The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Shopping
    • Stores
    • Coupons
    • Daily Double
    • Promotion
    • How It Works
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • Commentary

    Suicide pact

  • World

    Italian arrests tied to '08 Mumbai attacks

  • Culture

    DESIGN: Exhibits trace decades-old fashion, fabric trends

  • Investigation

    Anglers serve time for black-market rockfish trade

  • World

    Islamic center in Maryland keeps ties to Iran

  • Politics

    ANALYSIS: Obama takes a bow, but applause is weak

  • Politics

    Republican governors: 'Opt out' unworkable

Thursday, November 4, 2004

Focus on moral values tipped vote for Bush

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos

More Stories

  • Israeli aircraft strike Gaza targets
  • Kennedy: R.I. bishop banned me from Communion
  • Iran: Missiles ready for Israel, U.S. bases if attacked
  • Obama: Asia trip a boost to U.S. economy

By

Moral values topped the list of issues voters were most concerned about when they went to the polls on Election Day, with Catholics, evangelicals, blacks and Hispanics joining an ad hoc coalition that re-elected President Bush by 3.5 million votes.

A national exit poll of 13,531 voters found 22 percent cited moral values as the "most important issue," with the economy and jobs second at 20 percent and terrorism at 19 percent, according to a joint survey by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International. Iraq came in fourth at 15 percent.

Moral issues were highlighted by ballot measures in 11 states to effectively prohibit same-sex "marriage." Voters approved all the measures by solid majorities, ranging from 57 percent in Oregon to 86 percent in Mississippi -- and 62 percent in the key state of Ohio.

"The overwhelming support that Americans gave to marriage and family issues and the candidates who supported them showed that this is the 'year of the values voter,'" said Gary Bauer, president of American Values and a former presidential candidate.

"For too long, liberal political pundits have been telling us that issues like marriage and life divide us as a people. But it's clear that while those issues may be controversial, they are not divisive because people reach across such boundaries as party, economic status and ethnic group to join together to support and protect the American family," Mr. Bauer said.

For months on the campaign trail, the president drew the most enthusiastic applause from supporters when he talked about moral values: The "culture of life," a phrase borrowed from Pope John Paul II; the sanctity of marriage; the importance of family; and especially his signing of the partial-birth-abortion ban.

At each stop, he delivered a variation of the lines he said in Dallas during his final campaign stop on Monday: "Over the next four years, I'll continue to stand for the values that are important to our nation. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts," the president said.

Mr. Bush also highlighted the perception in Middle America that Democrats represent the values of the Hollywood elite by referring to a July fund-raiser in New York City, where celebrities who called the president a "liar" and a "thug" were praised by Sen. John Kerry as "the heart and soul of our country."

"Most of our families don't look to Hollywood as a source of values," Mr. Bush told audiences during his final campaign swing.

The Christian Defense Coalition yesterday pointed to a strong evangelical and pro-life voter turnout as a key to the president's victory.

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Commenting is disabled for this entry.
If you feel there is still something worth mentioning about this entry please contact the author or the site admin.

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. Health bill could get 34-hour reading in Senate
  2. Work site arrests of illegals fall dramatically
  3. Senate health care bill creates new marriage penalty
  4. Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  5. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
More Top Stories »
  1. Report: D.C. schools chief Rhee mishandled sexual misconduct scandal
  2. 19 gang members face racketeering charges
  3. EXCLUSIVE: Taliban chief hides in Pakistan
  4. EXCLUSIVE: Hoffman considering recount claim
  5. PRUDEN: Obama bows, the nation cringes

Most Shared

  1. EDITORIAL EXCLUSIVE: On terrorists, Justice recused
  2. Report: D.C. schools chief Rhee mishandled sexual misconduct scandal
  3. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
  4. Islamic center in Maryland keeps ties to Iran
  5. EDITORIAL: Gunning for Sarah Palin
More Top Stories »
  1. 20-pound, 2,074-page bill steals show
  2. PRUDEN: Obama bows, the nation cringes
  3. Senate health care bill creates new marriage penalty
  4. Couples delay divorce, wait out recession
  5. Anglers serve time for black-market rockfish trade

Most Commented

  1. Work site arrests of illegals fall dramatically
  2. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
  3. ANALYSIS: Obama takes a bow, but applause is weak
  4. Senate Democrats win key vote on health bill
  5. Obama's approval rating falls below 50%
More Top Stories »
  1. Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  2. EDITORIAL: Gunning for Sarah Palin
  3. Islamic center in Maryland keeps ties to Iran
  4. Military academies lack minority nominees
  5. Report: ACORN mismanaged grant money

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Blogs & Columns

  • Hot Button Blog

    RNC: Breast cancer recommendations may lead to 'rationing'

  • Belief Blog

    Evangelicals OK civil disobedience

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • Redskins 360

    Rinehart looks badly hurt

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.