Evangelical Leader Warns McCain On VP Pick

Political Players: Richard Land Says VP Selection Is The "Most Important" Decision Of The Campaign

(CBS)  Political Players is a regular conversation with the leaders, consultants, and activists who shape American politics. This week, CBS News' Brian Goldsmith talked with one of the nation’s key evangelical leaders, Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission about John McCain’s campaign and his upcoming vice presidential selection.

CBSNews.com: You've not always been the biggest McCain fan. Has he done a good job in this campaign reaching out to you, and reaching out to the Southern Baptists you represent?

Richard Land: Well, I don't endorse candidates. And so, girls who don't dance don't get invited to as many dances. I have not been the main object of Senator McCain's attention because he knows I don't endorse candidates. It's my understanding that he has been reaching out to people that are considered opinion makers in the evangelical and the conservative Catholic world. I've had some contacts with the campaign. They have called me and asked me questions from time to time. And I have met with the senator a couple of times.

I think he's done a pretty good job. I think that the speech that he gave at Wake Forest on judges was a very helpful one--in which he reiterated that he was looking at Alito and Roberts as the kind of judges that he would appoint to be confirmed.

CBSNews.com: As head of the public policy arm of the Southern Baptists, which is the biggest Protestant denomination in this country, do you think McCain has opened up enough about his personal faith?

Richard Land: Look it's obvious that McCain is not as comfortable talking about these issues about President Bush was, or as Barack Obama is. But that is not the prime concern of the Southern Baptists that I know.

They're more concerned about where he is on the issues that matter most to them, issues like the sanctity of human life, the traditional family, and religious freedom. And there was a poll done by our research arm in June, and eighty percent of Southern Baptist pastors said they were planning on voting on John McCain. One percent were planning on voting for Obama. And the rest were undecided.

CBSNews.com: A number of evangelicals and leaders of what used to be called the religious right have said that what they're really looking for--to determine whether they hold they nose when they vote for McCain, or whether they go in enthusiastically and bring their friends--is the person he chooses to be his running mate. What are you and the people you represent looking for in that running mate?

Richard Land: First of all, I agree with that assessment. I think that the vice presidential choice that John McCain makes is probably the most important choice he's going to make in this entire campaign. Because he has no room for error, no margin for doubt. If he picks a pro-choice running mate, it will confirm the unease and the mistrust that some evangelicals--and don't forget this, social conservative Catholics--feel about McCain.

If he picks a pro-life running mate, it will help to ease their concerns and confirm to them that, while he may not have been their first choice, he may not have been their second choice, that it's better to vote for a third class fireman than it is to allow a first class arsonist to become president.

CBSNews.com: So, Tom Ridge, who's been discussed. You think …

Richard Land: That would be a catastrophe.

CBSNews.com: As well as Joe Lieberman?

Richard Land: Yes. And I like Joe Lieberman. Joe Lieberman wrote the forward to my book. And I would love to have Joe Lieberman as Secretary of Defense or Secretary of State. But not as Vice President, not as Attorney General and not as a Supreme Court Justice.

CBSNews.com: Who’s on the list of people mentioned for VP that you think would most excite Southern Baptists and other members of the conservative faith community?

Richard Land: Probably Governor Palin of Alaska, because she's a person of strong faith. She just had her fifth child, a Downs Syndrome child. And there's a wonderful quote that she gave about her baby, and the fact that she would never, ever consider having an abortion just because her child had Downs Syndrome. She's strongly pro-life.

She's a virtual lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. She would ring so many bells. And I just think it would help with independents because she's a woman. She's a reform Governor. I think that, from what I hear, that would be the choice that would probably ring the most bells, along with Mike Huckabee, of course, who's a Southern Baptist.

CBSNews.com: You do hear about the possibility of McCain picking somebody really outside the box, somebody who's never served in public office, like Fred Smith, the CEO of Fed Ex, or Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of HP, or Meg Whitman, the former CEO of EBay. How would those choices play?

