"If this was Australia" - the voting process would have taken 6 weeks.

Not long enough for FAUX to play its disinformation games.

Btw:

It would be great to see some data that factors in the 800,000 votes that President Obama missed out on, due to Hurricane Sandy.

Now how would Rev. Franklin Graham know how many Christians voted? Unlike his father, this biased preacher knows that voting Republican is good and will get you into heaven; voting Democratic is bad. This is one sorry excuse for a man of the cloth.

Corrrrrection:

If this was Australia, the ELECTION process would have taken 6 weeks.

Who were all those people at the polling places? Atheists? Muslims? Hindus?

LMAO! Those darn Christians, Ya just can't count on them come election day!

Every once in a while I screw up and leave my tv on............and the 700 club comes on.

Wow, talk about biased. That program is not about religeon, it's about Politics

"If you don't want tax dollars helping the sick and poor, then its time to stop saying you want a government based on Christian values" --- John Fogelsang.

Near the end of the presidential campaign, I spoke to a man who told me that he considered voting immoral. I asked him to explain, and he told me that God would choose the president. If he voted, and the guy he voted for lost, he'd be going against the will of God. Hence, he didn't believe in voting.

What a passive, irresponsible attitude! Religious kooks are making themselves irrelevant, and we can thank God for that. ;)

What a passive, irresponsible attitude! Religious kooks are making themselves irrelevant, and we can thank God for that. ;)

Amen Sister Amen!

Is Franklin Graham even a Christian?? Why is he so divisive? Is Graham a fundamentalist? He sounds disturbing and troublesome

The 'good Reverend' Franklin Graham has joined the majority of the Republican party in rejecting facts, math and truth.

Maybe they consider it a sin?

Drill baby Drill sucks, when you live in Florida or the other gulf states!

Religion has NO place in politics or in government.

the First Amendment – Congress shall make no law" establishing a religion – was ratified by the states before all states had, of their own accord, disestablished their official churches.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all. We petition the President Obama administration to:

Remove "In God We Trust" from the U.S. currency and remove "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. The United States added "In God We Trust" to our currency and added "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance in the 1950s to show the world that we were not "godless communists". This was a blatant violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which clearly states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". This act blatantly respected the Christian establishment. Please help me in undoing this act of religious favoritism and "communist fear" by signing this petition. Created: Nov 12, 2012 Issues: Government Reform Learn about Petition Thresholds It's up to you to build support for petitions you care about and gather more signatures. A petition must get 150 signatures in order to be publicly searchable on WhiteHouse.gov. Over time, we may need to adjust the petition signature thresholds, but we'll always let you know what the thresholds are. Signatures needed by December 12, 2012 to reach goal of 25,000 15,721 Total signatures on this petition

Feisty,

I am with you on the Dog owners votes.

You do not mess with pet owners! LOL

I'm not sure adding 'under god' in the pledge was a law...I agree that it needs to go back to the original pledge.

It has been far too long since the Christians have been thrown to the lions. Bring back the games ... blood and popcorn ... orgies at halftime!

Kee-riste almighty, since when did presidential elections become infused with Divine Intervention? If Christ or God cared about politics, Hitler and Bush would never have assumed power. Simple as that!!

I am with you on the Dog owners votes

Northstar,

"The Revenge of Seamus" coming soon to a theatre near you... ☺

I am with you on the Dog owners votes.

GOD is DOG spelled backwards. Romney failed to take that into account.

Cat owners joined in the anti-Romney vote in bi-partisan support of the dogs. If we can work together, why can't the politicians?

Thank you, Domenico, for presenting the simple facts. I'm so tired of politicians making statements based on opinions and ideology instead of the truth.

GetReal3327..................

While I will not say that you are right or wrong, I do want to ask you a question.

Do you believe that the intent of "Congress shall make no law establishing a religion" was to prevent one religion from being above another, or that the country should not allow any religious beliefs from being practiced or spoken of in our government?

I tend to believe that it was the former. I believe that our founder fathers and the ratification by the states intended to inact the law that would prevent any one religion from being a sole voice of more consequence over another. In other words, people would be free to believe in any religious capacity they choose. I believe they didn't want the catholics, baptists, mormons, jews or any other group having more of, or a singular voice in what this country believes in. Furthermore I also believe that the law had the intent to prevent an elected person from enacting laws that would favor one religious belief over another or to force anyone from having to live under the consequences of laws being passed that would force them to live with religious beliefs that they didn't believe in.

The fact that we are a nation of 300 million+ people and the petition you are speaking of has a grand total of less than 16,000 signatures should show that not many share the desire to alter what is currently in place. Furthermore, I don't understand how mere words on our currency or the pledge of allegiance with the words "under God" included in it makes a huge difference in any-ones life. If someone is an atheist, they merely don't speak the words "under God" when saying the pledge of allegiance no big deal. But to retool our entire currency IS a big deal in terms of cost.

Steeler Fan, I was thinking the same thing! My cat, Bug, has been a member of "Cats for Obama" for years!

Oh, good grief. Just when you think you've read all the ridiculous excuses, up pops Franklin Graham with another convoluted theory about why Romney lost. MITT ROMNEY LOST because voters saw him as a sleazy salesman who would say anything to get them to buy his magic elixir. He was a liar, he ran a bad campaign, he flip flopped, he pandered, he dismissed half the American people as worthless moochers, he refused to release his taxes, he refused to even tell people his plans; people didn't like or trust him.

