Morning Joe guest reveals his research shows the truth about Evangelical Christians support for

[CTyankee]

trump during the 2016 election. It was unaffiliated Evangelicals, not those in churches, that provided the majority of support.

This is interesting and enlightening. It tells us something about the nature of Trump's appeal and gives us some hope in overcoming it in the 2020 election. We'd best not paint the Evangelicals with the same brush.

Let's bring in the Evangelicals to our party based on what we have in common and who benefits from being in the Democratic Party. I think this is doable and I think all of our Dem hopefuls have been listening!

[underpants]

1. They are extremely patriarchal

They supported Trump because Hillary is a woman. They still support him because he stopped the unthinkable from happening- a black president then a woman president

[CTyankee]

3. The author's research shows a different story. I wish I had the video of his appearance.

Perhaps one will surface soon.

I agree about the patriarchal charge. It is just that the church affiliated evangelicals could understand other parts of our party's message, the part about drawing upon other's support in their churches.

If I find the video I will post it. I found it enlightening.

[marylandblue]

2. I've seen other stuff along these lines but it creates a conundrum.

What do we have to offer those people? They seem to be cultural conservatives who aren't very religious. Which disadvantaged group should we sacrifice to them? If they don't want one of those groups, what do they want?

[CTyankee]

4. We have the "we're all in this together tho we are different in religious beliefs." We are not in

competition for their religious faith but we do believe in religious freedom. I know I am not after converting Evangelicals -- they can practice their faith -- but it's not all hopeless. The affiliated ones see the value in their own community for pulling together for the common good.

[marylandblue]

7. I think we need more than that.

People become more culturally conservative when they are afraid. This is why Trump's scare tactics worked on them. So we do need a togetherness message, but also a way to calm their fears. Better jobs is one way. I am not sure it is enough. Maybe immigration reform. But anything that lets large numbers of the undocumented become citizens or permanent residents will scare them. So I don't know.

[CTyankee]

8. We have a right to secure our borders, period. No one is (legitimately) arguing that point.

But we can and must dispel the false assertions that Trumpistas say day after day. We have to do a better job at that.

I envision an ad that points out that our party supports border security, not babies put in cages. It's ugly but true: you can't, as a decent human being support the latter.

And job security is something we Dems can, and historically have unequivically supported.

[marylandblue]

9. Trump has successfully diverted our attention from the real issue.

There are 10 to 20 million undocumented already here, some have been here for decades or came as children. They form a permanent underclass to exploit. We can't easily expel them and making them legal infuriates the right. So Trump talks comes up with a worthless solution to get votes. That's why he turned down the wall for DACA deal. He as well as his base don't want to be reminded of the real problem.

[CTyankee]

10. Democratic Party strategists have, I am sure, devoted lots of time to reasearching this issue.

the undocumented population already here is a problem we have to deal with. And I believe Obama was really trying. We may see a return to sanity in 2020.

[marylandblue]

11. After 2016, I don't have as much faith in party strategists.

[CTyankee]

12. I would be surpised if they hadn't. They seem to be falling all over themselves on the talk shows

offering their own mea culpas.

Let's hope...

[Merlot]

5. Let's instead focus our energy on those people who are uninvolved

in politics and don't vote. Those who are unmotivated or think their vote doesn't matter. Those people, and my guess is there are more of them than "unafilliated evangelicals" propbably have more in common with democrats.

Democrats would have to tie their policies up like a pretzel to appeal to evangelicals and that would do nothing except alienate their base. It would be going backwards.

[CTyankee]

6. no question. It's a big job to find and educate these folks.

But first, we must get them registered to vote, that their vote really does matter but they have to take the step of registering.

So that is #1. #2 is arguing our strengths and what it has to offer them to join with us.

And they have to trust the Democratic Party. So our candidates must be sincere and live their beliefs. I think Biden does that, ditto Warren and Harris. Sure, there are stumbling blocks that we can and must avoid.

I've got some ideas but I'm sure they are nothing that some people in our Democratic Party haven't seen and are working on.