Will Evangelicals Turn Out For McCain?

Christian Conservatives Helped Propel Bush To 2004 Victory, But Many Might Stay Home This Time

(AP)  If Christian conservatives stay on the sidelines during the fall campaign, presidential hopeful John McCain probably stays in the Senate.

Christian conservatives provided much of the on-the-ground, door-to-door activity for President Bush's 2004 re-election in Ohio and in other swing states. Without them, the less-organized and lower-profile McCain campaign is likely to struggle to replicate Bush's success. And so far, there's been scant sign that the Republican nominee-in-waiting is making inroads among these fervent believers.

"I don't know that McCain's campaign realizes they cannot win without evangelicals," said David Domke, a professor of communication at the University of Washington who studies religion and politics. "What you see with McCain is just a real struggle to find his footing with evangelicals."

Family groups in Ohio outlined their doubts about the Arizona senator in a meeting with McCain's advisers last weekend. They're concerned about his record on abortion rights and on campaign finance laws that they believe limited their ability to criticize candidates who are pro-choice on abortion.

"There's certainly a little reservation about Mr. McCain. I think the VP choice is going to be important," said Chris Long, president of the Ohio Christian Alliance. "If they choose a conservative for the VP, that will help his campaign. It would go a long way of sending a positive message to evangelicals."

Marlys Popma, McCain's director of evangelical outreach, was one of two aides who met with the forum and reminded them of McCain's record supporting school choice while opposing abortion rights and Internet pornography. She said the campaign understands the interest in the vice presidential nominee, but she noted that McCain "is the one who is going to be nominating judges. He's going to be the one who is signing or not signing bills."

"John McCain is their guy," Popma said. "John McCain's record is what will bring individuals to him. I think there are some people out there who do not know John McCain's record."

McCain's senior aides try to downplay the fissure with this part of the GOP's base. They say their internal polling data suggests McCain has the support of three-quarters of white evangelicals in swing states, slightly less than Bush finished with. They also stress that McCain is against abortion rights, even if it's not the centerpiece of his campaign.

McCain, who identifies himself as Episcopalian and attended Baptist services last weekend, has done himself no favors. He appeared ignorant of high-profile figures, especially as he sought- and then was forced to reject - the support from Ohio's Rod Parsley and Texas' John Hagee after their controversial sermons brought the candidate unwanted criticism.

"That was one of the most ill-advised faith and values adventures this campaign," said Jacques Berlinerblau, a religious scholar at Georgetown University who studies faith and the U.S. presidential campaign.

It gave religious conservatives yet another reason not to like McCain, even though he has sought a truce this time after calling televangelists Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell "agents of intolerance" during his first presidential run.

"It's hard to believe he's really changed, from his absolute disregard and disdain for the traditional guard of the religious right," Domke said.

Republican Ken Blackwell, Ohio's former secretary of state, coordinated Bush's campaign in the state and built a strong ground game from Christian conservatives. He said he appreciates McCain's bluntness but doesn't think it's helping him with the base.

"He has never identified with the evangelical and Christian movement and therefore he can, at times, misread or misinterpret certain activities in the political field of play or certain comments that are offered," said Blackwell, now at the Family Research Council, a conservative think tank. "I personally would like for John to get to the point of comfort with some of our issues and policy positions, through understanding and genuine acceptance."

High-emotion ballot initiatives banning gay marriage in 11 states helped drive conservatives to the polls in 2004. Ohio's ban helped give Bush a win by energizing the party's base in a state that every successful Republican presidential candidate has won. But only two states proposed such bans this year: Florida, a swing state, and California, which has been an easy win for Democrats in recent years.

One of the more influential figures among Christian conservatives, James Dobson, told listeners to his popular Focus on the Family radio program this week that Obama's religious views are problematic. Yet Dobson continued to vent about McCain, who has not been a vocal supporter of Arizona's state ban on gay marriage.

"This is a year when we have a lot of frustration with both political parties," Dobson said Tuesday.

Domke's research suggests Obama could lose big among older evangelicals, particularly elite faith-based activists, who take their cues from Dobson.

Bob Heckman, who leads McCain's outreach to conservatives, said voters will see clear differences - and McCain's values better dovetail with their views than do Obama's, he added.

