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

[GoBamaGo]

hey go for it

[brabc1]

Religion should have nothing to do with politics. And if it does, no way should folks vote Republican. If they really followed the teachings of Christ, they would never follow the "money for the rich" Republican Party.

Vote the issues, not your religion (if you have one)>

[Mariel]

With Evangelicals, Obama's greatest flaw is that he supports late term abortions. I mean REALLY late term, from his past record in the Illinois legislature. Some evangelicals will hold their noses and vote for him if they think McCain has an even worse "death" record with his war-support. No evangelicals will be wholeheartedly for either candidate. Too bad Huckabee didn't make it; he would have been the best president in the lineup and not rile the evangelicals. Too bad the liberals didn't see how much he was for the "common man". No man is perfect but he was the best we had.

[conniedogs]

I'd take Mike Huckabee over Mccain. Not a fan of Mike but I share more views with him than Mccain.

[evahartselftlanguages]

TO: Senator Barack Obama June 9, 2008

There's millions of nice Christians!


Psalm 41 states,"I will heal him on his sickbed and cure all his ailments if he is kind to the poor. King David. Thus it's not socialism, marxism. God and Jesus are not socialists. In past as cities grew people demanded more healthcare,transportation,fire and police protection and put in 3 city forms of government to obtain these services. Thus its Democracy to care for sick, not socialism or marxism.

In past here I put scarce foods,jobs resources in U.S. Recently I did update of more food places closing down in San Francisco. If you see my websites and googles you will see for yourselves these scarce foods,shelters,jobs resources in U.S. Other cities no Welfare. Shorttime shelters. In web site type FreePrintShop.org and you will get scarce foods,shelters,jobs resources in San Francisco. If you Google Churches in Berkeley and Oakland Food and Shelter you will get scarce foods,shelters,jobs resources in these cities. If you Google Sacramento Community Services and select Food and Shelter you will get scarce foods,shelters,jobs resources in Sacramento. Not all media, but the media,TV news,radio talk show hosts all with bigotry and with widespread hate and prejudice at time of a new wave of hate crimes influence young to brutally kill homeless. Such was case with Mr. Brown. We need true Christian compassion for all. We need decent leadership.

Eva Hart A Christian In Army from 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[conniedogs]

Isn't that why GB was elected. He was all about compassion right?

[GrainOSand]

I once heard a U.S. Senator say on TV to a Harvard freshman who asked something along the lines of, what about the poor and struggling concerning policymaking, and heard that senator say something along the lines of, no one is talking about that in Washington. I was flabbergasted not so much by what he said (because I already knew that) but more by the fact that he said it. The name of the senator and the other senator with him that day escape me. It might be Moynihan and Simpson. I am not sure and it is not important. Any system that loses its moral bearings is destined for widespread grief. Greed rules until it does not. The victims, right before they perish are often heard saying, "what happened" as the instrument of their peril falls from the clutches of their hand.

Greatness does not come by favoritism but by fitness. --MLK

[evahartselftlanguages]

TO: GrainOSand June 10, 2008

Reference my above article on crimes against poor and how true Christians care for poor and my source and reference on these articles listed above, I was really moved by your post. You had the right words that I hope will move the people to once again have compassion and care for poor, job seekers. I wished I had the right words to use to convince others of the scarce food,jobs> I wished I had the right words to convince people to stop these uncompassionate brutal crimes against poor. No resources affects job seekers as well. Capitalism has treated the poor badly Elliot Liebow says in his 93 book Titled Tell Them Who I Am and the Government should step in a take a more active role in helping the low wage families and poor. It is a Government of all Americans. Liebow.'93.

Eva Hart A Christian

[evahartselftlanguages]

TO: Senator Barack Obama June 9, 2008 Continued

Let me add source and reference for the fact I mentioned media,TV news,radio talk show hosts by their bigotry and widespread prejudice influence the young near the time when a new wave of hate crimes were done by young teenagers in brutally killing the homeless. The crimes range from beheading to drowning to brutal stabbings and beatings. Keeping the poor safe from harm can be solved by affordable housing, decent levels of healthcare, drug and alcohol programs, etc. By Terry Messman Street Spirit. I recently found his article of hate crimes against homeless by Terry Messman of Street Spirit and published by American Friends Service Committee on April 2005. Again just go to the web addresses and googles I mention above and you'll see the scarce foods,shelters,jobs resources in U.S. for yourselves on computer.