Many liberals, independents, moderate republicans are Christians, too, Rev Graham, and they voted for President Obama because he was the better man, the smarter man, the leader this country needs. Franklin Graham will never be the man his father was just as Mitt Romney will never be the man his father was--they are merely shaddows pretending to be real.

I’m NOT trying to tell you how to vote, ... but vote, my goodness, ... for candidates that stand for Biblical values" LOL

Jody ...

Franklin Graham will never be the man his father was just as Mitt Romney will never be the man his father was--they are merely shaddows pretending to be real.

And to keep the religious theme rolling .... AMEN to that!

did a lesser percentage of Christians vote than non-Christians?

FR: If this was Australia, and the U.S. had compulsory voting, Graham’s argument that evangelicals would have tipped the balance would not hold up very well.

Nothing the World Nut Daily ( Franklin Graham Ministry) holds up. For instance, Mormonism as a cult was removed from his website

How about Graham thinking America’s economic doldrums could be God’s way of sending a message about the nation’s growing secularization – and about what Graham sees as its increasing immorality?

kaybeetoys, while working on the campaign entering data, ran across a few similar thinking people. One couple said "God told them not to vote." Not to sound disrespectful but my feeling is these are the same kind of people who hear other voices in their heads.

nomoresameo, nice post. We know from studying history in school that many of our founders came to the New World to escape religious persecution. I believe they were determined to ensure that this newly established country would never accept one religion established by the State; they wanted to ensure freedom of all religions and freedom from religion. That is why I believe the founders intended to build a wall separating Church and State which allowed each to thrive without intereference on or by the other.

If Franklin Graham says he is a Christian, I guess I will have to take his word for it. However, most Progressive Christians I know voted for President Obama.

kaybeetoys, while working on the campaign entering data, ran across a few similar thinking people. One couple said "God told them not to vote." Not to sound disrespectful but my feeling is these are the same kind of people who hear other voices in their heads.

I'm glad you were down there in the trenches too, Jody! What an experience!

The guy I mentioned did tell me that he'd never vote for Romney, despite all the robocalls he was getting.

I think Mitt may have lost due to a wordrobe malfunction concerning his underwear. The magic was gone.

This is one of most idiotic, and superfluous, articles and subsequent posting threads I ever saw on First Read.

Many very good people I know voted for President Obama. I don't stick my nose into their religious beliefs because they are theirs. However, we know Donald Trump voted for Romney. Let's see, third wife; liar; thief; moron - I'm not sure I'd call him Christian. Just sayin.....

Obviously Franklin Graham is just a bigot racisit

From what came out of Romney's mouth, Akins mouth and other right wing no good teabuggers I can say I had the great opportunity to vote for Obama and not for the hypocrites that Franklin is talking about! Republicans taught me that I will never vote for another republican in y life time. I hope at 67 that that will be a long time!

Today is UN International Day For Tolerance--it would appear that the Reverend Franklin Graham has none!

"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly

I wondered about the evangelical vote. I have an aunt with a far-right church (more like a cult IMO), and they refused to vote for Romney because he wasn't a Christian. I wonder how many evangelical voters did the same thing.

And, before anyone starts making assumptions - I'm Agnostic...I don't believe in any religion, and I think most modern religions are pretty silly...I don't think their rituals are really any different than the pagan rituals from centuries ago that they tend to mock).

clwyd-2621393

From what came out of Romney's mouth, Akins mouth and other right wing no good teabuggers I can say I had the great opportunity to vote for Obama and not for the hypocrites that Franklin is talking about! Republicans taught me that I will never vote for another republican in y life time. I hope at 67 that that will be a long time!

It's your decision, but I hope you reconsider. I think our system works best when we try to elect the best candidate - not the candidate from "our party". I'm not saying people should go against their principles - but there are good and bad politicians in both parties. Voting based on the R/D label takes the pressure off politicians to actually perform - all they need to do is sign on with the majority party in their area.

Layton, I hate to have to admit this, but my tomcat Valentino (also known as the "Weapon of Mouse Destruction") displays disturbingly right-paw tendencies; he treats the whole neighborhood as his own private hunting preserve, and has been known to harass our two Pugs for no good reason- Pugs being a notoriously pacifistic and pro-cuddle breed.

However, he manages to make up for his bloodthirsty habits with tremendous personal charm, a trait not much in evidence amongst the current crop of Greedy Obstructionist Party hacks, quacks, and sad sacks. Maybe he's actually onea them there LBJ liberal cats- I can always hope...

Awww, Kb, you beat me to it. shucks.

Yes, I believe if they would dig down deeper into the poll data they would find it was the "dog" (dog lovers) vote that ended Romney's chances. I really enjoyed Dogs Against Romney.

But seriously, prior to the election I predicted exactly what Rev. Graham incorrectly alleges. I really thought that a Mormon candidate would see the evangelicals stay away from the polls in droves. But the poll data indicates they actually turned out in bigger numbers than in 2008. Who'da thunk it?

Oh well, my batting average is still pretty high. Not as high as Nate Silver, but still pretty high.

I predicted Romney would be the nominee and I predicted that Obama would win in a landslide all nearly a year ago. Not too shabby. My secret? Shhhhh don't tell anybody, but I use a Magic 8 Ball to make all my predictions.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody. Think happy thoughts and enjoy your holiday.

LMAO.....progressisve christians! Now thats worth a good laugh!

