“Moral Values in the Election”

Exit polls -- for whatever they're worth -- showed that the biggest concern among voters this year was not Iraq, the economy, or terror. It was moral values.

Iraq was second among voter issues, and Kerry drew 75 percent of those voters. But more Florida voters listed moral values as their main concern than Kerry's campaign issues of the economy or health care. Seventy-nine percent of the "moral values" voters went for Bush. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

The 2004 election produced more than a few surprises. Exit polls revealed that moral values trumped Iraq and the economy as a top voter concern. [NPR Morning Edition]

The economy and moral values were the top issues for young voters, with about one-fifth of those surveyed choosing each. Young people concerned about moral values strongly supported Bush, while those interested in the economy and jobs chose Kerry. [azcentral.com Arizona's Home Page]

One voter in five said moral values were the most important issue driving the vote, and almost eight out of 10 backed Bush. Terrorism was almost as high in importance, and 85 percent of voters citing it also supported the president. Kerry found his strongest support -- more than 80 percent -- among those who named the economy, jobs and the war in Iraq as their most important concerns. [Washington Post]

Might this have anything to do with the overwhelming support for constitutional amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman, on the ballots in eleven different states? Isn't anybody else going to make this connection?

I understand why so many webloggers came out so strongly against Bush. (Personally, as I told Corinne, I was going to be deeply disappointed no matter who won.) Still, it's interesting to see much of the country make a connection here that none of the pundits really expected.

The media may or may not be mostly-liberal, and the weblogging community most definitely does track strongly to the left, but that doesn't mean the country follows. Agree or disagree with what they've chosen, I find it quite refreshing that the people made a choice contrary to the expectations and wishes of the bias all around them.