Religious Right Figure Gets Chills: Obama Could Win 40 Percent Of Evangelicals

"With clients like Focus on the Family, Franklin Graham, and Campus Crusade for Christ, Mark DeMoss may be the most prominent public relations executive in the evangelical world. A former chief of staff to Jerry Falwell, DeMoss became then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney's chief liaison to evangelical leaders."

In a new interview with Dan Gilgoff for BeliefNet's God-o-Meter, DeMoss explains the lack of religious enthusiasm for McCain and predicts a potential major shift to Obama.

How is John McCain doing among evangelicals, a crucial Republican constituency?

The evangelical world or the conservative religious world is not his natural habitat, so he doesn't strike me as being all that comfortable with it. I think that's evidenced by the strong comments made in 2000 about Falwell and Robertson. ...

You represent some of the nation's most powerful evangelicals. What do those leaders say about McCain?

This is one guy's perspective, but I am surprised by how little I've seen or read in conservative circles about McCain since February. I don't think I've gotten one email or letter or phone call from anybody in America in the last four months saying anything about this election or urging that we unite behind John McCain and put aside whatever differences we have. Back in the fall and winter, you'd get several things a day from conservatives saying, "The future of the Supreme Court is at stake. We have to stop Hillary Clinton. Get behind so and so--or don't' go with this guy." It's just very quiet. It could meant there's a real sense of apathy or it could mean they're' waiting for the general election to begin. But it's a surprise, given the way email networks work now.

Barack Obama is trying hard to win evangelical voters. Does that effort stand a chance?

If one third of white evangelicals voted for Bill Clinton the second time, at the height of Monica Lewinsky mess--that's a statistic I didn't believe at first but I double and triple checked it--I would not be surprised if that many or more voted for Barack Obama in this election. You're seeing some movement among evangelicals as the term [evangelical] has become more pejorative. There's a reaction among some evangelicals to swing out to the left in an effort to prove that evangelicals are really not that right wing. There's some concern that maybe Republicans haven't done that well. And there's this fascination with Barack Obama. So I will not be surprised if he gets one third of the evangelical vote. I wouldn't be surprised if it was 40-percent.

Read the full interview here.

Comments

[uhappytoo]

Without this group of voters, how can McCain possibly gather enough lobbyists to vote for him? I mean, are there enough lobbyists in the whole world to shove him across the finish?

John McCain is starting to look like one of those "leaders" who is afraid to look behind him for fear of finding no one in sight.

[ObamaLover]

no kidding, obama is stealing mccain's lobbyist left and right....

[MrTender]

All religions are equally sublime to the ignorant, useful to the politician, and ridiculous to the philosopher. - Lucretius (94 BC - 49 BC)

[Shake-A-Spear]

Let's keep God outta this race. Why call on a God who brought us Katrina, tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, fires and the likes of such frauds as Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Baker, Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Scott Reed and a whole swarm of lapel-pin-wearing, bible-thumping hypocrites? The religious right and their not-so-subtle bigotry is finally soooo much yesterday. Let's leave it there.

[dawn2dusk]

Let's keep religion out of the race, but God bless us all and BO who is literally risking his life to serve his country

[mero909]

Billy Graham? A fraud? That's funny. For one, you should never blame God for the mistakes of His followers. After all, Christians ARE human.

[libertyanne]

Isn't it interesting that most of the "acts of God" are occuring
in the bible belt? Maybe "He" is angrier at the hypocrites than he
is at good old-fashioned fun that they call "sin."

[orianna]

Little men and big egos.... understandably McCain is angry... his daddy was a great Vietnam admiral... he was a reckless, faltering son who kept crashing planes and then went through years of capture where he sold his integrity by starring in propaganda films for the Vietnamese­.... Daddy was very disappointed and it took years of cover up over the documents of his film career, which also meant keeping our poor American heroes in POW camps and poor American moms with no information on their MIAs because of the need to hide away McCains less than admiral war record....­.. We now call him a hero... but he knows he is no such thing... just a lot of blustering blood thirsting.­.. don't know the details of the enemy even... just give him a big bunch of guns.....G­od help America... and God bless us with a safe Diplomatic president.­... Obama for American safety.