Seems like the Rev. Graham's conscience is bothering him. He was a big time day late and dollar short with his endorsement of Romney...and thousand upon thousand "Christians" sat home when McCain ran because they objected for one reason or another. Then, they didn't come out for Romney because he wasn't their denomination's version of "Christian." (Nevermind Mormons have full immersion baptism.)Graham would do well to encourage soul searching among "Christians" because their un-Christ-like arrogance and decisions to stay home vs voting has given us two terms of a partial birth abortion advocate as POTUS. Bad karma.

WWJD? Most likely vote for the candidate who would save the greatest number of His children aborning in the womb .

Two thoughts: (1) is Graham aware that the Mormon religion views his Bible as incomplete, and so misleading as to cause its adherents to lose out on Heaven? It is weird to be that Graham throws Jesus under the bus for political reasons. Perhaps Graham doesn't really believe in his Bible.

(2) If we subtract out the 26% of the electorate who are evangelicals, who presumably think the world is 6000 years old and evolution is a myth, Obama won the white vote easily. That is, Obama won the smart white vote. As a white man myself, I get offended with all the comments about how whites supported Romney. It wasn't whites that supported Romney, it was idiots.

Reverand Graham-It was apparently God's will that Romney should lose by a landslide, and he didn't disappoint you! Unfortunately you have disappointed him by being a complete moron who doesn't know his a$$ from his elbow!

Fox, I think your Weapon of Mouse Destruction is definitely a liberal cat. He isn't asking for any money for protecting the whole neighborhood from pesky rodents is he? Definitely a progressive volunteer you've got.

We have a pug as well whose claim to fame is falling off the back of the sofa at least once a week. I don't think he was awake long enough to vote this year!

Only the Devil would tell good Christians to vote for GOP Devils. Franklin, your not even close to your Daddy who I respect so sit down and talk to your Reverend about your mouth. Read the book of James for extra measure and let it sink in.

No. The Christians voted but it was the Christians in the 47% and we all know Romney doesn't count "those" people...LMBO!!! This article and thread have me rolling!!! I need this laugh today after a long week. :)

Rev. Franklin Graham said:

Now, I’m not trying to tell you how to vote, you can vote, but vote, my goodness, and vote for candidates that stand for Biblical values.”

Doesn't this idiot really know what he has said? He first says he's not telling them how to vote but in the next breath he tells them who he wants them to vote for....meaning Romney. Does he really believe that Obama does not have Christian values? Isn't he violating the word of the Bible by passes judgement on Obama's faith? I believe Rev Franklin Graham should do some soul searching on his own faith before passing judgement on someone else. To me he comes off as just one more member of the loony religious right.

I'm a religotard, so I don't know, but are mormans considered 'christians?'

And can't we tell all those crazy christian zealots that if Hurricane Sandy helped Obama get reelected, wouldn't they think that God wanted Obama to win?

Double ...... triple and beyond ...... MANDATES!, made by "american freedom loving christians" across this great country is PRECISELY why Obama won. Nothing more, nothing less.

Republicans will continue to shrivel as long as this phony rethoric is allowed. Get a clue already. You republicans are lying to yourselves and us. We're sick of the political waste you continually make.

I'm afraid Rev. Graham, like the rest of the GOP, is in denial. As the poll data indicates Christians turned out in numbers bigger than 2008. They are over-looking the fact that a larger number of those Christians are not WHITE!

They are also ignoring the most important fact of all. That President Obama's position on the issues reflects the MAJORITY of Americans, not the vocal minority represented by the GOP.

That's why President Obama won, fair and square. Now suck it up, dry your tears and let's get to work.

He wants to be involved in politics then perhaps they should pull his tax exempt status so he can preach politics full time.

Separation of Church and State isn't just a great idea, it's the Law.

No, Rev. Graham, that is NOT what happened. The MAJORITY of Americans ReElected Prez O because they see the republicanCrimeCartel and their Losing Horses@$$E$, TweetleDum & TweetleDee for what they really ARE. No Good, Lying, Cheating, GodDamned CROOKS. And You Sir either go back to Primary School or research THE TRUTH Why the republicanAristocratCriminalParty Lost. QUIT SULLYING YOUR DAD'S NAME.

As a professional mainline ordained minister, I find Franklin's comments indicative of everything that is wrong with religion in general, biblical literalist Christians specifically. There is a very thin edge that runs through every human heart with one side ruled by ego and the other by compassion. I see no compassion with Franklin and his ilk, just straight up ego and arrogance. Sad, brutally sad for millions who are judged and condemned by the likes of him and millions like him. He needs to be reminded that it was polite, pious, religious people who had Jesus arrested, tortured and executed. Franklin continues to crucify millions today who do not own up to his version of "Christianity."

True Christians voted, they just did not vote for the leader of the party of hate who believes in a cult religion.

I guess, according to Mr. Graham, if you are not a white, evangelical, black hating bible thumper from the South, you are not a Christian.

GetReal, you seem to be confusing your personal beliefs with historical fact:

"The Congress of the United States
recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.” The US
Congress 1782

“I am a real Christian, that is to say, a
disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country
will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator and, I hope, to the pure
doctrine of Jesus also.” Thomas Jefferson

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and
religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
John Adams

“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” George Washington

What they intended was that "The state shall not run the church, neither shall the church run the state. But make no mistake about it - without the church there will be no state". Can you guess which Founding Father stated that in an official speech?

Reverend Jrk Off illustrates my favorite maxim: Republicans lie all the time about everything.

And then, when you mix in the mild-to-severe psychosis of religious fanaticism, great googamooga, the black cloud descends, the light dies before the uncreating word . . . and universal darkness buries all.

