Coalition’s Big Gun: Supporters Who Vote

“When they say we’re right-wing radicals, what do we say, honey? Oh yeah, we say: ‘You’re left-wing secular extremists from the culture of death.’ ”

--Christian Coalition supporter Ann Reilly of Waltham, Mass.

*

Because I was busy worshiping the culture of death and could not be there in person, I celebrated the Christian Coalition’s annual conference by curling up with a copy of the coalition’s blueprint for Congress--”The Contract with the American Family.”

While 4,100 religious conservatives, led by Christian Coalition founder the Rev. Pat Robertson and his executive director, Ralph Reed, were courted by a host of Republican presidential hopefuls, I read up on the coalition’s prescription for the moral decay that is plaguing our nation.

The 16-page contract is described by its authors as a “bold agenda” for Congress “intended to strengthen families and restore common-sense values.”

In case there is any confusion, “These provisions are the 10 suggestions,” says the contract, “not the Ten Commandments.” (Who says evangelical and funny don’t go together?)

Among other things, the Christian Coalition urges adoption of a school prayer amendment to the Constitution; the outlawing of abortion; the abolition of the federal Department of Education; the enactment of school voucher programs; the adoption of a Parental Rights Act and defeat of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child; and replacement of the welfare system with private charity.

“Congress,” says the contract, “would be well-advised to act with all due and deliberate speed. The Contract provisions enjoy support from 60 to 90 percent of the American people.”

This figure is certainly compelling and not, I’d imagine, unintimidating to political candidates. It is also, according to a new poll, complete hogwash.

*

“We don’t need some secular humanist in sandals and beads at the Department of Education telling us how to educate our children.”

--Republican presidential candidate Patrick J. Buchanan in a speech to the coalition.

*

On Friday, the first day of the Christian Coalition’s two-day “Road to Victory” confab, the civil liberties lobbying group, People for the American Way, released the results of a poll it commissioned on voter attitudes toward the “Contract with the American Family.”

In a survey of more than 1,200 registered voters, Peter D. Hart Research Associates found that the Christian Coalition grossly overstates its support among Americans. Even people who describe themselves as “strongly religious” do not appear to support the coalition’s goals in the overwhelming numbers Reed often claims.

Indeed, not a single item on the contract’s list met with approval from even 60% of those polled, let alone 90%.

On the matter of a school prayer amendment, 34% were for, and 58% were against.

On abortion, 40% favored outlawing late-term abortions, allowing states to withhold public abortion funding in cases of rape or incest, and ending public funding of family planning efforts, while 54% opposed such measures.

On education, 36% said they favored abolishing the Department of Education, repealing its national standards program and transferring some of the funds to local school districts, while 57% were opposed.

On school vouchers, 35% were in favor, while 60% were against.

One might think that perhaps the stunning 1994 GOP electoral success--in which the Christian Coalition played an acknowledged part--empowered the coalition to inflate its support. In a prepared statement, Christian Coalition spokesman Mike Russell did not dispute the poll numbers. Instead, he highlighted some of the contract’s successes, such as restrictions on pornography on the Internet, and asked: “Where are the left’s legislative proposals and grass-roots support?”

People for the American Way President Tom Andrews was less tactful. “The Contract with the American Family,” said Andrews, “is a fraud.”

If it is--and if its provisions come to pass--American voters will have only themselves to blame.

*

“He’s definitely pro-life, but I don’t agree that a woman’s body is hers--and I think he once made that statement.”

--Christian Coalition member Mary Erling on the subject of Sen. Majority Leader Bob Dole. *

It has been noted that leaders of the Christian Coalition are walking a fine line these days between the extremism of their troops and the pragmatism necessary to move fully and wholly into the American political mainstream.

(Did I really read in last week’s paper that the Christian Coalition is planning to launch Catholic and Jewish auxiliary groups?)

What the coalition’s success has demonstrated is an old lesson in politics. That is, citizens who care passionately about a narrow range of issues--Christian Coalition leaders like to say they excel at “niche marketing”--can be persuaded to vote. Citizens who are unmoved by the issues stay home.

“Candidates and members of Congress should ignore the Christian Coalition’s bluster,” said the president of People for the American Way. “The Christian Coalition may have a head start on organizing, but they don’t have the support of the American people.”

Indeed.

They have something far better: Members who vote.