Why does McCain have such a commanding lead in this state?

[Dari]

John McCain is beating Obama by 40% in Utah. Why?

 

[bamacre]

Utah is whiter than Michael Jackson.

 

[microbial]

Utah is a cultural war epicenter.

 

[Drakkon]

1. Mormons are overwhelmingly Republican
2. Guns - Utah folks LOVE their guns
3. No alcohol on Sundays

 

[Atreus21]

Because you touch yourself at night.

---------------------------------------
See you in a week.

In appropriate and uncalled for.

Senior Anandtech Moderator
Common Courtesy

 

[techs]

Because McCain is on his second wife.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
1. Mormons are overwhelmingly Republican
2. Guns - Utah folks LOVE their guns
3. No alcohol on Sundays

1. is correct. Morons are overwhelmingly Republican.

 

[heyheybooboo]

There is no party registration in the state BUT

2000: Bush, 67% / Gore, 26%
2004: Bush, 72% / Kerry 26%
2008: McCain, 57% / Obama, 32%

 

[techs]

Or maybe its this:

From the end of the nineteenth century until 1978, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not allow black men of African descent to be ordained to the priesthood or allow black men or women of African descent to participate in temple ordinances such as the Endowment and sealing that the church teaches are necessary for the highest degree of salvation.

In 1978, church leaders ceased the racial restriction policy after declaring that they had received a revelation instructing them to do so.

So basically most Mormons were brought up with an institutional religious upbringing that saw blacks and inferior.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: techs
Or maybe its this:

From the end of the nineteenth century until 1978, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not allow black men of African descent to be ordained to the priesthood or allow black men or women of African descent to participate in temple ordinances such as the Endowment and sealing that the church teaches are necessary for the highest degree of salvation.

In 1978, church leaders ceased the racial restriction policy after declaring that they had received a revelation instructing them to do so.

So basically most Mormons were brought up with an institutional religious upbringing that saw blacks and inferior.

The only door to door people from this church we get around here are black folks.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: techs
Because McCain is on his second wife.

And his tongue is out for Palin.

 

[retrospooty]

Originally posted by: techs
Or maybe its this:

From the end of the nineteenth century until 1978, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not allow black men of African descent to be ordained to the priesthood or allow black men or women of African descent to participate in temple ordinances such as the Endowment and sealing that the church teaches are necessary for the highest degree of salvation.

In 1978, church leaders ceased the racial restriction policy after declaring that they had received a revelation instructing them to do so.

So basically most Mormons were brought up with an institutional religious upbringing that saw blacks and inferior.

Except for the fact that Obama is winning more votes in Utah than Gore or Kerry did... So its not that.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Dari
John McCain is beating Obama by 40% in Utah. Why?

Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion

 

[Mani]

He shares their love for magic underwear

 

[stinger25]

It's 5 electorate votes, so don't be too concerned...

 

[Jhhnn]

The grip of the ultra-conservative LDS church on the state of Utah is utterly profound. The Church permeates daily life, and adherents are fully indoctrinated before they're old enough to develop any critical thinking skills at all. That's obvious to any outsider who's ever spent much time there.

The level of hypocrisy is correspondingly huge, but that's a different subject...

 

[Uhtrinity]

Idaho isn't far behind, but as in Utah Obama is doing better than either Kerry or Gore. In fact I see a much higher ratio of Obama to McCain signs/stickers here than the last two elections by a large margin. I can count the McCain signs / stickers on 2 hands, not so for Obama. They don't poll often in this state, so I hoping for a November surprise.

 

[Eeezee]

Because the fine citizens of Utah have been convinced that Obama is a homosexual communist atheist. For fun, he forces late-term abortions on pregnant women and forces men to get married to each other. His best friends growing up were Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. For laughs, Obama destroyed the World Trade Center towers.

And he wants to give every white person's job to a black man.

AND HE'S GOING TO TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY!

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Because the fine citizens of Utah have been convinced that Obama is a homosexual communist atheist. For fun, he forces late-term abortions on pregnant women and forces men to get married to each other. His best friends growing up were Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. For laughs, Obama destroyed the World Trade Center towers.