Funny.....Im a Christian and a Registered Republican, but voted for Obama cause the Repblicans didnt have much to offer.

I dont agree with all of the democratic adjenda... as I feel that neither party really has America's best interest in mind. Just look at the Senate and congress approval ratings.

@ truthleaker - I hate to disabuse you, but politicians pay lip service to religion all the time. The founders of this country were, in fact, politicians and did not, in fact, want a state run by religion. There were well aware that whack-job christians were all to likely to start killing each other.

I heard from my 86 year old mother that all her church voted for Romney. The church down in Florida did not hold out on Romney. From what I heard from some on Fox News was that it was the fiscal tight-fists that held out on Romney and didn't vote for him because he was not enough of a fiscal tightwad as they wanted. He was too "Democrat" for them. Generally these were secular tightwads.

Franklin Graham is so comical. I'm going to use the same language Rev. Wright used some time ago, and was so roundly criticized for then. Goddamn religions and religious people who inject it into politics. Additionally, Graham is a puny charactered liar. The President won because more people voted for Him than for Romney. More people liked the President than Romney. Fact, many who voted for Romney held their noses and crossed their legs disgustedly as they did so. If honesty is the first requirement for the experience of the glories of religion, a hell of a lot of Americans are gonna be left drowning in their pools of bullsh^t.

"God is in control, and if Christians are upset, they need to be upset at themselves. We need to do a better job of getting our people- the church to vote. Now, I'm not trying to tell you how to vote, you can vote, but vote, my goodness, and vote for candidates that stand for Biblical values."

Please tell me how this is any different from the Imams in Afghanistan, Iran etc from preaching about how their followers should behave politically? Really how is this different from Sharia law????

Religious right = American Taliban

The rapture is not coming fast enough!

Once these idiots are "taken" the world will be a much better place!

"Smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained." - George Washington, Inaugural Speech, April 30, 1789

The statue of George Washington in NYC has his right hand facing down. The pose of the statue was taken when Washington had his right hand on the Bible.

Learn history. The young generation wants to wipe God out completely. They are wrong. We have to have strong morals, even in our politics, not to rule but to guide. If not this country will go down very fast . This is what Washington meant. Sadly, just look at what's happening today.

1TruthSpeaker does NOT speak the truth!!!

@1TruthSpeaker....really? You don't know anything about the "beliefs" of our Founding Fathers!!! Most were schooled in Enlightenment thinking. Many, including Adams, Jefferson, Washington, were Deist! Do you know what a Deist is 1TruthSpeaker??? They believed in Jesus....AS A MAN......NOT a literal "God." They did NOT believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity!!! So please, tell me again about their "beliefs"??? It's pathetic ill-informed (and completely misinformed) folk like you who charge in with a claim on "Truth" that has little to nothing to do with reality, either today or 300 years ago! Please, go take a decent class on history for Pete's sake. And don't bother taking it at Jerry Falwell's so-called university!!!

I find it so funny how the religious right complains so much about how the Taliban/Muslim Brotherhood is trying to insert their religious beliefs into politics, yet this is what they do ALL THE TIME!!!

Absolute hypocrites. How is it okay for them to try and force their religious views into law (abortion/gays/war/etc) but not okay for Muslims? How is it they can't see the connection?

I am sick of the hypocrisy of these people like Graham, Pat Robertson, Glenn Beck and all these others who are constantly in the media that proclaim they know what God wants and they always seem to think God wants you to vote Republican. After the election Glenn Beck said "God sucks" because he let Obama win. Perhaps God wanted Obama to win? Perhaps the voice that Glenn and company hear in their heads isn't God as they proclaim but instead could be helped with some good meds? It seems to me that they put words in God's mouth that match their views, even though many people who vote are Christians and don't vote the way that Graham, Robertson, Beck and others want them to. It seems the height of hypocrisy to me that they judge others religiosity, like Obama and seems so against the religion they proclaim.

@1TruthSpeaker: And did they insist their slaves abide by the Bible as well.

"All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of
full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered." Timothy 6:1

Guess what? This isn't 18th Century America anymore - or 1st Century Rome either. Get over it.

Ron,

Your posts sound so reasonable! Are you a minister? Mine, as you can tell often come out of anger. However, I used to be a Young Republican (many years ago) and left the party when the party went extreme right. I think I will follow my words, however, because based on what the republican party stand for I could never find the best candidate there!

The Republicans have done nothing but blocked every jobs bill that would help American workers and this idiot Graham wants people to vote for people with Christian values. Well you show me one that has real Christians values like Jesus would have and I'll vote for him but keep in mind who Jesus would help and what he would do. I certainly don't think it would be giving tax breaks that only help the wealthy and make the poor and needy suffer.

If anyone is really interested, Obama's approval rating is very positive now for a president after the election where congress is still very much on the negative side. They have not gotten above 20% since April 2010. Oh wait....that was just after the Republicans took control of the House and started their BS. Never mind it's clear now why congress does not fair well with the public.

Mr. Graham please understand that not all of us Christians are that idiotic. I voted, but I voted third party. I would of rather Obama won than Romney because Romney was a flip-flop who really stood for nothing more than Nobama and Obama didn't do to bad a job considering what he had to deal with right out of the gate. Also understand that I am from Texas and a vote for Obama in Texas is a wasted vote due to electorates. I believe we should have more than just 2 candidates to choose from. Also keep in mind that I agree that religion and government should be separate. Our Country doesn't need to be run by religios Dogmas to have morality.

