GOP Dominated By White Conservatives: Gallup Poll

As the GOP struggles to define itself in the face of its own considerable image problems, a new poll indicates that the Republican party's base fundamentally lacks diversity.

The poll, released today by Gallup, shows that a staggering 89% of the GOP is white, and that 63% identify as conservatives. It is, in the words of the poll's author, "first and foremost a political entity dominated by white Americans."

In contrast, the poll found that around 36% of Democrats are non-white. Of the 64% of Democrats who are white, the poll found that about half lean toward a moderate or liberal ideological position.

The poll also suggests that Republicans are more religious than either Democrats or Independents, with about half of those polled identifying as "strongly religious."

The poll is particularly significant given the increasingly weak position of the GOP itself. As the author writes:

A great deal of attention has been paid to the plight of Republicans who at this juncture in history find themselves not controlling the presidency, the House, or the Senate....

The data reviewed here highlight an essential dilemma the Republicans face as they ponder their future. The Republican Party's constituency is overwhelmingly white -- and the significant majority of those whites are ideologically conservative, while a majority are highly religious, as defined by church attendance...

Does the Republican Party in essence "stick to the knitting" and cling to its core conservative principles? Or should the Republicans make an effort to expand their base -- among whites who are moderate or less religious, and/or the various nonwhite groups who to this point are largely ignoring the Republican Party in favor of the Democrats? The decision the party makes in response to this question could be pivotal in helping determine its future.

Republican Pat Buchanan acknowledged recently that there is a "real demographic problem with the Republican Party. It is a heavily white party."

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Comments

[kasinca]

White Supremacy is not a religion. It is more like a terrorist organization.

[jayevans20]

I can assure you that Republicans are not christians. A lot of them need to read their bibles before calling them selves christians. Love thy neighbor is in the bible and republicans do any thing but. Thou shalt not judge. Obama hasn't been in office no more than four or five months and people want him to fail. Why? I don't hear this from any other groups but the republicans.

[stylenease]

Exactly. And this is why the other 80% of us can't stand the GOP.

It's the party of Bigots.

[sansego2000]

This is what the republican party seems to want. They do not mind alienating blacks, hispanics... Just look at the faces - Limbaugh, Beck no one else is really speaking. Oh i did forget Cheney, he is just plain mad. It does seem the people of color in the republican party are nothing much more than tokens. Look at how they treat Steele... ok he is a nut bag, maybe not the best example.

[Digeeedad]

"They do not mind alienating blacks, hispanics"...

That was easy and at times paid off when whites were a the most populous group in the nation. THAT is rapidly changing however. Here is a link to an interesting article outling the projected racial/cultural demographic changes for the United States:
http://news.ronatvan.com/2009/05/13/america-quick-changing-racial-demographics-becoming-unfriendly-place-to-live-for-white-europeans/

By 2050, whites will be a minority, roughly the same as the asian population.
# 33% Hispanic.
# 21% white.
# 20% Asian.
# 11% Black.
# 1% Native.

Many other projection that I have seen indicate a similar change, with 2042 broadly targeted as the year that whites offically become a MINORITY in the USA.

# 14% Other/Mixed.

[WowJones]

That's a bad projection you've got. More like this:

47% White

29% Hispanic

http://pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/703/population-projections-united-states

[DeSwiss]

D'oh!

[Nyla785]

The GOP has been the 'white guys first' party for years. But their verbal razzle dazzle duped the voters. Now the real GOP is exposed.

[Knowitall]

The only thing I'd question is the "religious" label. I go to church every Sunday, I believe in God, and I'm a Christian. Doesn't that make me religious?

I also believe in equality, for men and women, black, white, brown, red and yellow, gay and straight. I believe in clean air and water, the right to choose, and the right to marry anybody we want to marry.

Because I believe in the teachings of Christ, I want to pay my fair share of taxes, and have a portion go to those who have less than I do (Matthew 25). I also want to pay my fair share for education, universal health care, upkeep of roads and bridges, competent and fair policemen and judges, responsible firefighters, civil servants and military. These things aren't cheap, so the only time I grumble is when some rich person claims they deserve a higher percentage of the money they "earned", then I do.

I believe that war should be the last resort. And because I am religious, I am not so fearful that I feel the need to carry a weapon. Prudence requires reasonable caution, but I don't live in fear.

If someone asked me if I was religious, I would probably say "no". (I don't have that kind of certainty) But I'm a d@mn sight more religious than some of these right wing conservatives, because when I think WWJD, I think He would do what I do--and not what they do.

[Turtleposer]

Yes, you are religious. Just because you have a "liberal" perspective, doesn't mean you're not religious. I can say that you're religious, because I don't attend church or follow a particular religion. Other than your being liberally-inclined, we're different in that respect.