Eva Hart A Christian In Army from 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[SharonB]

As a Christian, I have always been highly offended at the rude remarks that Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts and others like them have said while claiming to be representatives of Jesus Christ.
What bothers me most is that some folks think that they really are speaking for all Christians and those same people have been really hurt by some of the things that have been said.

Wounding someone with your words is NOT Christian... it is mean.

Mean people suck.

They really do.

[IndependentMynd]

As a Christian, I feel that my religion has been hijacked by zealots. I wonder if that is how moderate Muslims feel. I have never felt burdened by helping my fellow man & woman, if they were truly in need but I've been made to feel like I was a fool for wanting to help them ('bleeding heart' liberal) by fellow 'Christians' (conservatives). Yet these 'Christians' support guns, support wars, support leaving the poor to fend for themselves, support giving welfare to BIG business, support out and out greed. Believe me, I am not against making money, but giving welfare to people who already have sooooo much is disgusting. Stealing from the poor to give to the rich isn't Christian, at all. Unfortunately, that is what has been happening in this country since Ronald Reagan's days. It is time for some balance, especially some MORAL balance.

[IRepTheKing]

As a Christian, I've never understood why most "conservative Repubs" are always gung ho for a war, but the Christ I read about never raise his fist to anyone. Meawhile Dems are always historically on the side of ending war and bringing peace.

These same Repub Conservs are also historically the ones who tried to use their faith to justify slavery, segregation and KKK (who claim to be Christian, also). I never understood how Dems act more Christ like than they do, but they get the reputation for it.

This Christian will not vote for McCain.

[GrainOSand]

Amen sister, or as we used to say in church, tell it!

[GrainOSand]

My religious background is hardcore, Southern Baptist. I now consider myself one who knows that what he does not know is vast and dense in composition as a vacuum in time would be. Love was not created by people and yet it is the best that I have seen concerning living beings. That is my simple belief and I realize opinions may vary. My point is, I conceive of that based in love yet I do not give it a color, a name, or a religion. I do not seek to convince others that what I believe is the gospel (so to speak). Yet if you ever heard Mahalia Jackson sing "My God is Real" or "Trouble of the World" there can be no doubt about God.

That said, or in light of that qualification I posit, if the Right leaning evangelicals were galvanized in 2000 and 2004 for Bush, why should one believe their opinion to be something considered a forecast of good things to come. Surely, we can all agree that George Bush was a mistake and anybody who voted for him is at least worthy of scrutiny for signs of something other than clarity in thinking. I hope that the Religious Right has engaged in soul searching, and in earnest, would entertain the efficacy of an Obama Presidency, but I have to ask about 00 and 04; what were they thinking, in the name of that which is good, decent, and holy¦what were they thinking?

[swift_goat_pet_for_truth]

No abortion on demand.

No gay marriage.

[IndependentMynd]

Abortion will always be available on demand. The only difference now is that women, in general, don't die from their decisions to have abortions because it is safe and legal.

As for gay marriage, gay people have civil unions and health benefits in many states, so their 'unions' are legally recognized. I think that eventually, gay marriage will be recognized in all states whether the conservatives like it or not. So what have the right-wing conservatives really won besides a crappy economy (greed sowed the seeds), a never-ending war (peace IS Christian) and THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER. Good luck with that when you meet your maker.

[GrainOSand]

The Conservative notion:

1. Right to life
2. Low to no taxes
3. Limited government involvement in the private affairs of individuals
4. Free market rules
5. Strong national defense and a strong military
6. The definition of Family Values originates with conservatives
7. God Blessed America to be great
8. A Supreme Court that does not legislate from the bench (strict constructionists)
9. Law and Order
10. Wealth trickles down when we stay the course

The Apocryphal Notions of the Hypocritical:
1. You have a right to a life where we will send you to fight and die in an unjust war and if you come back injured we will tell you your right to deal with it as best you can. You further have a right to a life of poverty where you can expect no assistance of any sort for what is your fault and there is never a case where poverty is not -- your fault.
2. This concept must kick in at a high level because having made six figures for a long time I know what it means to be hammered on taxes. In addition, illegal war is a hidden tax and then there is this ditty: in 1981, the federal government spent $678 billion; in 2006, it spent $2,655 billion or 84 percent more than it did when Reagan became President (http://www.heritage.org/Research/Thought/hl1060.cfm); hidden and looming tax of national debt and shrinking value of the dollar, etc¦

Cont...