It's been said ad infinitum, but I'll say it one more time. Our nation was founded on principles of democracy and institutions like the senate that date from pre-Christian Rome and Greece. Even the favored architecture was pre-Christian classical. Our government structure has absolutely nothing to do with Christian or Judean values other than those that happen to overlap with human values like telling the truth (we certainly did not include anything in our legal system about using the lord's name in vain, keeping the sabbath holy, honoring our parents, or having no god before Yahweh).

On the contrary - in 1776, every European monarch was crowned by a representative of a Christian Church. The Christian religion was interpreted at that time as supporting a top down structure. Christianity stated quite clearly that people were so flawed, they did not deserve anything but Hell; they certainly did not deserve to govern themselves. The American Revolution was in large part a revolution against the prevaling notion of Christianity. Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, also wrote a track condemning Christianity. Ben Franklin was attack by his critics as an atheist. The French Revolultion that was in part modeled on the American one actively attacked Christianity because Chrisitianity aligned itself with absolute monarchs in just about every nation that called itself Christian.

I'd even go one step further - modern American Christianity is more a product of our nation than it is a product of the Bible. Modern American Christians have all sorts of ideas that pre-1776 Christians would be outraged by. Conversely, send any modern evangelical to pre-1776 Europe, and they'd likely be burned alive for heresy.

JoAnn - the young do NOT want to wipe out God any more than they have during any time. They just don't go along with the hatred so many "christians" preach today. They are willing to care about and care for all people - no matter their race, religion, sex, sexual orientation - you know - "love your brother as you love yourself!"

Modern Day Evangelical Christianity - is not Christianity - it's Emporer Worship. It's the worship of the white middleclass morality. It's the worship of 1950's white dominated culture. It's the worship of the Roman State Religion, that persecuted those who followed some "heathen" prophet jesus christ.

Modern Day Evangelical Christianity accuses the poor, the foreigner, the widow, the wage slave, for the problems of society. "It's those lazy un-american people who cost us the election", they cry. What they are really doing, is turning an entire generation away from the Christ who died so that we could be free of their foul "religion".

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL ---- Montana-450815 You guys have the understanding that is lacking in too many Americans and people all over the world.

People can believe in God all they want but expecting THEIR GOD to decide in favor of their thinking on who we should vote for are terminal morons and do their beliefs an injustice. One of the most Un-Christian and religiously stupid things for the Priests, the Rabbis and the Mullahs is to open their mouths about politics. If they do, I'm in favor of voiding their tax free status.

While I'm an Atheist, I support the fact that people can believe in their religions of choice, but PULEEEZE, keep your religiously based ideas out of our politics. Politics is something we definitely share together and ought not be influenced and muddied by a a plethora of different beliefs in God.

I'm over 80 and to this day have not met a single person that can prove the existance of a personal God or that He, in all His alleged omnipitance, has chosen to speak to me through them.

I do believe in the ONE that is, All and Everything, but certainly cannot claim I understand It, or that It has any plan that needs my help or cooperation. I AM AN INDIVIDUAL LOCATION within the endless universe. That's the best/most I can claim.

hey graham maybe god doesn't have the time for the ilks of you, maybe god doesn't listen or care for your prayers, perhaps god believes your just not ready to accept that god allowed obama to remain as president and leader of the free world because god knows he is a decent human being.

Franklin is just taking after daddy who was and still is a bigot. Non-white Christians don't count for much in their book. Nevermind that the namesake of their religion was almost certainly not lily white and fair haired (if he existed at all). But what these people desire is a white controlled theocracy in this country.

Growing up we were taught in church that Billy was the closest thing to God on this Earth. Later events showed this was far, far from the truth and then one day I ran across some old sermons of Billy's from the early 60's being run on the local religious station. He was nothing more than a modern day Jonathan Edwards (of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" fame). And that means he was preaching some very ignorant and intolerant "fire and brimstone" stuff. I shook his hand once. Wouldn't do it again.

It's very sad and pathetic what has become of evangelical christians. Still trying to seek relavance since Reagan allowed them to have a smidgen of relavance.

I was wondering what took this so long, when I noted the B.Graham newspaper ads before the election.

Both myself and my wife are lifelong Christians and we voted for Obama, among the many reasons are that the GOP is a party of angry white men who start wars, and PRIMARILY: you cannot legislate morality.

Who is in the white house will not change mans attitude towards sin and God. Shaking this sin / God thing is just a tool that the GOP uses to its advantage whenever it suits them--no more, no less.

GOP or Democrats are neither one closer or farther from God. This is a personal thing.

The 'Mullah' of Evangelicals has spoken! So Hispanics are not Christian, Blacks are not Christians, these people must be smoking some new weed!? Having visions ? Or is it simply senility ? Too many senile idle minds at work these days - Billy Graham, Jack Welch etc. just live out the rest of your days in peace ! You have done enough damage to this world during your heydays.

Jesus was a Socialist. If He were here today, he would be a Democrat. I think today's Christians did vote ... they were enlightened enough to vote for President Obama. As the Athiest said the day after the election: "It was God's will that Obama won."

So, President Obama was reelected. He did a tremendous job in his first term overcoming the problems he inherited AND fighting the obstructionist GOP. The majority believe that he is the man for the job. FAUX entertainment needs to get over it.

By the way, where do I donate to Rush Limburger's retreat fund. He PROMISED he would leave the country if President Obama was reelected. I am willing to donate my hard-earned to help him keep that promise.