[EGNY]

OK, I'm an Ob-*ma supporter -- have been since early in the primaries. I'm certainly inclined to believe stuff like this. Certainly there is ample evidence, even without most of the details you described, to believe that McSame is a hothead with some sort of demons that drive him to sing "Bomb Iran" to the tune of "Barbara Ann."

But you make some incredible statements. "...cover up...the documents of his film career..."­, "...keepin­g our poor American heroes in POW camps and poor American moms with no information on their MIAs because of the need to hide away McCains less than admiral war record..."

Are you actually saying that American soldiers were left sitting in POW camps, just so McSame could make his war record look good? Do you have proof of this? MIA soldiers, whose whereabouts were known, but hidden for the same reason? Do you have proof of this? Please cite it. Because if this could be proved, one would think that it'd be the end of McSame's viability as a presidential candidate.

I don't need accusations of such magnitude to know that I think McSame would be a terrible, tragic choice for president. I know he is. But, somehow, I'm skeptical of these huge claims without some very clear proof.

[dizmo4]

If you look at the past eight years, there's a feeling that the evangelical base has been used by the republican party. There's a certain bitterness and resentment that comes from being promised all of these social changes during campaigns but then having nothing done once they get into office.

I think it'll be the case of they're disappointed and angry at the republican party. Obama isn't well known so he's not hated like Hillary is. They're just as hard hit by the economy as anyone and I think this election they will vote on the economy rather than on social issues.

[mstew99]

Yes, a big portion of the Republican base, the evangelicals, have become disenchanted, and it's about time. The Bush administration has been laughing at them behind their backs for years now. I don't think McCain can easily fix this problem, for a number of reasons:

1. Almost none of the evangelical social issues agenda became law.
2. Many of the evangelicals have decided that screwing the environment isn't all that Christian, and lying about global warming isn't something Jesus would do either.
3. Choosing a running mate to pacify the evangelicals has some built-in problems, i.e., Romney won't get it done because most evangelicals don't care for the Morman religion, and Huckabee is a bit of a loose cannon who could easily open his mouth and put McCain on the defensive, much like the other pastor disasters we've seen already.
4. And generally, evangelicals are simply wising up, no longer willing to give blind support for ill-conceived wars and economic policies aimed against the middle and working classes.

McCain is, of course, desperately looking for some bumper-sticker idea so that mindless Republicans can somehow re-establish the base and keep those commie/pinko/hippie evil Democrats out of power. But the economy, the war, and the numerous Bush failures will, for many, outweigh any bumper sticker

[realpolitic]

I think evangelicals will either stay home or split their vote almost evenly between McCain and Obama, slightly favoring McCain. Senator Obama knows how to use the language of religion in many of his speeches that inspire evangelicals. Many leaders who happen to be black share this gift. McCain is the candidate more secular seeming and uncomfortable using religious metaphors or speaking with crowds in churches. As the author stated, evangelicals likely no longer want to be defined by what they are against, but to broaden their mission to include social justice and even global warming issues.

[sawdustinhershoes]

Hey, Real! I agree - of course! I'm actually heartened by the evangelicals who are standing up to help our environment and fight global warming. I hope that we are in a new era, admittedly brought about by many crises, in which we work together as Americans and then with the people of the world to help us survive what comes next.

Unfortunately, the scales are tipped, the planet is already well into global warming. What we need is to figure out how we can survive it. I hope Obama and his gang understand this and start plans to keep our people fed and watered. We are about 8 years too late, but many of us can survive. I don't know about the majority, though. We so badly need leadership to help us maintain a civilized society through the major turmoil we're going to encounter.

What we don't need is a Katrina-eske, every man for himself, I'm going to live in Paraguay, response. We don't need mercenary armies like Blackwater patrolling our streets in a martial law mode that Bush and Gang envision. We don't need the "us and them" environment created and lovingly tended by Rush and Karl and Hannity. WE need the evangelicals, the conservatives, the liberals and everyone, EXCEPT THE REPUBLICANS WHO TRIED TO OVERTHROW OUR COUNTRY, to come together and work for the common cause of surviving the next hundred years.

That's all I want.