Richard Land: Well, I don't know what their position is on the life issues. That would be the first thing I would want to know before I could answer the question. The second would be that I don't know that in this particular climate someone who is a CEO is the best choice.

CBCNews.com: Because?

Richard Land: Well, just because we're in a tough economic climate. And you think about Fiorina's, what, 40 plus million dollar buyout when her company was taken over or merged. I mean, I just don't know how that would play.

CBSNews.com: And what about Mitt Romney?

Richard Land: I think Mitt Romney would be an excellent choice. There are people in the evangelical community who would have a problem with his Mormonism. I am not one of them. I mean, I'm very clear that I do not believe Mormonism is a Christian faith. But that does not disqualify someone from being President or Vice President. And my guess would be that, probably, about 15 to 20 percent of the evangelical community would have a problem with his Mormonism.

CBSNews.com: And so, it's probably a risk not worth McCain taking?

Richard Land: Well, I don't know. What I know of John McCain, he will make this choice. One of the things that makes him interesting is that he's totally unpredictable.

I'll tell you another choice that I think would ring a lot of bells among evangelical and Catholic social conservatives, and I think could have some real electoral punch to it, is Eric Cantor, the congressman from Richmond. He's the fourth highest person in the House leadership. He is a conservative, observant Jew, a one hundred percent pro-life voting record. And if he picked Cantor, that would probably help hold Virginia. And it would increase McCain's percentage of the Jewish vote in Florida and Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

CBSNews.com: Now, you've also called Senator Obama the most radically pro-abortion candidate ever to be nominated by a major party. Why is he worse, for example, than John Kerry?

Richard Land: Well, because when he was in the Illinois State Senate, he opposed the Born Alive Protection Act. That is a bill that says that if a doctor performs an abortion on a late term fetus, and the baby manages to survive and is born alive, that the doctor then has to go back into the healing profession and try to save the baby that he had just been trying to kill. And Senator Obama opposed that bill. I don't know how you can get more pro-abortion than that. And I can't imagine even John Kerry doing that. And, of course, in addition to which, he voted against the partial-birth abortion ban.

CBSNews.com: Now, he would say he opposed partial-birth abortion with an exception for the grievous health of the mother.

Richard Land: Well, how about the grievous health of the fetus? I mean, he was part of a small group of senators, 20-something. What that tells me is Barack Obama has never met an abortion that he couldn't, at least, live with.

CBSNews.com: Now, is there anything, short of changing his positions, that Senator Obama could do to reach out to more conservative Christians?

Richard Land: I’ll make a prediction to you. All of this talk that's been fomented that he's going to be able to peel off a sizeable chunk of white evangelicals, when election day comes around, we're going to find that the wish was the father of the thought. And that that is not going to come to pass. Because younger evangelicals, according to Pew Research, are even more thorough-going pro-life than their elders. And while they do want an expansion of the agenda to include issues like creation care and more emphasis on economic justice, they are not going to accept an exchange of agendas, which includes their surrendering their pro-life values.

CBSNews.com: Now, finally, I know you can't endorse anybody. But, there's no doubt who you're supporting.

Richard Land: Well, I don't support anybody. I do what I call upon Southern Baptists to do. I say that Southern Baptist pastors should never endorse candidates. But I think that Christians, of all stripes, should vote their values, their beliefs, and their convictions. And that those are far more important than their economic self interest. And so, I plan to practice what I preach. I'm going to vote my values, my beliefs, and my convictions. I don't endorse candidates. But I look for candidates who endorse my values and my beliefs and my convictions. And I will leave people to connect their own dots.

CBSNews.com: So do you then acknowledge that there's a debate over who's better for their economic self interest?

Richard Land: Well, sure. I mean, people are in different economic places. And they have different economic self interests. And, look, I would say the same thing to people who are pro-choice. You need to vote your values. You need to vote your beliefs. You need to vote your convictions. And your value system is more important than your own economic self interest. It's more important than your pocketbook.

CBSNews.com: Do you think there are a number of Southern Baptist for whom Obama would be better for their economic self interest. But their values and his don't match?

