Lack of a Republican Platform Reflects the Christian Right's Problem


When the political history of this era is written it will be one of subtle and undetected-at-the-time change. It will reflect a difference between "Christians" who go to church and "Christians" who do not go to church. "Christians" who do not go to church are voting in the primary for Trump. Those who go to church are more likely to back other Republican candidates. This difference explains many things.

Churches are closing rapidly everywhere, but most rapidly in rural areas. Those who were in those churches no longer attend. And they are unhappy with rural decline. Trump has promised help. Of course, he cannot change the direction of rural to urban migration but he can talk about it. Abortion is a separate issue from rural anger. Trump is not in favor of a national ban. The national ban people no longer have Trump or the Trump supporters.

In Iowa there is a group often in the news, the Iowa Christian Coalition. It is mostly an anti-abortion political group. It credited itself with the successful nomination of what was considered to be the anti- abortion Donald Trump. When it held it widely publicized gathering of Republican candidates this past Spring Trump did not even attend. The group's leader is endorsing Desantes. Anti abortion has been excluded from the fun.

My guess is Trump sees political gold in being dissed by this and other similar groups. Polls show the majority of the U.S. favors abortion rights. When a group like the Iowa Christian Coalition goes down a rabbit hole, why follow?

As we all say time flies. Donald Trump was in a full campaign mode in 2015 and was elected in 2016. Among the many things that have changed in eight years is a decline in Christian identity and church attendance. This has happened within the Republican Party as well as everywhere else. It only makes sense that the Christian right's influence would erode withing the Party. That abortion rights is winning in statewide votes and legislatures has to reflect this as well. 

In 2016 the Republican Party had a Platform that soaked in Christian piety. There were ringing condemnations of murder by abortion. By 2020, there was so much turmoil no platform was ever agreed upon. If Republican Party does not stand for the Christian God and against women's rights, what does it stand for? Plenty of people inside the Party, or inside what the Party used to be, are wondering also.

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