[realpolitic]

Yes, I think evangelicals have to broaden their message or are at risk at being perceived as a really negative segment of society. I was reading another short article that said McCain may not reach out to evangelicals, who do not trust him, so intensively as to independents. McCain may feel he can capture enough independents with his moderate views on climate change. At least he does not reject it out of hand. I think Obama can capture most independents, don't you? He is much too dynamic. He must come to own the issue of getting the poor economy going, besides his draw down troops message.

You know another thing, Sawdust, is that the George Bush type of leadership hardens society. People are so much less kind to each other these days. It is not entirely Bush's fault, of course. Perhaps it is the fast pace of our lives. When government does not respond to epic disasters like Katrina and government shows little concern and compassion I think we all become hardened.

Rove made a mistake. He divided the electorate into such small segments there was no remaining electorate for him to divide. We can hope he gets his comeuppance. Hey, I was reading where you worked in government there in Texas. I used to work for the county in Chicago. You mentioned Bush appointees to the state EPA. That's how Bush operates without fanfare. He does things insidiously and behind the scenes and we are left with the consequences.

[realpolitic]

By the way, not to belabor the issue but what's up with TimmySlagle? His posts always deny climate change. A couple times I have gotten angry. I guess i should not lose my cool, though. John Dean, former Nixon counsel, wrote a book on how conservatives readily practice self-deception. The Fox news style of misinformation just really irritates me. . Great to hear from you, sawdust!!!!

[DCCommuter]

Getting Christians via the abortion issue:
I think if the Obamas put forth the idea that we can help eliminate abortion by helping women to not have to make that choice. To change society so that women do not get exploited and then are not so financially desparate that they need an abortion, that would bring a lot of Christians. Because I am sure a lot of Christians know that even if abortion is outlawed, it still will happen. By stopping end the circumstances that lead to abortion, we can stop abortion.

[dizmo4]

The problem with that idea is that evangelicals are also opposed to precisely the methods used to prevent abortions -- namely sex educations, free condoms, etc. Maybe my view is simplistic but all I have ever heard evangelical leaders talk about is abstinence only education when it comes to sex ed. They don't want government teaching kids about moral issues... ok. fair enough, but the only way to reduce abortions is to lower unwanted pregnancies. Maybe the average evangelical is more practical minded than their leaders.

[ClareP]

This hits the nail on the head. And most evangelicals are also opposed to financial help for poor women and families, though it's been proven that the best way to prevent abortion is to educate girls and women (with *good* education) and give them serious opportunities to have jobs that could really make them self sufficient and give them a good life (and this includes access to quality and affordable child care). There are many ways to reduce abortion- and the least successful is outlawing it (which tends to increase it), and the most successful is creating functional social programs that turn young women (and men) into a more positive track and that give women support. "Pro-life" and "pro-family" are misleading terms. The real "pro-life" camp would be one willing to pursue the most effective means for reducing abortions by reducing the number of people stuck in situations where they believe it is their only option. The real "pro-family" camp would be the one that would support the overall health of families everywhere, including economic health, and would empower (not just exhort) people to make healthy choices.

[belikejeanvaljean]

As an evangelical, I do think that some evangelicals - those who are critical thinkers - are more practical and broad-minded than many of their leaders. They are able to see beyond the abortion/gay rights issues and are ready to throw the bums out who have harmed our country so much the past eight years.

I know a number of evangelicals who have been against the war from the start (myself included) or who have come to the conclusion that it was wrong and should be ended. They definitely are open to Obama and are no fans of McCain. Obama should continue to pursue them with his ideas of public service, engaging our "enemies" abroad in diplomacy, ending the war, etc.

Plus, having been to an Obama rally in Phoenix, AZ, I would suggest that he hold rallies in evangelical strongholds, hopefully with a prominent evangelical speaker to introduce him. The excitement of the crowd at the one I attended was much greater than at any other event I have ever been to, and incredibly infectious. So many evangelicals attend megachurchs now that this would tie into their church culture somewhat and help them see him for themselves, rather than just hear about him from the MSM, email smear campaigns, whispering campaigns, etc.

