Twelve Tribes Turn Against Government

Beliefnet's Steve Waldman and the University of Akron's John Green are out with their 2008 version of the twelve tribes -- twelve different American political identities.

The topline finding: the number of Americans who hold "values" issues paramount has been cut in half from 2004; the number citing the economy has doubled. (Cue the ruminations about theology and politics.)  This is true even among the "Heartland Cultural Warriors" -- more than 50% cite the economy as the number one issues.

The big moving groups include Latino Protestants, from swingable to overwhelmingly Democratic.

Interestingly, there is no discernable trend toward a preference for more government intervention. Indeed, trust in government has declined.  John McCain's campaign sees the same thing in their internal polling, which is why McCain brings up spending whenever he can.

Comments

Yet McCain didn't do anything to slow the spending under Bush. Go figure!!!

Posted by Joe Klein's conscience | October 1, 2008 8:13 PM

These aren't political identities, they're cultural and religious ones.

Posted by Joel | October 1, 2008 8:18 PM

Hey Marc, can we have an explanation of the "survey conducted Jun-Aug 2008" footnote on this?

An interesting survey I'm sure, but nothing is possibly valid over 5 days let alone 2 months. Maybe add a caveat for skimmers.

Posted by Tom B. | October 1, 2008 8:43 PM

I'm confused by this 3 month survey as well. What's the relevance here?

Posted by dannity | October 1, 2008 10:23 PM

Okay, maybe I'm cheating a bit, but comments were turned off in the last post, and I couldn't resist ;)

I'm just saying that Uncle John is going to have to take little Sarah back to the principal's office to assert that she in no way endorses that SCOTUS interpretation of a right to privacy.

Heh.

Posted by JS | October 2, 2008 12:18 AM

I find it most interesting how members of these religious groups will consistently vote against their better interests. Many in these group are unemployed, loosing homes and otherwise affected by the downward spiral of the economy and will vote for a continuation of the disastrous domestic and foreign policies of the past eight years. Apparently these people have not made the connection that the promoters and benefactors of the failed policies are the associates of John McCain. McCain's public record shows he legislatively supported the vast majority of those failed policies.

Posted by Lou R | October 2, 2008 12:48 AM

"Muslim and others" as a tribe. lol. Why not just give it a generic grab bag name like Leftover Spiritual or something. And certainly as a group it only exists on paper.

Posted by NJB | October 2, 2008 5:19 AM

"Muslims and others"

Pathetic.

Rev. Lovejoy: No Homer, God didn't burn your house down, but he was working in the hearts of your friends be they Christian, Jew, or... miscellaneous.

Apu: Hindu. There are seven hundred million of us.

Rev. Lovejoy: Aww, that's super.

Posted by James | October 2, 2008 5:27 AM

Oh God, it's actually worse in the real thing:

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/236/story_23639_3.html

Who they are: Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Wiccans, and other smaller groups.

Examples

* Muhammad Ali
* Keith Ellison
* M. Night Shyamalan

I don't know what's worse, that Reverend Lovejoy sounds more informed than them, or that Marc thinks something so inane is actually worth posting.

Posted by James | October 2, 2008 5:31 AM

Hey! How come I can't be a "Secular Culture Warrior"?

Posted by Nick | October 2, 2008 8:48 AM

james - lol !

I was brought to remember a scene from Animal House:

Neidermeyer: Hi there, fellows. Meet Ken and Lonny.
Larry: Larry.
Neidermeyer: Ken, Lonny, l'd like you to meet Mohammet Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton. Grab a seat and make yourselves at home. Don't be shy about helping yourselves to punch and cookies.

basically, assorted "others" not likely to make the cut

Posted by NJB | October 2, 2008 9:26 AM

"Interestingly, there is no discernable trend toward a preference for more government intervention. Indeed, trust in government has declined."

I don't think this is surprising. Republicans have been the party of heavy handed government intervention during the Bush II years. So a decline in 'trust in government' doesn't help out Republicans any more.

Posted by Sebastian | October 2, 2008 11:42 AM

There's that as well NJB, definitely.

But putting Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus and Wiccans together, Jesus Christ.

Posted by James | October 2, 2008 2:54 PM