"Part of our job is to remind them they're down to a binary choices," Heckman said.

But Dobson has not backed off his statement that he could not in good conscience vote for McCain and has suggested he might not cast a presidential ballot.

"A lot of evangelicals would rather take a defeat than to vote for a candidate they don't trust," Domke said. "A Republican defeat, particularly McCain's defeat, would help their movement."

Although the Arizona Republican's advisers privately worry about rejection by the religious right, McCain's campaign lacks the faith-based savvy of Bush's campaigns. McCain skipped the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, a gathering that Bush addressed by video in 2004. Unlike Bush, whose campaign also threw a private reception at that meeting, McCain didn't even bother sending aides.

Meanwhile, Obama's campaign is aggressively reaching out to evangelicals.

The Illinois senator dispatched former 9/11 Commission member Tim Roemer to meet with fellow Roman Catholics. He sent Brian McLaren, one of the country's most influential pastors, to meet with fellow evangelicals. And aides have conducted more than 200 "American Values Forums," soon to be followed up with house parties and town hall-style meetings aimed at young Catholics and young evangelicals.

Obama's strategy isn't aimed at outpolling McCain among evangelicals.

"Obama knows he can't win (among evangelicals)," said Berlinerblau, who wrote "Thumpin' It: The Use and Abuse of the Bible in Today's Presidential Politics."

"If he can get up for 21 to 30 percent, he's gold," Berlinerblau said. "And that's exactly what he's doing. He's going to fissure off this progressive evangelical voter."

[wanbleeman]

"Judge not that you be judged" Your sins will find you out. The founding fathers were right to place separation from Church in the Contitution, for the two do not mixed, that fact, but having faith is one thing, but forcing your views on the whole nation is not right. I always ask myself what would Christ do in certain issues that come to mind and some how, I believe He would be for the people with love and understanding. He would condemn some of the issues that some Church leaders have and Christ said that not all who say Lord I did this in your name,you see everything has a place and we must pratice what we preach and what I see here on the ground level is a complete disconnect of Religion and what the Bible speaks of. There are false teachers out there, we must be wise. American people are waking up, Faith and hope are lived and never to be misused. America is going to make once we get things in balance. We need to pray for each other and help each other. That''s not liberal or conservate, That is we what we are human, all are in the same boat and we want and need to come together. 2008 is shaping up to be a change year in which we can start that healing process and be what we truly are a people of diverse and common of a growing family. That to me is what this election is all about, that we unite as one and not on religious grounds but as one with shaired beliefs and values that help us all. Thank you.

[whatinthewld]

acolton1 - your comment wasn''t even worth posting once, in fact you should be reported for the way you blast others.
This is not the first poster who will post her comment 5 times and she won''t be last.

[acolton1]

Posted by White-Marsh at 11:20 PM

YOUR A STUPID REE-**** FOR BEING A CUT AND PASTE DOUSCHBAG POOP HEAD for POSTING THE SAME THING 5 TIMES. You must be super REE-Tarded because only TARDS Cut & Paste so many times. You only need to say it ONCE but 5 times shows you have a super LOW IQ, Just like MUDROSE has.

Mudrose, Mudrose, Mudrose is the captain of douschbags who cut and paste and say the same thing over and over and over again all day.

White-Marsh you must be Mudrose''s kin folk because you are a cut and paste douschbag also.

[dmhphils]

These wise words coming from a man who makes millions off of poor people who don''''t know any better. Talk about problematic!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by timdgrim at 11:41 PM : Jun 26, 2008

You wouldn''t know a "wise statement" if it came up and kissed you right on the mouth.

[timdgrim]

James Dobson, told listeners to his popular Focus on the Family radio program this week that Obama''s religious views are problematic.
*****************************
These wise words coming from a man who makes millions off of poor people who don''t know any better. Talk about problematic!

[omaar-101]

Seperation of Church & State: I`ll be glad, when No Candidate Attends a Church, or Endorsed by Any Church, Mosque, Temple Or Synagouge.

I`ll be Glad when All Candidates say, in Debates `I`m Implementing the Seperation of Church & State Rule` ...

My Religion is the Constitution.

My Religion, is to the (Republic) For which It Stands.

