As I've written previously, I think there's really no good empirical basis (as opposed to a poorly-worded question in an inaccurate exit poll) for the notion that this election turned on "moral values" more than any other (especially 2000). Nevertheless, the buzz on that front hasn't subsided much since election night. And while my initial inclination has been to chalk it up to lazy journalists and the right-wing noise machine, it's been picked up on to a far greater degree by a far wider audience for that to be an adequate explanation. From the blogosphere to the editorial pages, everyone and his brother is offering some variation on "the left needs to (re-)claim the language of religion and morality."
What if this meme is sticking in part because it speaks to something deeper than exit polls and message strategy? There's an obvious kernel of truth in the religious right's diagnosis -- that our nation really is on the wrong moral path, suffering from a degraded culture and an eroded value system, particularly in the way we treat the most vulnerable members of society.
I'd like to humbly suggest that some of what's going on here is a case of projection. Perhaps it's not just that lefties know the religious right is hurting our side on Election Day (hell, they've been doing that for a quarter-century), but that we sense that America really does need an authentic, radical religious renewal and the hope and prophecy that comes with it. That we need to reach to something beyond ourselves to fully articulate a political vision that will not only lead us to victory, but speak to the times in which we live.
Posted by Michael at December 4, 2004 12:40 AM | TrackBackI think you are right about a lot of what you are saying here, and I would like to add a few comments on my own.
From a purely, statistical perspective, the idea that the election hinged on 'moral values' has been fairly throughly debunked. In particular I would suggest some of the interviews with polsters on NPR and some of the writings at Soujourners, an old, establish progressive Christian magazine.
Yet underlying it, almost all votes are based on 'moral values'. All of us are driven by moral values. Those who speak out against greed and consumerism are talking about 'moral values'. Those who want leaders that will be trustworthy are talking about 'moral values'.
Those of us who love 'moral values' like trustworthiness and truthfulness and dispise immoral values like greed need to speak out more forcefully for all that really is good in this country, and not merely at the false 'moral values' that some are espousing.
We need to read about Kansas and Elephants and think about what our core beliefs are and how we communicate them to our friends and neighbots.
Posted by: Aldon Hynes at December 8, 2004 04:04 AM