Correct, D. Appel. Jesus was a community organizer who rode a donkey (get it? donkey), healed the sick and wounded and even dead for free (no copay, no markets deciding what premiums should be), had zero business experience, hung out with other dudes, preached love and compassion, loved wine, wore flip flops, sported a full beard, gave away food to the poor, defended and forgave the sinful, and condemned the rich and the greedy. He was the ultimate bleeding-heart, socialist hippie.

No true Christian should ever vote or associate themselves with the Republican party. The party of greed, the party of zero compassion for the "moochers," the party of people sucking money out of the doctor-patient relationship for a profit.

Indeed Feisty, Dogs against Romney did "Release the Hounds". It's a Seamus the Graham's (Franklin and Lindsey) think we put the wrong man in Government - it's obvious neither is the 'insider' they pretend to be. Don't worry Republicans, when God is Happy and Dog is happy - Man will be happy too.

It was simply God's will that Obama won, if you believe if that sort of thing.

THE ELECTION IS OVER !!!!

Wait a minute....the campaigning continues, and we will hear again....."I won, my way or the highway".

I can hardly wait for the flood of articles supporting "Modern Day Progressive" self pro-claimed Mrs. Clinton for a 2016 run. However, she has too much BAGGAGE to even be considered by the Progressives: BENGHAZI, Whitewater, and throwing Bollywood supporters over the cliff.

Obama is an Evangelical Christian. Romney is a Mormon.

You should Evangelicals be voting for ??

I did vote, and I voted for the candidate that stands for Christian values: Barak Obama. Even if we didn't have a good Christian in the race, I wouldn't have voted for a mormon. Racism and sexism is built into their religion. Sure, they let black in, when their tax status was in question. If you are a mormon woman, you don't get to share your husband's, "planet," unless he feels like it. We can all see how Mitt thinks about the least of these.

Franklin wouldn't know Christian values if they bit him in the butt.

@Nomo, if you read Thomas Jefferson, he was more worried about religion invading and influencing government than the reverse.

@Ido - The Clintons were cleared of any charges in Whitewater. Like many of us, they got taken by a "friend" with a great deal.

It would actually be more newsworthy if Franklin Graham, for once in his pitiful life, actually told the truth!!

There is no such thing as an "evangelical christian". One is either "evangelical" or one is a true follower of Christ. It's as if a Fruit Loop is trying to convince you that it is Shredded Wheat.

It is just impossible for a mentally disturbed egomaniac like Graham to believe that his idiotic, brainwashed minions make up the minority of the minority party. The day the Republican Party was flushed down to toilet was the day they started patronizing these evil people. Now we see what really happens when you sell your soul to the devil.

"truthspeker" and "joann" can take their nazi propaganda and shove it where the sun doesn't shine (which would be their place of worship). American politics has no placce for the brainwashed victims of home-"schooling".

Again...Don't they have their little "rapture" to go to? I wish they would hurry up about it so the normal people that live in this country can live in peace.

Ignorant tool.

The Reverend Billy Graham is a true Christian in every sense of the word. I am hopeful that the idiotic words of his son will not reach him.

Franklin Graham is a piss poor excuse for a man of God. Christ's messages were love, acceptance, compassion and healing not spewing hate and discord.

I agree that I would never vote for a Moron - oops my bad. They are sexists, won't allow their women in the "temple" and they pray to a non-God. Not to mention the polygamists.

It is time that the people of this Nation put aside it's differences and heal. As far as the Evangelicals, they will be gone on 12-20-12 - good riddance!

Hmm. So if you believe that God is in control as that guy says as Graham says he does, then since Mr. Obama won wouldn't it follow logically that the person in control...God...must have wanted Mr. Obama to win? And the fact is that we have an elected President, so however you want to spin it to make yourself feel better, he is President for 4 more years. Choose how you want to spend them. You want to whine and complain, blame Christians, dirty campaigns (if you say that you can't just choose Democrats and leave out Republicans), or whatever you want to blame it on, or you can do as Democrats would have to do if they lost. You sigh, moan a bit, and go on with your life.

And you know, whether you are atheist, Christian, Muslim, or whatever else you might be, we weren't electing the head of a church with this election. We were electing a person to represent us all, and we aren't all Christians or atheists or Muslim. That means the laws have to be for us all not just for one group. If you want to live in a religious country where everyone has to follow one religion's rules, then go find one that suits you and have at it. Let's work together and move forward! Who cares where someone goes to church or if they do? Let's focus on the real problems we have in this country and not which actress looks prettiest or which church is the "right" one.

“The vast majority of evangelicals did not go to the polls.” He added, “God is in control, and if Christians are upset, they need to be upset at themselves.

Oh my God, oh wait can I say that? Mr Graham or Rev, evangelical christians aren't the only Christian Game in town. I'm a christian - Orthodox, I guess progressive ( whatever that means) that voted for Obama, not because Romney was a Mormon, but because he was an awful choice & it was right to vote for Obama in my book. Mr Grahams father had the Mormon church on his so called cult list for decades and all of the sudden he tells his members its okay to vote for Romney, thinking his word would sway anybody. The Revs should check the numbers more Christians voted for Romney than McCain. They might look unto themselves to see if they are as revelant as they used to be.

This story is more laughable than anything. Wow what a spin.

@GetReal3327: "In God We Trust" has appeared on US coins since 1864. It was added as a motto to paper currency in 1957. So, yes, it was added to our currency in the 1950s but I don't believe that was a watershed event.

