Religious right starts to consolidate for John McCain

Barack Obama got good reviews from some conservative quarters after his Tuesday speech outlining his plan for building upon the faith-based initiative established by President Bush.

But John McCain is getting better news from the right -- signs of a real push by conservative Christian leaders to coalesce on his behalf.

First, a taste of the reaction to the Obama speech in Ohio.

During an appearance Tuesday night on MSNBC, Pat Buchanan said that although Obama wouldn't "win over the evangelicals," his embrace of the federal program that aimed to make it easier to funnel tax money to religious-based charities would "diminish some of the hostility" toward him among social conservatives.

Added Buchanan: "It looks like he's reaching out to them. ... It's a win for him."

And David Brody, senior national correspondent for the Christian Broadcast Network, said on CNN today that the reaction to Obama's speech within the community he covered was "relatively positive." Obama, he added, "has seemed to be one step ahead when it comes to this faith and politics intersection."

Brody, meanwhile, details on his website a huge step that a major figure on the religious right has taken to build support for McCain.

Phil Burress, head of the Ohio-based Citizens for Community Values, not so long ago said of McCain: "We don't like him and he doesn't like us." But, as Brody relates, Burress is now in McCain's corner, following a sit-down with him. Indeed, the evangelical honcho sent out a note to allies which wraps up by saying:

"I was once one of those people who said 'no way' to Senator John McCain as President. No longer. The stakes are too high. And if Obama wins I need to able to get up on November 5th, look at myself in the mirror, and when I pray, say, 'Lord, I did all that I could.' "

Burress also was among about 100 conservative Christian leaders who met in Denver on Tuesday and "agreed to unite behind" McCain's candidacy, Time magazine's Michael Scherer reports.

In a comment comparable to the concluding line in Burress' missive, one of those at the get-together explained the backing for McCain partly as a reaction to Obama.

Mat Staver, head of a group called Liberty Counsel and a former Mike Huckabee supporter, told Scherer: "Collectively we feel that [McCain] will support and advance those moral values that we hold much greater than Obama, who in our view will decimate moral values."

The full story can be read here.

Noticeably absent from the meeting ...

... was James Dobson, whose Focus on the Family organization is located in Colorado Springs, an easy drive to Denver.

Dobson just last week caused a stir with a commentary taking strong exception to Obama's reading of the Bible. But he clearly is still having trouble warming up to McCain.

A Newsweek story published earlier this week focused on the disconnect others on the religious right felt toward McCain. But these more recent developments indicate that even if it's only grudgingly, a key GOP constituency seems poised to fall in place for him.

--Don Frederick

Photo credit: Getty Images

Comments

[ZachJonesIsHome]

Senator Obama’s Patriotism – What it means to this Navy Veteran. I hope you consider the following article: Senator Obama's Patriotism - a Veteran's Perspective
It is found at:
http://zachjonesishome.wordpress.com/senator-obama%e2%80%99s-patriotism-a-veteran%e2%80%99s-perspective/

[Walt]

get on the southern baphist bandwagon...how dumb...

[lousycandidates]

Re: "GOP constituency [Christian evangelicals] seem poised to fall in place for him" [Sen. McCain].

Well, it figures; they went for GWB, didn't they. And what we have with John McSame, for the most part, is a likely role as W's successor. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not looking forward to facing the prospect of enduring what may be called a Bush third-term.
Yuck.

[VJ Machiavelli]

Many followers of "IGOD" feel Mccain is the "Better" choice. He is not "Bitter" and he will work to save lives of the unborn. I find it odd that many people support "CHOICS" who cannot have children. They go to china to adopt a child. The only ones they can adopt for the most part are girls. How if these same people who "partner" with a women who did not want the baby put would bring it to birth and then let their "partner" adopt it.

Another way is to transfer to another women to bring to birth. In fact "Boston Legal" did a show onnthis very topic last year. It was very interesting. but in the end the women lawyer (THE SHOW WRITERS) choice to have they child.

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
ps.This election is all about shoes, yes shoes do we keep them on or do we take them off and never put them on again when we board a plane. it's that simple. On shoes or off shoes

[dave]

though to those people still thinking along political party lines, it might be hard to see...mccain and obama basically stand as agents for the same corrupt, deceitful, treasonous agenda - whatever superficial differences they might exhibit for distinction, division and diversion.

[ted811]

Yes, As sad as it is that USA has no better to offer than McCain Obama, we faithful citizens, for the most part, will give in to the urge that says "make your vote count".

Obama is an empty waggon that makes alot of noise. He is a preacher want to be with preacher friends who want to be politicians. Look for much "heartfelt" Jesus schmoozing in the days to come. Yes, Jesus loves the Middle class too and REALLY wants to help the poor souls. He and Bill will feel our pain and, well you know the rest.

Huckabee is a comedian want to be who shoots himself in the foot at an NRA friends ralley, then sticks it in his mouth, effectively ending his political carreer. (my opinion)

McCain and the lovely blonde Ms. ... Well, he will blink his eyes dry trying to tell the truth to us all---trying to convince us of his sincerity. I think he is a politician want to be and extremely well connected to the Washington political machine. He will pretend to be the great savior of the middle class---continue the "trickle down "into his rich friends pockets long before a middle class anything sees it.
Perhaps it really doesn't matter WHO is cunning for office!

