Exit polls and ‘values’

Brett Baber in a Nov. 19 op-ed said Nov. 2 exit polls indicated “moral values” were the issue that pushed Bush to the top of the heap. He then told us this shows Democrats are the party that ridicules Christians.

His statements are offensive and misleading.

The exit-polling questions did not list the Republican pet peeves of gay marriage, abortion and prayer in school when they asked voters about their views. I know I voted for Kerry because I did not like Bush’s moral values.

For some reason, as a Christian, I find the idea of killing 100,000 innocent people on the basis of a lie morally repugnant. It seems that physically and sexually torturing people who are helpless to defend themselves stands against Christian values.

Many Christians think if you turn your back on those who are less fortunate, if you deny aid to those who cry out for help, if you bring suffering to another person in order to further your own selfish goals, this is an indication you are not only immoral, but just plain evil.

So I tend to agree that the exit polls were correct. I think many people did make their vote based on moral values.

The real question, though, is why Americans accept the exit poll results with regard to “moral values,” but ignore them when they indicate the wrong man has declared victory.

Andrew Birden

Fort Kent