More to point, I fail to see your argument that either imprint violates the Establishment Clause. You are entitled to your opinion; that is certainly not something I would trifle with. But I begin to not see the difference between the zealots on the Christian Right (Rev Graham the lesser - the subject of the article) and the zealots seeking to enforce an extreme view of the Constitution's guarantee of Freedom to Exercise one's choice of Religion (pardon the characterization, no disrespect, but you know who I am talking about).

Whether you believe in the existence of God or not, the presence of the motto 'In God We Trust' does not restrict your free exercise of that worldview. In point of fact, even Jefferson, who has been said to have likely been a deist but was not a member of a formal church, drafted the great founding documents with reference to the Creator and to God. In my view, an acknowledgement of God by the founding fathers and even by the Congress is not a limitation on Freedoms of the People. Nor am I at all persuaded that the inclusion of references to God, Divine Providence, or similar constitutes an Establishment of Religion. The History of Western Europe that informed their worldview tells us a lot about what the Framers were seeking to avoid installing on this continent.

What can you expect? He isn't a scientist. Math isn't his strong suit.

One reason Romney lost because one out of five Mormons voted for Obama. 20% of his own people voted against him.

Jesus was a community organizer who rode a donkey (get it? donkey), healed the sick and wounded and even dead for free (no copay, no markets deciding what premiums should be), had zero business experience, hung out with other dudes, preached love and compassion, loved wine, wore flip flops, sported a full beard, gave away food to the poor, defended and forgave the sinful, and condemned the rich and the greedy. He was the ultimate bleeding-heart, socialist hippie.

Very good Andres and you are correct. Except you left out two things. Jesus was against killing of any kind and He said that a union is between a man and a woman. Like you said, Jesus did forgive the sinful but after forgiving He also said, "Go and sin no more".

Can Franklin Graham be ANY more irrelevant?

Hmmm... I am a Christian, and I've been a moderate Republican since the first time I could vote - and that was for Barry Goldwater. I did not vote for Mr. Romney.

There are many reasons, but chief among them are these: 1) The Republican Party platform called for a U.S. Constitutional amendment to ban abortion in all cases - even rape. 2A) Mr. Romney has never worked for a living. He's only held a few high profile "title jobs," where he never had to get sweaty or get his hands dirty. 2B) Also, he's NEVER had to worry about paying his rent or mortgage. 2C) He intends to build an elevator for his cars. 2D) Clearly, he is an out of touch with reality person who has nothing in common with the average person.

Shortly after the election of Bill Clinton, the Republican Party allowed Christian conservatives to encroach on Party leadership. These Christian conservatives enjoy telling everyone else how to live their life. They really do need to form their own political party. After the drubbing they got in this election, maybe they will do that.

I say this to the Republican Party: “Call Off Your Old Tired Old Ethics.” Does that sound familiar? COYOTE. The Republican Party needs to understand that grey-haired or balding pot-bellied men should not be trying to legislate what a woman can or cannot do with her body. Such a choice is up to the woman, her God, and her doctor – and NO ONE ELSE.

It is time for moderate Republicans to grab their pitchforks and herd the conservative Christians out of the Party. It is not the 1800s or the 1940s. Times have changed. People have changed. The GOP POOBAHS need to get with it, or they are going to lose a lot of elections.

Franklin Graham could be a false prophet – one who needs counseling and medications. He has some very serious misgivings about what it really means to be a Christian. That being, someone who follows the tenets and teachings of Jesus Christ. Most people with reverend or preacher status allow too much personal opinion to enter their brain, to distort What Would Jesus Do?

@Jo Ann-666954....Jesus (considering you believe everything written about him decades after he died is what he actually said, but I digress) defended a presumed prostitute from the presumed good and moral community that were about to kill her (thus fulfilling God's Law in the Mosaic writings). He also criticized the immoral grounds by which men divorced their husbands (again, according to God's Law in the Mosaic writings). Jesus NEVER said a thing about the modern understanding of love between people of the same sex. So if you are going to judge people based on divorce by Jesus' 1st century redaction, then practically No Christian today would make the cut. Again, it's these kind of literal interpretations by so-called "evangelicals" that make a mockery of Jesus who was, in fact, a radical political and religious subversive of his time. People like Franklin remind me of my favorite prayer these days: "Dear God, save me from your followers!"

Hmmm seems most of you missed the most important thing Graham said the other day.

"People have turned their backs on God. There isn't one candidate that talked about God throughout the campaign. None suggested that we turn to God to help us solve our problems. They basically say they will solve the problems ourselves."

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord

The key question of life is are you going to serve yourselves or serve God?

The whole of the universe is set up so you can make that choice and the hereafter for the reward of your choice.

According to this,

Ye may not suppose that I came to put peace on the earth; I did not come to put
peace, but a sword;

Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,

And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,

For the Son of Man’s sake.

Franklin is doing what God asks of him, It is God you hate, not Franklin.

Hey Rev. Franklin Graham -- you're not 1% of the man your father is. You may think you're a Christian but the reality is you're nothing more than a right wing gas bag on par with Limbaugh the junkie. I'm a Christian and I voted for President Obama. Mitt Romney LOST because he was a lousy candidate, with lousy ideas, who choose a lousy VP then organized a lousy convention and ran a lousy campaign. He was the most dishonest candidate either major party has nominated in my lifetime and I remember every election since Ike/Stevenson in 1952.

Now, I’m not trying to tell you how to vote, you can vote, but vote, my goodness, and vote for candidates that stand for Biblical values.”

Interesting. He's not telling you how to vote just who to vote for.

