Are you worried

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Poll question: Are you worried

that Kerry might lose the Amish vote?

Bush privately met with about 30 Amish during a July 9 campaign trip through Lancaster County. Earlier this year, the Bush administration relaxed federal labor laws to let Amish teenagers work near dangerous woodworking machines. The Amish had lobbied for the changes for years.

Democrats have all but ceded the Amish vote to Republicans.

``If I know Republicans and their grass-roots operations, they'll spend most of their time trying to phone bank the Amish,'' said Kerry spokesman Mark Nevins.

Not all Amish are comfortable with the Bush administration - particularly the president's decision to invade Iraq.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4391553,00.html

[Taylor Mason Powell]

1. Wouldn't they be forbidden to use touch-screens?

just asking.

[Lauren2882]

4. Damn, I was gonna say that!

Ya beat me too it. :)

[JohnKleeb]

2. hah I fear the Amish all right heh

of course not. What I do fear however is Bush tricking Catholic voters though.

[iconoclastic cat]

3. No, it's the Mennonites that are the real wild card!

[drhilarius]

5. It's always those shifty mennonites.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Could the Amish be the hidden, unpolled Bush base?

lol

[Canuckistanian]

7. George Bush - Building a Bridge to the 12th Century

No wonder he's courting them.

[DaveinMD]

8. The Amish

have a great farmer's market where I live.

[flaminbats]

9. The new Diebold machines could make voting difficult for the Amish..

Since 9/11, Amish people have suffered brutal harassment and discrimination everywhere they go from bigots who confuse them with Muslims. And naturally there would be no photo-opts to be had with Amish voters, so why would Bush campaign for these votes? Especially if such footage could not be used for more negative ads..

I am certain the Amish, at least those still planning to vote, are unlikely to give Bush a second chance!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. not a problem

Physically casting a ballot will not be a problem for Amish in Lancaster County, where mechanical lever voting machines are still used.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4391553,00.html

[flaminbats]

11. yes..but those ballots are printed using electrical power.

and then they are usually counted mechanically. So just by voting, the Amish are indirectly using electricity. If the Amish do vote for Bush they are advocating greater use of energy, not energy conservation. And the Amish would be ditching their principles of pacifism and religious tolerance by supporting Bush. Kerry should fight for these votes, and show his principles are closer to their principles.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. Why whould Amish Bush supporters

be any more consistent about their supposed 'principles' than the rest of the Bush supporters.

[flaminbats]

16. Amish Bush supporters would be less consistant than other Bush voters

but if the Amish really believe in these principles, then Kerry should be able to win most of their votes.

[The Hair in my Nose]

13. No hanging chad...

... cause they're pacifists.

[bigwillq]

14. What percentage of this country is Amish?

Does anyone know?

[spooky3]

17. I believe that there are only about 80,000 Amish in the entire US.

Many, but not most, of them are in Indiana, which will go Repug no matter what.

Edited to add a link:

http://www.holycrosslivonia.org/amish/origin.htm

This 80,000 figure does not include Mennonites.

[Iris]

19. but they are concentrated in Ohio & Pennsylvania,

which is why the Repigs think it's a good idea to target them.

[bigwillq]

20. Thanks for the link (nt)

[tedoll78]

15. haha! "Phone bank the Amish!"

That's hilarious!

[spooky3]

18. I think you'll need to explain it to the Morans.