GOP's Soft Sell Swayed the Amish

[Rose Siding]

...Republicans, true to their vow to leave no vote unwooed, came to Lancaster County hoping to win over the famously reclusive Old Order Amish -- who shun most modern ways -- along with their slightly less-strict brethren, the Mennonites. Democrats laughed at the very idea. The Amish had no use for politics. Were the Republicans that desperate? But the GOP effort, underscored by President Bush's meeting with some Amish families in early July, did the trick.

"Yup, we voted this time," said an elder Old Order Amish man approached at his home-based quilt shop on Route 340. He had a beard that straggled down to his chest and bright blue eyes. His first name, he said, is Amos, but in keeping with the Amish edict against calling attention to oneself, he would not give his last name.

"I didn't vote for the last 30 years," he said, puffing on a pipe. "But Bush seemed to have our Christian principles."

Outside looking in, it makes sense that the Amish would pay little attention to national politics. They have their own schools (formal education for eight years), their own churches (or religious gatherings, at one another's homes) and their own rules. This has worked for them. The population of Amish and Mennonites, at more than 20,000 in Lancaster County, keeps growing.
...
Did Bush ask them to vote for him?
"Nope," Amos said. "That's another thing we liked about him."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35064-2004Dec29.html

[whistle]

1. I wonder how they'll respond when the military draft comes...

...knocking to whisk their sons and daughters off to fight Caesar's foreign wars?

[Rose Siding]

3. this is the freakiest story ever

They liked him because he didn't ask them to vote for him? He ALWAYS asked for votes!

I bet they didn't read how he called them liars for saying that he said God speaks through him.

[Yupster]

7. They'll be conscientious objectors I'm sure

I don't think they've fought in any wars.

[roguevalley]

2. word has it that part of their support depended on them being

exempt from the draft.

[Barney Rocks]

11. Amish have always been conscientious

objectors throughout American history--this is not a "new" thing.

They ARE drafted--and they do serve--they just do not kill. Most of them serve as medics--and many of them serve on the front lines in the very dangerous places.

I grew up within a Quaker community and I have very close ties to several other of these small religious sects. (Quakers were CO's during the civil war--have you read about Nixon's mothers famous Quaker family and their role in American history? He came from an extremely noble family of American patriots and peace activists. I am sure they were NOT proud of him! Quakers are a small and tight knit group--I know many people related to Nixon and have some great stories. His youngest brother is still alive and still part of the Quaker community in Southern California.)

I hate it that so few people do know much about these religious groups and there are so many misconceptions.

Us Democrats should leave these people alone for the most part--most of them do not vote at all--and believe me that is GOOD for us. If they become inspired to vote nearly 100% of them are going to be completely in line with the entire Republican agenda--from the social to the economic. The ones I know are even gung ho about the war--they just do not personally want to kill but they are willing to do whatever they can to help with the war effort.

These people are NOT sympatico with the philosphy of liberal Democrats. We are better off with these people NOT voting--they do not help us--that is for sure.

[DaveinMD]

4. well

we won PA, and I think by more than Gore did.

[Benhurst]

5. I guess this all goes to show that being an uninformed

Luddite doesn't make you godly.

[Rose Siding]

6. the ranks are swelling, because

there's one born every minute.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. This is bullshit, lies, and propoganda.

This map I did shows that Kerry won a geater percentage of the vote than Gore did in Lancaster County. (1.5% more to be precise)


The actual numbers were as follows (Dem share of pop. vote in bold):

GORE, AL (DEM) 54,968 32.2% KERRY, JOHN F. (DEM) 73,395 33.7% (18,427 new Dem. voters for a 25.11% increase)
BUSH, GEORGE W. 115,900 BUSH, GEORGE W. (REP) 144,291 (28,391 new Rep. voters, 19.68% increase)

And Bush underpeformed in Lancaster versus both the state average incease of 23.55% and the national rate of about 23%.

Full PA results... http://home.earthlink.net/~nashionale/id4.html

[democracyindanger]

9. Bush won the Stuck-In-1870-and-lovin'-it bloc

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

10. I respect the Amish for many of their qualities

But if they voted for Bush because of his religious values then their gullibility is not one of them.

... the famously reclusive Old Order Amish -- who shun most modern ways -- along with their slightly less-strict brethren, the Mennonites.

Give me a break. The vast majority of Mennonites in this country shun modern ways as much as Catholics do, which is to say that they don't. Now I don't know about the Mennonites in PA, but growing up Mennonite in KS, the ones that I knew were primarily Democrat.