NASHVILLE – At a recent meeting of thousands of religious conservative activists at the Coalition of Religion and Freedom, one thing immediately stood out: the crowd is not as white as it used to be.
That’s not an accident, according to founder Ralph Reed.
“Our goal, in the years to come, is to build a truly multi-faith, multi-ethnic, faith-based movement that changes the demographic location of our movement,” Reed said during a lunch round with a handful of reporters.
Attendees listened to Christian worship music – sometimes sung in Spanish – and attended mid-term voting sessions this mid-term. The message and movement resonate with Black chiefs like W.J. Coleman of Lewisville, Miss.
“Many understand that they are conservative, but the word‘ conservative ’and‘ Republican ’have made a bad word,” he told NPR. “But if you took that out of the equation, there would be a lot more elites.” #xD;
Social conservatism is having a moment
The Supreme Court has recently ruled in its favor – against abortion rights and in favor of public prayer – and Republican Party stars, like Republican Florida Republican Gov. Read also : How to celebrate July 4th with the state of US politics | point of view. Ron DeSantis, addressing the progressive politics of corporate America. xD;
Reed has been an activist in GOP evangelical politics for the past two decades. He now runs the Coalition of Faith and Freedom, but is best known for starting the Christian Coalition in the early 1990s. He is sometimes a controversial figure. In the mid-2000s, he was caught in Washington scandals involving embarrassed former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, but Reed was never charged with any wrongdoing.
He found his way back to national prominence after accepting Donald Trump in 2016 and helped turn the white evangelical vote in his favor.
Reed’s stock is rising again as Republicans see a red wave coming in the fight for control of Congress last November. “We are focused like a laser beam on the evangelical vote and for the most religious life we have seen in midterm elections in the course of our lives,” Reed said.
He noted that when he joined the Christian Coalition, the outfit built a database of 8 million voters. Today, the Reed database measures at 46 million voters. “We will be knocking on more doors, touching more voters at the door, not only than we have ever touched in the history of the organization, but more than I believe any outside organization has touched on. at the heart of my career, “he said. & # xD;
If Reed is optimistic, he’s reason to be. & # XD;
His organization is a touchstone for any Republican candidate who is seriously considering running for president. Trump spoke at his meeting in Nashville last month. In addition, ambitious politicians are making the decisive influence of the evangelical voters in primary politics by taking ambitious measures to win them over.
Florida’s fight with Disney was a ‘watershed moment’
One of those presidential hopefuls, Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, recently after Walt Disney’s special corporation tax status in his state after the company opposed a new state law banning educators from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with children before 4th grade. Reed described it as a “threshold moment” for the conservative movement. & # XD;
“For not only that to happen, but for that to happen, and for DeSantis to do it and not just to pay no political price, but I insisted on being a political beneficiary, and then Disney would go on the radio quietly and directly. On the same subject : Netflix is adding ads to its platform – here’s what it means for your next night on. Take it, it was incredible, “he said.
The Disney fight enabled activists to engage with institutions that were traditional political allies in a more aggressive manner. Disney did not respond to a comment request. & # XD;
“If the Disneys and the Deltas and Coca-Colas of the world are not careful, they will embrace the best friend they have ever had in economic policy and regulation – and policies that would benefit their potential. grow their companies – and turn them into enemies, “he said.
Reed sees culture war issues as a draw for nonwhite voters
Reed sees issues related to sex and gender and parental rights as a new way for the Republican Party to make progress with Black and Latin voters who attend church at higher rates than White voters do, according to the Pew Research Center. This may interest you : Best TV Series Comes to Amazon Prime Video in July 2022.
“Actually, they really play and resonate powerfully in the minority communities,” he said. “Not among everyone, but it would be at least 25% in the black community, and probably at least 30% in the Hispanic community.”
Reed spoke to reporters a day before the Supreme Court handed down the Roe v. Wade’s cancellation, although the outcome was expected after the draft opinion was leaked. He did not think that abortion would be a major issue until November, noting that historically only about 5% of voters listed abortion as the main reason for voting. & # XD;
“I think this election will be about what we all know it will be about, which is the economy, inflation and high prices,” he said.
The impact, in November, could be a Republican-controlled Congress enshrined in advancing a more socially conservative agenda. & # xD;
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