Richard Land: I don't know. I didn't say that.

[micma-2009]

Of course the vp choice is important for McCain. With his age and bad health, he''s not likely to survive a first term in office.

[imprisonkarl]

Love it, love it!!

No matter who Fake War Hero Johnny picks, the results will be the same: Obama Tsunami in November!

Suck on that Rush, Karl, Cheney, and especially you, Grover!

[emelder]

Stay out of politics, Richard Land. Not your place.

[liberalme]

I love these God selling thumpers.

Go ahead McCain--you''ve been lead around on a leash so far--listen to this guy.

We already have freedom of religion!
We need a president who will do his best to rebuild the respect of other leaders and nations, reinstitute our Constitution, and bring America back together.

There is no time or need for any president to bring religion into the White House--there are too many denominations and not fair to pick one.

Our president will represent ALL Americans, not just those of a "certain"" religion.

[flalady41]

Way to go, love your comments!

[shutupnvote]

Let me add my warning as a voter who has a CHOICE cause hates not my driver......Romney, Huckabee, Pawlenty are choices that will be offensive to WE that aren''t fringe wacko''s those barnacles we as a power will shake if not the 08 in the 12 election. And buddy keep moving Gods probably sending lighting bolts your way for using his name for evil

[beboldin09]

Picking Romney, who belongs to a cult called Mormonism, will not gain the vote of the Evangelical Christians McCain.

Picking Huckabee would be the best decision of your campaign thus far. (hopefully some of his campaign bloggers are reading this)

If you want the Christian vote McCain: PICK HUCKABEE AS YOUR VP.

[beboldin09]

CBSNews.com: Now, is there anything, short of changing his positions, that Senator Obama could do to reach out to more conservative Christians?


-Talk about an OXY MORON. Barak Hussein Obama is an extreme leftist. How in the world would he ever "Reach out" to Conservative Christians??

What a dumb question.

[wellhell3]

Our president will represent ALL Americans, not just those of a "certain"" religion.


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Posted by liberalme at 09:24 AM : Aug 08, 2008

Strange isn''t it. They have been doing just that since the beginning of the country''s inception. You''re talking like this is some NEW concept!

[wellhell3]

Pick well, John McCain...but it doesn''t matter to me who it is...just so Obscamma doesn''t get in the White House and destroy this country!

[usais11]

" And your value system is more important than your own economic self interest. It''s more important than your pocketbook."

Well, that is defintely a matter of opinion. Coming from a religious leader where people give his church money day and night, he can talk all he wants about values when he isn''t struggling.

Obama will raise taxes, period. Obama''s values are skewed, ( Rev Wright''s influence for 20 yrse) his wife is just proud of the country .. this in itself should be a big worry for the people,...but it isn''t.. WHY NOT?

[perceptions5]

McCain will pick Mitt Romney because it will please the conservatives

It will please evangelicals like myself who do view him a a Christian with great family values.

Plus it will put McCain in the White House as the following states move to McCains column:

Michigan
New Hampshire
Nevada
Colorado
New Mexico

other states that might tip to McCain with Romney on board would be:

Minnesota
Wisconsin.

An M & M ticket is really unbeatable.

Not to mention Mitt is Mr. Economy and Mr. Fixer.

[ricinboerne]

This is just ONE of the reasons why I have to laugh anytime I hear anybody use the term "separation of church and state." There is no such thing. As long as preachers can use their pulpit to preach politics and politicians openly woo certain religious groups for votes, the "separation of church and state" is now, and has been, a thing of the past.

[superdem]

Great, keep the Republicans sucking up to characters like this guy. Sorry, I don''t think it''s great that someone brought a Downs Syndrome child into the world. That is only heartbreak to me, I''d have NEVER done that. Or invade a country that never attacked us - this guy doesn''t seem to care about the war in Iraq at all. Some Christian. Just an overly self-important white man with nothing important to say. America needs help, this guy''s got nothing.