[EGNY]

Yes, I bet they are. Also, DO NOT confuse fundamentalist evangelicals with all Christians. I belong to a church that shares space with a synagogue. We believe in the Divinity of Difference. By "difference" I mean that we are a multi-ethnic, multi-racial congregation that welcomes gays and lesbians, has had openly gay pastors and has an active GLAAD group. Most of the congregation is straight. We just don't think God hates people because of how they were born. My wife is Jewish, so we belong to the Temple and the Church. She's a past VP of the Temple, I'm a Deacon. We observe both faith traditions and teach both to our children.

Sound like your stereotypical Christian? Well, we're not, but there are lots of us out here.

Jesus said "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like unto it -- thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." There’s a story about the great Rabbinical teacher Hillel (I know I’m going to mess this up, but I have the gist). He was asked by a cynic to teach the whole Torah while he stood on one foot. Hillel said something like "love your neighbor as yourself. That is the meaning of the whole Torah. The rest is commentary­."

So, we focus on love, not judgment of others.

Oh, and OBAMA 08!!!

[mstew99]

Good points. I think there is an additional factor within the evangelicals, the younger generation. People under 30, even evangelicals, are much less likely to be anti-sex-education, anti-homosexuality, anti-science, etc. I think they would tend to see McCain as simply more of the old dogma.

[Hirnlego]

Consider one memo highlighted in a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday that Scanlon, a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, sent the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana to describe his strategy for protecting the tribe's gambling business. In plain terms, Scanlon confessed the source code of recent Republican electoral victories: target religious conservatives, distract everyone else, and then railroad through complex initiatives.

"The wackos get their information through the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet and telephone trees," Scanlon wrote in the memo, which was read into the public record at a hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. "Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them."
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/11/03/abramoff/index.html

CARLSON: It goes deeper than that though. The deep truth is that the elites in the Republican Party have pure contempt for the evangelicals who put their party in power. Everybody in…
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/10/tucker-carlson-to-evangelicals-duped/

Olbermann Exclusive: Dissecting new Book: Tempting Faith
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/11/olbermann-exclusive-dissecting-new-book-tempting-faith/

Tempting Faith: Christian Conservatives Duped by BushCo. Part II
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/12/tempting-faith-christian-conservatives-duped-by-bushco-part-ii/

[sawdustinhershoes]

Thanks.

Bush has no convictions. He does what he has to do to get what he wants. I'm from Texas. I worked for the State of Texas under three governors. I saw first hand how he worked.

The Governor of Texas doesn't really have much power, except the appointment of state officials. In my agency, essentially the Texas EPA, he appointed a Monstanto Chemical Rep who also headed up the Texas Chemical Council, as the chairman of the environmental commission.

They dismantled our agency from the inside out. Chemical polluters were urged to be in voluntary compliance. Uh-huh. The enforcement branch was broken up and the employees were sent to the branch offices in nonenforcement roles.

There was no fanfare, just reorganization.

Ann Richards was the Governor George beat. She was a popular and effective governor. George and Karl spread lies through the rumor mill that she was a lesbian. The rumor was enough to lose her a Texas election.

Anne Richards was a recovering alcoholic who, as Governor, was a regular at local Austin AA Meetings. She'd been sober for many years. You could also find her shopping at her favorite grocery store and chatting with the other customers. She was as real as you can get.

George isn't even from Texas. He never got sober. He never did anything right in his life. The man is and always has been an incompetent, rich, indulged, lying pig.

If that's christian, I don't want any part of it.

[realpolitic]

Ann Richards was great, dust. I can't imagine seeing the governor at the store and she is chatting up customers. I would be at a loss for words. I am sure that was not Bush's style. Anyway, what they did to Richards was another Rove hit job. Too bad they found out they could not run the federal government by generating unsubstantiated rumors to smear people. Molly Ivins was great too. i didn't read any of her books, but heard her on television many times. She was very witty!! Go get them, dust!!

[emidesu]

I can't wait for Bush to get a conviction. In a court of law.

[lostonbridgetofuture]

My hope is that people will not fall for the same tricks by the Republican party. All that Bush has done and no one ever questions his faith. Curious how some of those same people try to question Obama's.

[nativeeyes]

Evangelicals for OBAMA!!


Christians for OBAMA..


Jews for OBAMA..