My Religions are the Senate, Congress, The State, This Nation and Its People.

You Hypocrites can Have Your Religion, I have Enough on My Plate, as You can See.

John McCain has Hagee & Parsley to Denounce, and You give McCain the Pass & Accept Every Excuse, but when its Obama...You all just Pile On.

Seperation of Chuch & State...For ALL Candidates.

They should not Attend Church...Anywhere.

Because the Pastor-Preacher can say Anything Controversial, at Any Time and this can Only Hurt the Politician, who may or may not have been in the Church, when the Pastor- Preacher says what he says.

All Politicians should use this Election as a sign...Seperate, Church & State...Permamently.

PS: Politicians & Most People don`t Attend Church Religously, Devoutly..Anyway, Just Like YOU...HYPOCRITES. I`d Love to See Your Church and its Members.

... your statement gives the impression that Conservatives don''''''''t care about the environment, human rights and all the rest. Wrong. Conservatives are very concerned that we all live in a better world, they just offer a different path to getting there.

Posted by dowell100 at 01:06 PM : Jun 26, 2008
--------------------
Wow, after following the "conservative path to a better world" for the last 7 1/2 years - you say this!! My, my, my.

[jon2012-2009]

... your statement gives the impression that Conservatives don''''t care about the environment, human rights and all the rest. Wrong. Conservatives are very concerned that we all live in a better world, they just offer a different path to getting there.

Posted by dowell100 at 01:06 PM : Jun 26, 2008

Of course, what liberals gravitate to are not the same things that interest conservatives. But I reject any suggestion you might have wanted to leave that the importance liberals place on social justice or the environment is shared by conservatives.

Your idea of a "better world" for everyone is so ingrained with your religious identity it''s hard to escape the suspicion that you are unable to conceive of a "better world" other than the one where your religion is a dominant influence.

Take your stand on g@y marriage. There is no argument against it other than religious bigotry. Banning g@y marriage is a line you will defend to the death that the unfairness of denying g@ys the same rights as other citizens under the law is a nonissue.

Equal rights, consumer rights, separation of church and state, and abortion rights are also core values to liberalism. The thread they have in common is expanding the individual''s ability to make choices that pertain to his life and securing a fair playing field for everyone.

I''ve been reading these boards for some time now and a few characteristics about the evangelical/conservative/religious right really jump out at me.
1. Fear! This one''s way out in front. Fear of the truth, the future, and anything or anybody who is in anyway different from them. The idiot son really exploited this with great success.
2. Irresponsibility. Especially for their own thoughts/feelings/actions. Unquestioning followship seems to be "sacred value". Whether it''s a "sacred text" or a leader of some kind.
3. Neediness. Especially the need to feel superior and comforted (which is related to fear, I guess). If I don''t share their "values" then I have none or "inferior values". Which leads to.......
4. Judgementalness. I don''t understand the "divine right" to judge others as inferior as well as the "divine right" to impose their "values" on the rest of us.

[nanc12]

I suspect this paragraph of squirt Sen. Obama offers above impresses me about as much as his vast liberal knowledge of the Bible apparently impressed Dr. James Dobson a day or so back.
Posted by Beastof70

Ok, in the paragraph, Sen. Obama said he respects the right to bear arms, but crime ravaged communities should have some recourse to lessen the violence. Then he said Justice Scalia said the law went too far in banning handguns, but the right to bear arms is not absolute, and reasonable laws are ok.

Mind telling us what''s wrong with that statement?

As far as the weird Dobson goes - he got ticked that Obama quoted Leviticus and the Sermon on the Mount in a 2006 speech, saying the New Testament overrides the Old Testament. Only problem with that is that Dobson quoted Leviticus 18:22 to say homosexuality is wrong. A little hypocrisy there, perhaps?

[beastof70]

%u201CI have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms,
[[FLIP]]
=========
but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged communities to save their children from the violence that plagues our streets through common-sense, effective safety measures.
[[FLOP]]
=========
The Supreme Court has now endorsed that view, and while it ruled that the D.C. gun ban went too far, Justice Scalia himself acknowledged that this right is not absolute and subject to reasonable regulations enacted by local communities to keep their streets safe.%u201D --Sen. Obama
[[WHAT THA''F...??????]]