It doesn't bode well for religion in general when people feel that they have to have a particular political viewpoint to be considered religious.

[DeSwiss]

"The only thing I'd question is the "religious" label. I go to church every Sunday, I believe in God, and I'm a Christian. Doesn't that make me religious? I also believe in equality, for men and women, black, white, brown, red and yellow, gay and straight. I believe in clean air and water, the right to choose, and the right to marry anybody we want to marry."
=======================================================================

From the above description, I would have to say that you are definitely religious. However, according to your book... believing in racial equality, equality between the sexes and for those of differing sexual orientations, now that isn't Christian.

At least not according to your book. And without the book, what have you got???

[keepitreal50]

Freedom to choose!!!!!

[sansego2000]

I don't know if that makes one religious. Maybe makes Knowitall a Christian, although i am not sure of religious. Religious is something that is done religiously. This is a very good question. : )

[JoeGdr]

And to think without Gallup, none of us would have ever known ...

[LolaB]

hee hee ;)

[bigtony90]

LMAO I LIKE THAT JOEGDR......

[HesDanTheMan]

"The Republican Party's constituency is overwhelmingly white -- and the significant majority of those whites are ideologically conservative, while a majority are highly religious, as defined by church attendance..."

First of all....DUH! Second we need to take a look at that last line; "while a majority are highly religious, as defined by church attendance..."

The operative phrase being "as defined by church attendance". Just because they go to church does NOT make them "Highly Religious" by any means. Not even close!

[tokenconservative]

Just shows you the stupidity of minority America (I'm an ethnic and religious minority, so please, spare me your labels of racism).

[Shavano]

I'll be glad to spare you the "racist" label as long as you'll accept the "ignorant" label. Unless of course, you're speaking of your own "stupidity" as a minority.

[StacyGA]

How is it stupid to not to want to affiliate oneself with a party that makes it clear in one way or another that you are not welcome. I for one am an AA woman who does believe in "some" of their platform. But, my dignity and self respect will not allow me to align myself with such hateful people and I will not go where I am clearly not wanted. . I would imagine that many other minorities feel the same. BTW; that is not stupid --just plain old fashioned common sense!

[dimplesmile7]

I have news for you. You are minority america. If you combine all of the minorities in this country, you're the minority.

[Digeeedad]

On the day of Barak Obama's acceptance speech at the DNC, I was awestruck by the virtual rainbow of people of differing races and cultures, wildly celebrating together the nomination of an African-American bi-racial man to be their candidate for the highest elected office in our nation!

THE VERY NEXT DAY a very different portrait emerged, when John McCain introduced Sara Palin to be his VP pick at a rally attended by over 15,000 people in Ohio. I was once again awestruck but this time by the almost unbelievable difference between the audiences for these two events.

Where Obama's audience had been seemingly comprised of people from almost every race and culture in our nation, McCain's seemed ONLY to have been attended by caucasians! I intentionally switched my TV channels constantly during the McCain rally and with all the networks carrying that event, I saw only 5 black citizens (2 female cheerleaders, what seemed to be a secret service agent, and a man and his young son positioned right behind McCain's podium so as to be visible during his speech) and VERY few hispanic audience members.

The demographic differences between those 2 audiences turned out to be the plot line for the outcome of that election and in all likelihood the continuing story, as the racial/cultural demographics in our nation continue to rapidly shift. Caucasians will be a minority here by 2042.

[mcantwell]

I attended an Obama rally in Charlotte, NC in it was very diverse as well.

[roshni]

Reminds me of the wonderful Obama rallies we attended and the amazing people we met in them. I miss those rallies.

[robXdion]

You guys better be careful. HP tro||s will come on here screaming you're all "black reverse raycists!!" for defining the obvious historical relevance contributing to this poll.

~ snark

[JMBrodie]

I'm willing to take that risk..... :-)

[robXdion]

What's up, JM!! You look like the esteemed gent I always imagined you would :-D

[listentome]

NEWS FLASH!!!!!

GOP Dominated By White Conservatives: Gallup Poll

[Salvadore69]

I'm glad that someone verified this information for me. For a while I thought it might just be an old wive's tail. And how many standard deviants were in the polling data?

[Shavano]

Standard deviations - I'm pretty sure most of the Republican party is comprised of "standard and probably some "non-standard" deviants.

[DoTheMath]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I was assuming that both the "tail" and the "deviants" were intentional. Try reading it that way, and see what you think.

[roshni]

They are all deviants, I think, LOL! Standard deviations? Gallup would know.

[emlr]

I wonder how many dems would identify as spiritual rather than religious? Me for one.

[HesDanTheMan]

I totally agree with you. One can be highly spiritual and not have to be religious at all! Spirituality doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with religion. In my opinion anyway!