[SILVANUS]

As a Christian, I WILL vote for Obama! All true Christians know that Bush &Co are NOT!

[DeathorGlory]

Give me a break. There are no true Christians that read Huffington Post and the polls clearly showed that most church-going folks did not vote for Obama. They know a phony when they see one. Even his preacher called him one, what more do you need to know? The man just dumps people when they are inconvenient for him, dumped his whole church, Lord knows he doesn't need them anymore. If you truly worship Jesus Christ, you do not kneel at the alter of the Church of Obama.

[IndependentMynd]

Apparently, you kneel at the Church of Bush. How's that working for ya???

Bush the Bloodstained, Cheney the Cheater, Limbaugh the Addicted, O'Reilly the Fabricator. These are *your* leaders. Frankly, I think I'll stick with mine because your leaders are PROVEN phonies.

[emidesu]

This Christian is voting for Obama as well.

[heal57]

Try to get an independent mind. This Christian also is voting for Obama. Greater forcers were trying to straddle Obama's nomination through Rev. Wright and and other way they could think of. Well, they failed, and he passed.
The Obama's have the only real marriage among the candidates; just think about it.

Independent for Obama '08
Women for Obama '08

[IRepTheKing]

This Christian is votig Obama too.

[GravitonX]

John McCain is in bed with Godless Neocon Fatcats.

[ObamaLover]

1. The Obama Stumbles Option

As Hillary says, June is "early" in politics when the convention is not to be held until the end of August, unusually late for a Democratic conclave. And, as Tip O"Neill says "a week is a long time in politics." So is three months.

Rumors abound about incriminating material on Obama, the potential for misstep is amplified now that he adjusts to a new task of taking on McCain, who knows how many other preachers there are in the closet? Hillary"s skilled force of private detectives, who we once called the secret police, are doubtless diving into garbage dumpsters all over America to come up with whatever they can.

[IndependentMynd]

The rumors about incriminating material ARE rumors. Started by the NEOCONS and picked up by the Clinton campaign. The so-called gay thing that many supporters of HRC have used has been PROVEN FALSE. The man who made the claim was subjected to a lie detector test and failed miserably. He wanted money and was paid $10,000 to take the test that he failed TWICE.

The Michelle Obama 'wh*tey* tape was also proven a HOAX. She said 'why'd he' as in why did he. This has been a very long campaign and if their were more skeletons in the closet they would have been out by now in the age of YouTube and cell phone recordings. I find it really hard to believe that there is anything else out there that can be used to SMEAR him with, which is why *some* people are still grasping at nonexistent straws.

[GrainOSand]

The presumptive nominee -- Mr. Obama does not appear concerned about people who whisper in the dark but have no intestinal fortitude to come out and stand toe to toe. I think Joe Lieberman found this out last week when Mr. Obama as a fine gentleperson would, pulled the corrupt, rabid, and translucent one over to a corner to explain what manhood is and what it is not. So too, will some other children need to learn that this is no game, true patriots are not afraid, as we seek to make the guilty lie in that foul bed they make and made.

[hypnotoad72]

I don't know. While the late 1960s and 1970s had the benefit of openly exploring human nature, they didn't do so completely. It cannot be argued that, since that time, teen pregnancies, STDs, divorces, hateful acts, et cetera, have been on the rise and anyone who mentions a peep is deemed fascist, "rethug", out of touch, devolved, et cetera.

I could go into a few dozen tangents, but won't..

[Alethea]

Meh, I don't buy that "golden age of yesteryear" stuff.

I think violence, ignorance and stupidity have always existed. Humanity is sadly predictable that way. It's just a matter of whether people knew how much of this stuff went on. When the reporting gets better does that mean the problem got worse? Or did the reporting just get better?

Just a thought.

[MrTrailSafety]

Another sign seen on McSame's Road To Damascus: http://www.flickr.com/photos/larrygassan/2555642252/

[MonoApe]

It's just a shame that a politician needs to pander to the religious and their imaginary friend in the sky in order to stand a chance of getting voted in.

Hopefully, one day, the bronze age idiocy of religion will be as irrelevant in the USA as it is in Europe.