[realpatriot1]

If, God forbid, the wrinkled old white-haired guy wins his runningmate stands a good of assuming the Presidency in short order.

For Wellg=hell to say she doesn''t care who it is just shows she hasn''t a clue and doesn''t think through a *** thing she says.

perception5,

I don''t know what makes you think that Romney can deliver any of those states when he couldn''t even deliver them in the low turnout Republican Primaries. His dad was Guv of Michigan 30 years ago and lost his own White House bid when he admitted being brainwashed on Vietnam. People in Michigan who even remember his father are not going to factor that into their votes and Obama is comfortably ahed in Michigan.

[realpatriot1]

Beboldin09,

The truth is that idiots like you think anyone who doesn''t want to dictate other people''s morals and have socialism for the rich is a leftist.

If Sam Nunn were running you''d think he was a leftist too.

[kevboom]

"Obama will raise taxes, period."

Well, when his predecessor runs up a $9.5 trillion dollar debt on unnecessary wars and corporate give-aways, someone has to clean up the mess. As usual, the Democrat. Fiscally conservative my back side. It''s voters like you we have to thank for this recession. Accept no responsibility, just keep borrowing.

[liberalme]

Strange isn''''t it. They have been doing just that since the beginning of the country''''s inception. You''''re talking like this is some NEW concept!

Posted by WellHell3 at 09:54 AM

Well, lets see---doesn''t the christian right take credit for Bush getting into office because liar Bush said God told him to be president?--do they represent every religion?

The ONLY people Bush has represented while in office were his big corporate buddies, he only made fools of the religious right.

[usais11]

Whites will lose control of America if Obama wins.

Try not to be ''ignorant'' of that.

[aldon61]

This is a perfect example of why I am no longer a republican. The religious right nut whacko''s hi-jacked the republican party. We used to be moderate and compassionate. These "Agents of intolerance" don''t want bipartisan governments, they want a theocracy, ruled by the bible (their own interpretation). You either do business their way, or you don''t do business.....period! McCain once was a man of integrity and stood up to these madmen, but now he has sold his soul for a few short years of
power. He disgust''s me; anyone but Bush/McCain "08".

[newz4i]

Richard Land: "I''m going to vote my values, my beliefs, and my convictions."

And I have a feeling Mr. Land''s regard for others'' values, beliefs, and convictions will be missing.

[starleo146]

I am beginning to wonder what is happenning to our country. If you fly, all your technolgy items are confiscated and read and dumped for safe keeping by Homeland security. Does anyone remember the SS in germany. Evangelist giving warnings to people running for president, all our right and freedoms are gone. I could go on and on and Mc Same is not talking about it,maybe he likes this russian roulette.This was the greatest country but this Homeland Security is going too far along with the Patriot Act what rights do we have left.

[usais11]

"I admire Senator McCain greatly."

"I know Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience he will bring to the White House."

"I believe the right approach begins with the proposal put forward by%u2026Senator McCain."

Would you believe Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, said this respectively?

Seven prominent Democrats, each one offering compliments for the presumptive Republican nominee.

[starleo146]

Whites will lose control of America if Obama wins.

Try not to be ''''ignorant'''' of that.



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Posted by usais11 at 10:49 AM : Aug 08, 2008

John Mc Same will do better yea sure he is a Bush clone with his lieing straight talk express and all those people helping him that helped Bush,25 yrs of mc Same and what do we have today, who is the ignorant one here

[liberalme]

Whites will lose control of America if Obama wins.

Try not to be ''''ignorant'''' of that.


Posted by usais11 at 10:49 AM : Aug 08, 2008

What a totally stupid thing to say!!

[liberalme]

Seven prominent Democrats, each one offering compliments for the presumptive Republican nominee.

Posted by usais11

That was several years ago when McCain was considering becoming a Dem---do you just read a little of an article then assume the rest?

[wardoglrs]

Richard Land when was the last time you paid taxes on that ******* church property. If you want these kinds of Satan worshippers giving advice to politicians they better by paying taxes. The separation of church and state is very important, Remember the catholics when they went around in the DARK AGES cause of this same BS. Tell these church losers to stay out of the Policy''s of politics.