========================

Do you see what I have long said about Sen. Obama.....This hyphenated-Americans can talk on both sides of any issue and when he''s finished you discover he''s offered absolutely nothing that could be used to pin him down.

I suspect this paragraph of squirt Sen. Obama offers above impresses me about as much as his vast liberal knowledge of the Bible apparently impressed Dr. James Dobson a day or so back.

[noloyalisti]

I wonder if the evangelicals can continue to think two opposite thing are both correct. Like pro-war and pro-life. For the simple folks but voting for the GOP who are behind tax cuts for the rich. All men are created equal but voting for the GOP that wants to kill Muslims and other non-Christians.

Do they go to the bathroom from both ends too?

[texanforlogi]

LOL, you haven''''''''t seen the vile hate filled rants of the right wingers on here then.
--------

So, you are saying you criticize the right, but really are no better than them, right? I mean you go directly to the gutter in your ignorant, bigoted, hateful remarks, right?

That is the message that comes across loud and clear.

This demonstrates again that Obama is not fit to lead. No "progress" from him, just the same old nasty politics as usual.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by dowell100 at 11:30 AM : Jun 26, 2008


Excuse me, dowell100, but this post doesn''t rant, isn''t hate-filled, and I don''t see any bigotry, either. Nor is taddles3 at all ignorant.
Practice what you preach, please.

[texanforlogi]

I think what really drives the Unreligious Wrong batty is that the very people they condemn are the kind of people who Jesus would welcome into his flock.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by flabear2 at 11:27 AM : Jun 26, 2008


Very true--you hit the nail on the head.

[omaar-101]

Seperation of Church & State: I`ll be glad, when No Candidate Attends a Church, or Endorsed by Any Church, Mosque, Temple Or Synagouge.

I`ll be Glad when All Candidates say, in Debates `I`m Implementing the Seperation of Church & State Rule` ...

My Religion is the Constitution.

My Religion, is to the (Republic) For which It Stands.

My Religions are the Senate, Congress, The State, This Nation and Its People.

You Hypocrites can Have Your Religion, I have Enough on My Plate, as You can See.

John McCain has Hagee & Parsley to Denounce, and You give McCain the Pass & Accept Every Excuse, but when its Obama...You all just Pile On.

Seperation of Chuch & State...For ALL Candidates.

They should not Attend Church...Anywhere.

Because the Pastor-Preacher can say Anything Controversial, at Any Time and this can Only Hurt the Politician, who may or may not have been in the Church, when the Pastor- Preacher says what he says.

All Politicians should use this Election as a sign...Seperate, Church & State...Permamently.

PS: Politicians & Most People don`t Attend Church Religously, Devoutly..Anyway, Just Like YOU...HYPOCRITES. I`d Love to See Your Church and its Members.

[Gary Kempf]

Christian Conservatives Helped Propel Bush To 2004 Victory.

Yes and we see today how well that has worked out for America.

[flabear2]

"The "bedroom issue" has led to homosexual marriage and other related social ills that need not have happened if Conservatives had prevailed."

Give me one example of how homosexual marriage can even qualify under "social ills".

[dinkydog1]

The fact Liberals don''''''''t see anything wrong with homosexuality reinforces my point that they have non-existent values and thus are incapable of being hypocrites. Posted by dowell100 at 12:11 PM : Jun 26, 2008
...........
You got it all wrong, they have nothing to do with thier lives so they just don''t think about them. You''d be a lot happier if you did the same.

[king_quest]

Obama, who is a complete and utter fraud, will be elected President.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by GreatDriveW at

And you know this? your very authentic? McBush is the Lord, AMEN!

The 12 disciples
BUSH
CHENEY
ROVE
BLACK
CHRIST
BROWNBACK
GRAHAM
ROMNEY
HUCKABEE
LOEFFLER
YOO
RUMSFELD

[noloyalisti]

If the evangelicals don''t want to be able to feed their families, they should vote for McLame. I was calling him McSame but it turns he is far worse.

Besides wanting even more war and death McLame wants to not only extend the Shrubs tax cut for the rich but want to INCREASE THEIR TAX BREAKS BY $45 BILLION PER YEAR. Sounds like a good addition to what the middle class is experiencing now, huh?