Stumping for God's Endorsement - Faith Based Voter Guides Scarce in '08

The following piece was produced by the HuffPost's OffTheBus.

While researching my last column I was reminded of a "values voter's guide" controversy from 2006, (see slides #1& #2), which received this response from People For the American Way as well as quite a bit of media attention. I cannot remember hearing of such an issue yet in this election cycle so I decided to be proactive and find one on my own. As it turns out, there is not one to find.

This triggered an ironic sense of loss because it seems that I am lamenting religious institutions getting into politics; then I found the "guide" posted by Landover Baptist Church from 2002, (see slide #3), it was just too hard to resist. After reading it, I am quite sure it shall remain relevant for them in any future election; actually, I truly hope their issues remain unsatisfactorily resolved.

The more, shall I say, "traditional" religious voter's guides that I did find are general enough in their stances as to be continuously relevant as well, however, these groups have not been motivated to update or even to promote them in relation to the 2008 race:

2006 Catholic voting guide

2006 Christian voting guide - it seems to be the same guide with a bit of editing

2006 National Pro-Life Action Center on Capitol Hill

The only 2008 guides I found from the more prominent evangelical organizations are a toolkit from the Family Research Council, (see slide #4), and a DVD for sale from the American Family Association, (see slide #5), of the Values Voter Summit from the September 17 gathering. They offer a version that includes an interactive candidate matching section for you to choose your candidate based on your answers to prompts. Otherwise, there is nothing out there for the contemplative Christian so far in the current race.

There is one guide from the National Jewish Democratic Council (lists 3 pages of link for state races at all levels), which is a quite comprehensive, albeit issue-biased, list of congressional races. There is nothing for the Presidential race yet.

It seems that this lack of trumpeting is further proof that the religious contingent has become quite disillusioned with the party they catapulted into power. It is a standoff in the classic terms; they refuse to use their pulpits to apply pressure and the candidates refuse to ask them to do so. In this light, there is really nothing for the Democrats to do but sit back and wait to see which side gives first. A recent National Association of Evangelicals poll reveals that if Huckabee can take Iowa, he may get the coveted and contentious spot.

As I believe there is no right more basic and in no more need of constant protection than the right to vote, I offer the following non-partisan but information-packed sites 2decide.com and Campaigns Wikia for your perusal.

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Comments

[JimReed]

Thanks for your work in this area.

"It seems that this lack of trumpeting is further proof that the religious contingent has become quite disillusioned with the party they catapulted into power. It is a standoff in the classic terms; they refuse to use their pulpits to apply pressure and the candidates refuse to ask them to do so. In this light, there is really nothing for the Democrats to do but sit back and wait to see which side gives first."

I guess, but why does this still seem troubling? Is it because Christians are disillusioned with the party and not with themselves? The responses to your blog seem to show you are right, they no longer care so much about voter guidance systems. Can it be the democrats and those opposed to Christian politics don't care either? Their guidance brought us Bush, and now they don't care, and we don't care? Nice try to get us engaged on the issue, but I don't think we are smart enough yet to get the point. Please don't be discouraged, keep trying. I am sure after we start one or two more wars people will be a little more open to listening.

[JimReed]

Is Christianity pro-war?

This should be an important time for some guidance. We started a war against a non-threat for purposes of greed. The rich want war because it can be profitable, and Christians who are up on the latest fiction can certainly see an upside to war. The Christian leaders are torn because they don't really like any of the Republican candidates, but at least the Republicans except Ron Paul are all pro war. The only consensus that has been arrived at so far is Muslims who oppose us are Islamist terrorists or fascists, and we need to build our military because we expect war to the end. Other Christians are not comfortable with that approach, but they don't want to rock the boat so they don't mention politics. After what they did in the last few elections, they certainly don't want to blame the Bush administration for any of the things they have done.