[wdrussell1]

The Spanish Inquisition wing of the GOP rears it''s ugly head.
Everybody with a brain laughs.

[aldon61]

The Spanish Inquisition wing of the GOP rears it''''s ugly head.
Everybody with a brain laughs.


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Posted by WDRussell1 at 11:17 AM : Aug 08, 2008

Man is that an exact analogy! Dark ages indeed.

[lochlan-2009]

It''s going to be Romney. He''s already bought the seat. People just don''t pay attention.

[midvale3]

I''m not sure what the Christian''s are worried about. God will make sure they win. Don''t they always say God is more powerful than the Devil? If Obama wins, wouldn''t that mean the Devel is stronger and they have been backing the wrong horse?

[six-six-seis]

Someone should reming Richard, that Jayzus is not seeking the nomination for VP.

[pensacola88]

The Evangelicals are not considered a very positive force in the USA. They are regarded as the very cause of religious persecution that led people to abandon their European homeland and create this country.

William Penn (Pennsylvania) wrote that his colony was a sanctuary from radical religious extremism.

John Leeland (Pastor during authoring of Federal Constitution) wrote that using taxes to pay for pastor''s salaries was not adequate separation of church and state and advocated for private donations to pay for pastor''s salaries, instead.

Immigration has dominated the expansion of the USA since 1800''s and many are migrating back to the fundamentalism that they are used to in their homeland.

Evangelism is not forward thinking for the USA. It is restrictive, oppressive, and regressive for humanity. It should be shunned in it''s entirety in favor of providing human rights for all citizens of this nation.

[brianbwb-2009]

"If Obama wins, wouldn''''t that mean the Devel is stronger and they have been backing the wrong horse?"
Posted by midvale3

No, it would suggest that the idea that whom they call "God" is actually "the Devil" in disguise, and they are too thick to see it.

[tibu987]

McCain who is surely in the easrly stages of senility will eventually have to turn the reigns over to his VP should he die or become more senile while in office.
Thus, his selection of a VP becomes very important.
I hope it is not Lieberman.

[leftyintexas]

This is just one more reason to vote FOR OBAMA IN 08!

[leftyintexas]

Well, here is the video, folks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=d667NAI9HIM

Posted by ddhinnyc at 11:52 AM : Aug 08, 2008

Why don''t you go watch it for us....again? Only 165 days left, bushite! Enjoy!

[shippg]

I would support Obama if he were not NOT so radically pro-abortion. I did not know previously that some aborted babies come out alive. They have been set aside to die in a storage room, usually, maybe too weak to cry and be noticed by a compassionate nurse. The "Born Alive" act was a proposal to try and save them. Obama voted against it. Yuck.

[deacon20081]

McCain would appoint judges like Alito and Roberts to the Supreme Court? Just what we need....NOT

[labrat9999]

Whatever happened to separation of Church and state? I guess I don''t understand that law very well but I always thought that the major reason many people migrated to the US from Europe was to get away from the influence of the church on the government. In fact I thought that was how the church was able to maintain their tax free status. Guess I was wrong...but of course those sneaky little Republicans are so clever to make sure that the church backers make non-statement, statements about "who they would prefer" instead of "who they endorse". Very clever! Again..the church ain''t done nothing for this mess we are in the past 8 yeras and in fact have actually contributed to the mess but supporting Bush and gang. No thanks I don''t need prayers...I need an economy that works and people who are not liars that go to church every Sunday to ask for foregiveness for their lies!

