Ted Cruz Winning Isn’t Most Shocking Thing About Values Voter Straw Poll
Conservatives decided Ted Cruz is their choice to be the next president in the 2014 annual Values Voter straw poll. What’s shocking is who came in second.Â
Radical religious conservatives at this weekend’s annual Values Voter Summit chose Ted Cruz as their standard bearer. The son of an anti-gay anti-science anti-women Christian pastor, Cruz’s embrace of religious rhetoric and his habitual grenade-throwing has endeared him to the Christian conservative crowd.
So what’s shocking?
LOOK:Â LGBT Advocates Ask RNC: ‘Where Does The GOP Stand On Gay Bashing?’
First, Cruz garnered a mere 25 percent of the poll, just 228 votes. Last year the Texas Tea Party Senator won nearly twice as much – 42 percent.
That exposes a great divide this year in the religious conservative crowd.
Second, Dr. Ben Carson, the man who equates gay people with pedophiles from NAMBLA, came in second, with nearly 20 percent of the vote. That says a lot more than Cruz coming in first.
Carson, by the way, last month formed a presidential run exploratory committee. He believes white liberals are “the most racist” people in America, and abortion is “human sacrifice.”
WATCH:Â Sarah Palin Promises To Bring ‘Truth’ To ‘1400 Pennsylvania Avenue’ (Video)
It says the GOP, at least the religious right, wants some new blood, that they’re dissatisfied with the Republican pack.
(Touché, by the way, to the one person who voted for Hillary Clinton.)
Straw poll voters also said their top priority was “protecting religious liberty.” Second-most important was fighting abortion, followed by “protecting natural marriage.â€
Responses on Twitter:
Ted Cruz won #VVS14 presidential straw poll. As we all know they pick winners – just ask Presidents Ron Paul, Mike Pence & Mike Huckabee
— Jonathan Jewel (@JonathanJewel) September 27, 2014
Congrats to Ted Cruz on winning the #VVS14 straw poll even though nobody who ever won it ever became president: http://t.co/81qUYI9jo9
— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) September 27, 2014
Establishment Republicans did badly at #VVS14 straw poll. Jeb Bush got 2 votes, Christie gets 1. Both Hillary and Biden also got 1 vote
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 27, 2014
aka “stop gay menace!” #LGBT RT @KeiferMA: #VVS14 Straw Poll voters said threat to #ReligiousLiberty was #1 issue pic.twitter.com/3R1mi1YMvn
— Scott Wooledge (@Clarknt67) September 27, 2014
Top Issues from #VVS14 Strawpoll: 1) Protecting religious liberty – 39% 2) Pro-life/abortion – 24% 3) Protection natural marriage – ?%
— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) September 27, 2014
The results, via FRC Action:
Â
Image of Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore via Flickr
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.