WV and KY for OBAMA..


KKK for McCain...

IRAQI's for McCain..

[RedDogBear]

Why Iraqis for McCain? The vast majority of Iraqis want us out ASAP. They would be for Obama without question. If it were Al Queda for McCain that I can understand. Our "war on terror" has been a great boom for their recruitment and Bush let them escape to their Pakistan/A­fghanistan caves while he sent troops that were closing in on them to Iraq.

[labstellamom4]

Yup.....
Moms from North Dakota for Obama

Agnostics for Obama

People with full use of grey matter for Obama

I am not a religious person and resent the perceived influence of religion on politics and policy. If these people were actually embracing Jesus teachings then the ravenous pursuit of money,power and fame would be nonexistent in the evangelical flock. They would employ the mind set of non judgement, kindness, acceptance, care and support instead of exclusion, intolerance, hatred and division..­........ They have the right to believe ...they dont have the right to influence everyone elses "reality" !!!!!

[DeathorGlory]

Morons who need to clump people into stereotypes and shove them into pigeonholes for Obama!

[DCtrain]

Barak will be the president of peace. Of the choices, it is clear he's the right person.

What we need to pay attention to are the signs of the times:

Please give a listen to:
http://www.recastweb.com/media/ToddSpecialMessages/Ezekiel_38_39.mp3
And the last half of Daniel:
http://www.recastweb.com/Daniel.php

We are in some interesting times.

[DCtrain]

Thank you Huffington report for allowing the post of these mp3 links. The speaker is the real deal... he's a pastor in inner city Oakland with a moderate real congregati­on... they use there funds to feed the poor and to help a local school have materials for school... they also do vulonteer tutoring. The building is old, and no funds go to building upgrades, only to make it safe and to serve the people who attend They are for real, poor, but totally real and therefore the messages ring true... no glits just reality.

[Paula1953]

Lord, bless our future president, Barack Obama!

[Raymondf]

He will get only 5% of the Jewish vote after his fopaw at AIPAC the other day, Saying how good something would be for The United States and not say the good it will do Israel also.

[chronic]

Oh, get real!!

[kensp]

I usually don't make an issue about spelling, but "fopaw" for faux pas? Come on now. I remember when this place used to attract literate trolls.

As for your prediction it seems pretty bold for being based on "something" that was said "the other day." If you can't even articulate what you are talking about how do you expect to be taken seriously?

[MrsPeel]

Yah, I've seen terrible misspellings of 'faux pas' by other people as well.

[Hirnlego]

80% of jews voted for Kerry. It is unlikely to change.

[dizmo4]

I think Obama will receive fewer jewish votes than Kerry did. It will be along age lines rather than anything else. Younger voters of all ethnic groups have supported Obama. He's struggled capturing older voters. The long exception to this is with African Americans, who support him across the board.

I also think region has a lot to do with this. He's more likely to pick up Jewish voters in the northeast than he is in Florida.

[pkafin]

somewhere between 70% to 80% of the votes cast by American Jews will be for Obama.

[lenoirlady]

I don't agree with the % at all. It will be much higher and as for the spelling of faux pas, I knew exactly what you meant, and your usage was correct!!!!!! Keep right on expressing yourself.

[Raymondf]

He will need at least 60% to win election.

[gdaerin]

This Just In: Christians don't like being lied to, especially about war that they were asked to support. Christians don't vote for politicians who put blood on their hands.

[lewes17266]

I wish Christians were not so easily deceived. They are easily lied to and easily manipulated. Their leaders have taken advantage of their faithfulness and gullibility to empower themselves and to line their own pockets. I wish the gross UN-Christian tv preachers did not have so much power to invoke God in their hatefulness and claims of special powers, to tell their followers how to think and how to vote. They should be teaching tolerance, forgiveness, and unconditional love instead of causing division and strife, instead of focusing on rules, laws, and sin. To a Christian the sin should not matter - only the person matters. Christians do not cast stones, yet their leaders make sport of it.
I am shocked that anyone listens to them, but they do in droves AND they send millions a year AND our media gives them a seat at the table as though they are sane and responsible. I would like to ask them if they have lost their Bibles and if they have ever heard of Christ.