[Richelle]

He should have done this months ago, when the press was focused on the Obama-Clinton fight. Waiting until now means he may alienate independents who he needs in the GE.

[Will]

The evangelical right is basically a whites only hate club. Their saviour who was in all likelihood a darker skinned man with semitic features would never stand a chance of getting elected in any of their districts.

They are laughable in the extreme.

[nails]

GAS BAGS, THE LOT OF YA!

[TM]

Sadly people forget American's have fundamentalist too - so yes should this really surprise you? Religious Right and Religious Left (if that is even a term) just means "Fundamentalist" in laymen terms.

[RJII in DC]

i think white christain conservatives are just like blacks...blindly loyal to a Party that does little to nothing for them after voting season.

[South Austin]

As a Christian, the best I can say about the so called "religious right" is that when I go to heaven I don't have to worry about these false prophets being there.

[David Bradwell]

Funding "faith-based" ptograms in return for votes is unconstitutional whether undertaken by Republican or Democratic politicians
.Let pastors adopt whatever moral or ethical criteria they like for membership in their churches, but once they seek to impose these values, however laudable, on a wider public by way of the political process , pull their non-profit status.
Yje Noxon era spin doctors brought abortion to the fore to split off Catholic voters from their traditional democratic roots. The issue was nurtured ub the political realm, not the religious.
What happened to "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar;s and render unti God that which is God's?

[joe]

I guess the religious right isn't for the family or women rights. How can any woman or any moral person vote for John McCain who abandon his first wife Carol at a time she needed him the most. Than McCain met a filthy rich beauty queen in a bar in Hawaii, had an affair with her, divorce Carol and married the woman (Cindy) he was committing adultery with a month later. The religious right is anti-family if they support McCain who has demonstrated by his action that he is also anti-family.. McCain may had been an officer but he is no gentleman.
http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/06/08/beware-
http://www.zimbio.com/Carol+McCain/articles/5/IIN+DEFENSE+OF+CAROL+MCCAIN

[nails]

HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE "LIVING HELL"

[Flander Anapolis]

Religious yes, Christian no ! Thes people take one issue and beat the country over the head with it. How can they call themself Pro-life and be for the death penalty? BTW everyone is Pro-life, some just believe a person has a choice about childbirth. This may sound harsh but, Christian should realize that God is pro-choice. He gives us a choice every day that we are alive.

[jimjoebar]

Obama - HA! we might as well have Joseph Stalin running for President.
It's funny ... but sad in an ironic way, that Demcrats don't see the Marxist policies he's talking about instituting. Democrats are like lemmings going over the cliff to death & destruction. The only difference is the pied piper Obama is looking over the edge of the cliff with his big wide smile saying "thanks for the support". And instead of him saying "we can do it", he'll be saying, "I've done it ... you suckers! See ya ... wouldn't wanna be ya!".

Wake up America, Obama will bring this country to distruction ... yep ... you'll get CHANGE alright. Hey ... since when does Marxism work?!
God help us!

[Rick]

Just like the " Christ " "ian's"

Put george hitler in office so he may " murder " people, then bring in john Mc hitler to carry on the murder campaign, then on sunday stand up and spread the good word and works of murder.

you go murders !

[Michael]

Lol - JimJoe, we just went thru 8 years of Stalin. Too bad you dumb right-wingers can't ever say anything good about your candidate, all you spew is is the hate you hear from Rush and crew.

[Brian]

Before you vote for McCain instead of Obama, ask yourself:

Who would Jesus bomb?

McCain is a warmonger and un-Christian.

[Blake]

This is ridiculous. "Lord, I did all I could"... give me a break!

Jesus wouldn't vote for war, Jesus wouldn't vote against children's healthcare, Jesus wouldn't vote to make the rich richer and he definitely would never vote for John McCain.

[abby0802]

The right is not always right, and they certainly don't speak for this Christian.

[Karen]

He has secret contempt for them otherwise he would not have picked Hagee and Parsely, the worst examples of the religioius right one could find, to attempt to solicit. .

Also, the leaders of the religious right are not in such secure positions any more. The "Green" evangelicals and those concerned with poverty, hunger and AIDS in Africa and in the US, are deserting the people who feel that being concerned with body parts (homosexuality and abortion) for a new view of what Jesus's teachings were about.

It is unlikely that Obama would get their vote by his faith and community based initiatives but it is equally unlikely that this group is going to McCain in the wholehearted way it went for Bush, who used them and promised them that the Bible would replace the Constitution.

[nails]

Luke 16:18 "Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery".

Matthew19:7-9 They *said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND {her} AWAY?"
He *said to them, "Because of your hardness of hearts Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.
And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."

[militaryfamily]

To ZachJonesisHome: I respect your service. Thank you. Three members of my family are military. Two are home after serving in Iraq. One is presently deployed.

But I don't understand how you can continue to perpetuate a lie. Senator Obama has never refused to place his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Alliance. They were playing the National Anthem.

The facts are easily researched. I don't understand your objective or justification for these kinds of smears. It just makes me sad.

Can't we just debate the facts? We are all Americans. No one asked my family members about their political views before sending them off to defend this country.

I would like to think that no matter how much you dislike or disagree w/someone, you could do it without distortions.