosexuality. Nothing else mattered. I totally agree with your assessment.
Melissa said what I have been saying for 8 years now. What the heck is our message(s) as Dems?!!!! The Reps have worked methodically, starting at the local, then state levels, to expand their message and base. They got control of governor positions, thus influence. Projects 2025 didn’t come together overnight. That was in the works for YEARS - not even months. Ready to go “for the next Republican President” ~ not just Donald Trump (although Trump was/is their perfect puppet, they could not be happier with him as the one whose strings they can pull).
Meanwhile, IF the Dems have been doing anything close in organizing and preparing - there is little to no transparent evidence of that. I truly believe the Republicans party has lost its way (how voters fell for a loud mouth bully I will NEVER understand); but I am disappointed that the Democrats have been ineffective in fighting fire either fire and they should have held out and not crossed the aisle - there is NO WAY they would’ve received the same consideration
Lifelong Republican voter turned Democrat voter the last 2 cycles ✋. I feel like the low favorability of the Democratic Party has more to do with Republican marketing than disappointment with the Democrat’s policies. The far-right takeover of the Republican Party has been in the works for 40 years now - hardcore for 20 - and finally worked to move moderates to the right in the last few years. But in my opinion, it has much less to do with what the Dems actually did (or didn’t) accomplish, and much more to do with the very loud narrative coming from the right. Having worked for and been involved in evangelical ministry, I can tell you there has been an organized, tactical plan to takeover government “in the name of Jesus”that appears to be working. I see no comparable organization on the left. And let’s face it, most people have no clue how government really works (me included prior to Sharon), and unfortunately lots aren’t interested in learning. So now we have a government moving towards authoritarianism, Christian Nationalists who feel that God’s will is finally being done, a middle that somehow felt that replacing an ineffective old man with an angry old man was a good idea, and the left whining about their ideals with no clear way to accomplish them.
Melissa - 100% yes. Democrats are far from perfect, but Biden provided billions of dollars for climate change research and technology, they’ve protected healthcare access as much as possible despite strong republican resistance, they’ve tried to protect access to reproductive healthcare, they’ve acknowledged racial bias and dramatically improved the lives of LBGTQ+ folks, they’ve tried to improve public infrastructure and feed children. They are simply incapable of fighting the ultimate trifecta of Christian-nationalism/white supremacy, Wall Street prioritization of shareholder value above all else (desire for zero regulation and no protection for workers) and the Fox News/extremist social media rabbit hole.
Democrats lacked the clear, poignant message and strong organization to fight this, and I honestly don’t know what the solution is.
Agreed, which is part of why I switched to voting for the Democratic Party. But like I told my kids when they were in HS - nobody cares about that stuff if they can’t pay for groceries. And even though inflation was due to a GOOD economy, too many people don’t understand how that works, and they only listened to the loud mouth blaming Biden for literally everything. And they believed it, because acknowledging a FB meme is easier than taking the time to learn how government works.
Republicans have used churches as a basecamp for their far right message for years. If you weren’t involved with it, you would have had no idea how long it’s been brewing and how far reaching it was/is. Democrats need a similar vehicle to get their message out to the masses, and like you said, it needs to be clear and organized.
Oh my gosh, Melissa! This thread is timely as just tonight I watched the Shiny Happy People documentary about the Duggars. The last couple of episodes where they talk about how the IBLP and Bill Gothard has been organizing to take over the country for decades. Madison Cawthorn and the whole crew of young members of that homeschool culture who were brought up to infiltrate politics and spread their cult-like beliefs into America. Politics. It was 😳.
I haven’t watched that one yet, Cristy. I started The Family, but didn’t complete it. It lays out the plan to takeover politics since like the ‘70’s or something. I couldn’t keep watching it. There’s another one coming out called The Religion Business about the money these mega ministries are taking in and not paying taxes on. Anyway, I worked for Kenneth Copeland Ministries and it was one of the most bizarre experiences of my life. I’ll have to write about it more. There is definitely a dark underbelly of politics and religion that is dangerous and nothing like Christ, and it’s taking hold in ways I never thought I would see in my lifetime. Something has to be done to stop it.
Completely agree with your response. Many Americans are exhausted, struggling financially and have zero time. It’s a shame that they’ve been tricked into believing in trickle down economics and tax breaks for the wealthy. I do believe it’s possible to have both a good business climate + a strong safety net.
Melissa…I couldn’t agree with you more. I was a lifelong Republican, too, turned Democrat the last 3 cycles. I also came from an evangelical background. The Christian Nationalist movement has been very organized and calculating. They back Project 2025. They have precise and detailed plans to build their coalition and set their agenda in place. I don’t see that kind of discipline with the Democratic party and leadership. Bipartisanship was great and necessary until Trump with his authoritarian rule. We need to fight this. We will lose everything we believe in. The Christian Nationalists will NOT stop or give up because they believe, as you said, that they are doing God’s will. I am a Jesus follower. My political beliefs changed but not my faith. The Christian Nationalists are following a political ideology not the words or actions of Jesus.
Agreed Patti. “Christian Nationalism” has nothing to do with Christ.
Yes this!! I just got told last week that I’m evil because I don’t support Trump because he doesn’t support abortion and homosexuality. Nothing else mattered. I totally agree with your assessment.
I have been told the same thing, Shirley. Tell them that Trump appointed a married gay man to Secretary of the Treasury (Scott Bessent).
Melissa said what I have been saying for 8 years now. What the heck is our message(s) as Dems?!!!! The Reps have worked methodically, starting at the local, then state levels, to expand their message and base. They got control of governor positions, thus influence. Projects 2025 didn’t come together overnight. That was in the works for YEARS - not even months. Ready to go “for the next Republican President” ~ not just Donald Trump (although Trump was/is their perfect puppet, they could not be happier with him as the one whose strings they can pull).
Meanwhile, IF the Dems have been doing anything close in organizing and preparing - there is little to no transparent evidence of that. I truly believe the Republicans party has lost its way (how voters fell for a loud mouth bully I will NEVER understand); but I am disappointed that the Democrats have been ineffective in fighting fire either fire and they should have held out and not crossed the aisle - there is NO WAY they would’ve received the same consideration
Spot on