[deacon20081]

I would support Obama if he were not NOT so radically pro-abortion. I did not know previously that some aborted babies come out alive. They have been set aside to die in a storage room, usually, maybe too weak to cry and be noticed by a compassionate nurse. The "Born Alive" act was a proposal to try and save them. Obama voted against it. Yuck.
Posted by carats100
----------------------------------
What a crock of crapola. Another Troll debuts

[beboldin09]

I would support Obama if he were not NOT so radically pro-abortion. I did not know previously that some aborted babies come out alive. They have been set aside to die in a storage room, usually, maybe too weak to cry and be noticed by a compassionate nurse. The "Born Alive" act was a proposal to try and save them. Obama voted against it. Yuck.
Posted by carats100
----------------------------------
Wh
at a crock of crapola. Another Troll debuts


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Posted by deacon20081

Hey deacon20081, what carats100 posted is the truth. This is easily researchable. Unless you can come up with some evidence to refute it, your allegation of it being a "crock of crapola" is completely ignorant and intellectually dishonest.

[tx_doughboy]

With all the problems in this country has there are still people who find the issues of abortion and gay marriage to be more important than the economy, middle east violence, and this country''s security. Freakin unbelievable!!

[wdrussell1]

deacon20081, look up Herrera v Collins.
Scalia and Thomas wrote for their opinion,that a person was not eligible for a new trial based solely on the fact that they had proof that they were innocent.

[beboldin09]

Beboldin09,

The truth is that idiots like you think anyone who doesn''t want to dictate other people''s morals and have socialism for the rich is a leftist.

If Sam Nunn were running you''''d think he was a leftist too.
Posted by realpatriot1 at 10:29 AM : Aug 08, 2008


You are a leftist. And a stong supporter of Obama.I''ve seen your posts on here. You call yourself a Christian, yet support a candidate who is a Marxist and a socialist, Barak Obama, the most extreme radical leftist presidential candidate that''s ever ran for the highest office in the world.

How do you reconcile your Christianity, with a radical leftist like Obama, who supports not only abortion(murder), but partial birth abortion(more murder) and infanticide (more murder?)?

There is nothing "Christian" about Obama. All you have to do is look at his hate associations and that demonic church he attended for 20 years.

[beboldin09]

Our president will represent ALL Americans, not just those of a "certain"" religion.


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Posted by liberalme at 09:24 AM : Aug 08, 2008

Strange isn''''t it. They have been doing just that since the beginning of the country''''s inception. You''''re talking like this is some NEW concept!


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Posted by WellHell3 at 09:54 AM : Aug 08, 2008


Indeed. Liberals are so deluded from reality when it comes to our nation''s history. They have their own distorted version of history.

[realpatriot1]

Carots100,

We''ve always had abortions. As long as women want to have them they''ll have them, regardless of the law.

Abortions are always gruesome and sad for the unborn. Illegal back alley abortions are also gruesome for the woman.

Abortion will never be reduced by making them illegal. We know this from past experience. The things that will reduce abortion are generally opposed by the "Pro Life" movement. These things are: *** & parenting education, birth control, healthcare for poor women, and expansion of adoption services and resources.

[shippg]

I would support Obama if he were not NOT so radically pro-abortion. I did not know previously that some aborted babies come out alive. They have been set aside to die in a storage room, usually, maybe too weak to cry and be noticed by a compassionate nurse. The "Born Alive" act was a proposal to try and save them. Obama voted against it. Yuck. by carats100 at 12:01 PM
--------

Abortion doesn''''t run the country, two wars, health benefits, a tanking economy. blah blah blah
by zoe2006 at 12:11 PM : Aug 08, 2008

--------

Zoe, you have neither soul nor conscience. Have your abortions if you want - but if a baby is born alive it is BORN ALIVE. The mother is out of the picture and has no further responsibility. Before, they did not even bother to tell her that the baby was alive. That probably still happens today. But just letting the baby die crosses over into murder for the doctor. Of course, he/she will not be prosecuted because there are too many ways to sugar coat the situation.

You guys react so strongly against logic because you have not heard the truth about what really goes on in abortion clinics.

[jimfinster]

You guys react so strongly against logic because you have not heard the truth about what really goes on in abortion clinics.

Posted by carats100


Ummmmm, they perform abortions?

[thaimormon]

What is the definition of a ''Christian Faith''? The official name for the Mormon church is ''Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints''. We believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. If that isn''t a Christian Faith, what is?