Evangelicals ponder political defeat

[NorthCarolina]

Evangelicals start soul-searching as prospect of Obama win risks Christian gains in politics

Suzanne Goldenberg

Link to article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/21/uselections2008-barackobama
Link to video: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/oct/21/us-elections-2008-evangelicals

As the words to the Christian rock song fade from the giant screens at Mountain Springs church, Pastor Steve Holt steps forward to speak to his congregation. These are perilous times, he says, but he urges them not to despair.

"There are still two weeks before the election," he says, before announcing a week of fasting and prayer in the run-up to polling day.

For conservative Christians, such as Holt and his congregation, the prospect of a Democratic victory represents sheer calamity. Yet Evangelicals have not been natural supporters of John McCain, doubting the Republican's commitment to banning abortion and gay marriage.

But conservative Christians believe a Barack Obama presidency would roll back a generation of political gains which culminated with their privileged position in George Bush's White House.

"I don't think we are going to have any influence with Barack Obama in the White House," Holt told the Guardian.

The election represented a paradigm shift for the US as well as for evangelicals. "I think there is a backlash against Bush because of the economy and I think frankly because of a lack of leadership," Holt said. "There is a sense we are in a position of weakness right now."

A political forum at the church saw bewilderment and frustration among members of Holt's flock as they tried to come to terms with Obama's widening lead over McCain - and the potential loss of their power in Washington.

"Has Obama through mass hypnosis figured out a way to bypass the critical faculties of all Americans?" asked Brian Sherman, a church volunteer.

Mark Andre, a commodities trader, said he had not started out a supporter of McCain - though the senator was well liked by his Democratic friends before the campaign. "It's almost like Democrats became hateful of McCain. Has it been Sarah Palin and her stance, or is it just Obama and his ideology? What happened to all the Democrats who loved McCain?"

Political soul-searching is under way at conservative churches across the US - but nowhere more so than Colorado Springs, a town known locally as the "evangelical mecca".

Local government officials lured conservative Christian groups here with tax breaks in the 1980s. Colorado Springs is now headquarters for the most powerful Christian organisations in the US.

The town and surrounding areas remain defiantly conservative in a state that has been leaning Democratic in state elections for the last four years since voting Bush in 2000 and 2004. John Morris, the chairman of the county Democratic party, called the town "a black hole of Republican extremism".

Colorado is now emerging as a key battleground state, and Republicans are counting on the evangelicals to help McCain hang on. The party has sent emissaries to 400 churches over the past few days to recruit volunteers for "evangelical-to-evangelical" phone banks. It has also used the churches to generate excitement about Palin's rally schedule yesterday, handing out tickets after morning services on Sunday.

In an ordinary election that grassroots organization would make a difference. Evangelicals consider it a "Christian duty" to vote. Past elections have seen high turnouts among conservative voters - especially if there were ballots on gay marriage or abortion.

In an attempt to bring out the faithful this year conservatives in Colorado drafted a ballot measure that confers human rights on a fertilized egg from the moment of conception.

Church leaders have also tried to impress on their followers that - even if they are still cool towards McCain - conservatives cannot afford to have Obama in the White House.

Article continues here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/21/uselections2008-barackobama

on edit: shorten/add second link

[UnrepentantUnitarian]

1. Diversity's such a bitch!

Living in a society where you have to live with people who think differently...what a drag.

[unhappycamper]

2. mrone2:

From the detailed DU rules:


Do not post entire copyrighted articles. If you wish to reference an article, provide a brief excerpt and include a link to the original source. Generally, excerpts should not exceed three or four paragraphs.


You have one hour from the time of your original post to make changes.

TIA,
uhc

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. Diversity and independent thought goes against their very fabric!

[patrice]

4. Obama is only half of their problem:

All of this calling attention themselves has made

Evangelical = Hypocrit

in many people's minds. Actually, it no surprise, and it's echoed somewhat in the original arguments against Paul's effect on early Christianity, that people who are sooooooooooo focused on forcing, overtly or covertly, others to ____________________________, miss doing HONEST due diligence on your own relationship to the Truth, a.k.a. God.

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

5. The smartest thing the repuke party could do it kick these people

to the curb. I am almost certain that is what the palin pick is all about. imho

[Seldona]

6. Is this even legal?

-The party has sent emissaries to 400 churches over the past few days to recruit volunteers for "evangelical-to-evangelical" phone banks. It has also used the churches to generate excitement about Palin's rally schedule yesterday, handing out tickets after morning services on Sunday.-

Someone from that side please explain how christianity, as a whole, has not become a political movement. They should have their tax-exempt status removed and be forced to pay retroactive taxes from the time it can be proven the church started working with the repugs. Shouldn't be hard.

This is a multi-billion dollar scam. They should pay if they want to play just like everyone else.

[pipi_k]

7. Are they crazy?????

But conservative Christians believe a Barack Obama presidency would roll back a generation of political gains which culminated with their privileged position in George Bush's White House.



And exactly WHAT "political gains" have they managed to get with George Bush in the White House???

They don't seem to be much closer to forcing the rest of America to live by their rules....abortion is still legal...Terry Shiavo got to die with dignity...gay marriage is (for now) a fact in three states (yay Massachusetts! My home!), and nobody's being forced to worship THEIR god or risk death or dismemberment.

And in fact, whatever they thought they were going to get out of George Bush, even with a Republican-controlled Congress, mostly didn't materialize. Oh, except for their stupid war.

Damn.

I never used to feel this way, but there seriously are days when I wish religion would be outlawed altogether in this country.

I'm so sick and tired of hearing how "persecuted" they are in this country.

I don't want to hear any more of that bullshit, especially in light of recent events where a Christian worker was murdered by the Taliban for proselytizing.


OK...done with my rant....

[Doctor_J]

8. The most devout man ever to inhabit the WH is a LOSS for Christians?

What a soul-sick bunch.