And he wants to give every white person's job to a black man.

AND HE'S GOING TO TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY!

I don't even think most people in this region even go that deep in their thinking in regards to religion and politics. Most of the Mormon friends I have vote republican because that is what they were raised as, the same with their religion. They simply don't think about it and it is taboo to talk otherwise. In the 2004 election one friend and his wife told me (in confidence) that they had voted for Kerry, and stated they would take hell for it if their family and co workers found out.

I can say that there is no enthusiasm here for McCain, and a lot for Obama. So much in fact I constantly over hear conversations in stores, cafes, etc, which has never happened before for any candidate in recent history.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Because the fine citizens of Utah have been convinced that Obama is a homosexual communist atheist. For fun, he forces late-term abortions on pregnant women and forces men to get married to each other. His best friends growing up were Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. For laughs, Obama destroyed the World Trade Center towers.

And he wants to give every white person's job to a black man.

AND HE'S GOING TO TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY!

And his first decree will be to paint the White House brown.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Because the fine citizens of Utah have been convinced that Obama is a homosexual communist atheist. For fun, he forces late-term abortions on pregnant women and forces men to get married to each other. His best friends growing up were Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. For laughs, Obama destroyed the World Trade Center towers.

And he wants to give every white person's job to a black man.

AND HE'S GOING TO TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY!

I don't even think most people in this region even go that deep in their thinking in regards to religion and politics. Most of the Mormon friends I have vote republican because that is what they were raised as, the same with their religion. They simply don't think about it and it is taboo to talk otherwise. In the 2004 election one friend and his wife told me (in confidence) that they had voted for Kerry, and stated they would take hell for it if their family and co workers found out.

I can say that there is no enthusiasm here for McCain, and a lot for Obama. So much in fact I constantly over hear conversations in stores, cafes, etc, which has never happened before for any candidate in recent history.

And you are in Idaho, right?

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Because the fine citizens of Utah have been convinced that Obama is a homosexual communist atheist. For fun, he forces late-term abortions on pregnant women and forces men to get married to each other. His best friends growing up were Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. For laughs, Obama destroyed the World Trade Center towers.

And he wants to give every white person's job to a black man.

AND HE'S GOING TO TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY!

I don't even think most people in this region even go that deep in their thinking in regards to religion and politics. Most of the Mormon friends I have vote republican because that is what they were raised as, the same with their religion. They simply don't think about it and it is taboo to talk otherwise. In the 2004 election one friend and his wife told me (in confidence) that they had voted for Kerry, and stated they would take hell for it if their family and co workers found out.

I can say that there is no enthusiasm here for McCain, and a lot for Obama. So much in fact I constantly over hear conversations in stores, cafes, etc, which has never happened before for any candidate in recent history.

And you are in Idaho, right?

Yes, and our area is predominantly a Mormon area ... I'm not Mormon for the record, but grew up in the culture.

 

[jpeyton]

As others have said, the church is bleach white.

They'll vote for the palest candidate on the ballot.

 

[Vic]

The Mormon church is extremely conservative (think Amish but they embrace modern technology), in particular strongly anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality, while at the same time it enforces strict conformity from its membership. Members who speak dissenting opinions find themselves quickly censured. And disfellowshipped or excommunicated if they keep it up.

The race issue doesn't really apply (although there are some racist elements within the church). Yes, Utah is overwhelmingly white, but so is Oregon. The church's relationship with the Republican party post-WWII has much to do with the influence of the Taft political family inside the church, particularly former church prophet Ezra Taft Benson. I believe the only Democratic Presidential candidate to win Utah since WWII was LBJ, and that's because his Great Society program was in their opinion modeled closely from the church's own internal welfare program (something the church used to take pride in, although I doubt they brag about that anymore).

edit: I grew up inside the church BTW, but left at the age of 15.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity
Yes, and our area is predominantly a Mormon area ... I'm not Mormon for the record, but grew up in the culture.

Your last name in your profile is the same as a Mormon pioneer family. It's not like being a Mormon named Smith or Young, but close.