DB Akron

Everything you said is based on nothing more than assumption. You assume...because you want to believe....that there is a god.

I prefer my presidential candidates to deal in fact not belief.

"joann" is a typical "evangelical"...making up little slogans as she goes. Just add water, stir and POOF! Instant "christian".

I guess that, since "christians" have been slaughtering people in the name of Christ for centuries, then it is perfectly OK for two men or two women to get married.

Thank you for clearing that up, "joann".

What Franklin Graham doesn't understand is that, man votes, and God votes, and verily, God is a most powerful voter!!

@backhouse. IF you and everyone else commenting here had gotten involved in the Popular Amendment Movement back in August 2010 (at www.faircampaignreform.us), we might have reduced this election cycle to basically 16 weeks. Under the proposed Election/Campaign Finance Reform constitutional amendment, we would have had just ONE NATIONAL primary date just eight weeks prior to the General Election, with just 60 days prior to that National Primary for candidates to file their nominating petitions and campaign for the primary vote. It's not too late to get this accomplished before the 2014/16 election cycles. Just think how our members of Congress might actually get some work done under this system, when they can't be campaigning for re-election the day they are sworn into office. Go to the website, download the two petitions, sign them, circulate them among family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and throughout your community. Help form a local, county, and state-wide grass movement to circulate and collect the petitions and then get them filed with your Secretary of State. Just make sure you check in advance for the required number of signatures to get action on each petition and make copies of each filled petition form before turning them in. Get your file copies date-stamped with the filing date/time of the originals.

Petition for US Constitutional Amendment For Election Reform

We, the undersigned US citizens, duly registered voters in our respective states/territories, do hereby petition for our state to approve the following amendment to the United States Constitution by the method noted below.

Election Reform:
1. Abolish the Electoral College (Repeal Amendment 12)
2. ONE NATIONAL primary date to be held on the Tuesday eight (8) weeks prior to the General Election day for Congressional offices and for the President. Candidate petitions must be filed with the local/state elections boards 60 days prior to the Primary Election date. Federal election petitions shall be uniform in every state and shall include a “contract with the voters” that spells out clearly what that candidate stands for on all issues that they may have to address in elected office. They shall be held accountable in court for breach of that contract if elected and any/all terms are not met.
3. NO campaigning allowed for any elective federal office more than 60 days prior to the National Primary Date.
4. NO campaign contribution shall be donated to any candidate of more than $200 from an individual or $500 maximum from a family (spouses/children living in the same household.) No donations shall be made to a candidate more than sixty days prior to the primary date. No candidate shall contribute from their own funds more than 60% of the total donations from other private individuals.
5. NO campaign contribution from any PAC, corporation, union, non-profit organization, special interest group, etc. shall be allowed for any elected federal office.
6. NO third party campaigning (separate PAC ads, corporate ads, etc.) for/against any candidate shall be allowed at any time during or before the election season.
7. NO party conventions shall be held to select the presidential candidates. The selection must be done at the ballot box in the primary election.
8. The One Man/One Vote Supreme Court ruling shall be enforced by this Amendment, namely that NO federal candidate selection shall be by any means other than the ballot box on Primary/General Election Dates.
9. National Party Organizations shall NOT raise money for or donate to specific candidates of their party prior to the dates outlined above.
10. PAC’s shall NOT be granted tax-exempt status by the IRS, and any non-profit organization who uses their funding for political purposes shall lose their tax-exempt status.
11. All lobbyists shall be outlawed from influencing Congress at all times.

This amendment shall be approved ONLY by State Constitutional Conventions to be called within 90 days of this petition being submmitted to a state’s Secretary of State. A minimum of 25% of the registered voters in each state shall be required to further this petition to the respective Secretary of State.

Name Signature State Address

Petition for US Constitutional Amendment For Congressional Term Limits

We, the undersigned US citizens, duly registered voters in our respective states/territories, do hereby petition for our state to approve the following amendment to the United States Constitution by the method noted below.

Term Limits for Congress:
1. Representatives to Congress shall serve no more than two two-year terms in the House.
2. Senators shall be elected to no more than two six year terms in the Senate.
3. No elected official shall serve more than six terms in office in any combined elected offices (House/Senate/Presidency.)

This amendment shall be approved ONLY by State Constitutional Conventions to be called within 90 days of this petition being submmitted to a state’s Secretary of State. A minimum of 25% of the registered voters in each state shall be required to further this petition to the respective Secretary of State.

Name Signature State Address

Ido,

You must have read almost the exact words of GW bush (THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER) who said almost those same words after his 2004 election win! I guess you can't take turnabout is fair play? However, Obama talked about working together not "My way or the highway!' You're a liar!

Does Mr. Graham have a church or other job that is tax exempt? If so, the IRS should be investigating this outrageous state of affairs ASAP!

Okay. You're an American of some social and economic class. There isn't a bigoted bone in your body. You believe yourself charitable toward your less fortunate fellows. You hold no prejudice toward anyone of different culture, sexual orientation, or gender. There's a pending Presidential election and you oppose the policies of the sitting President. You opt to vote for Mr. Romney because of His policies. What policies? He says He'll lower everyone's taxes, kill financial regulations, and create jobs. Good. Few weeks later He changes these statements. Tweeks 'em. Few weeks later He turns 'em upside down. Later still, He slants 'em till they are backwards. Now He says Government is too big. Next He says He wants to spend more on Government defense programs, then adds, the Country is going broke. Confused now. You really have no logical, coherent idea of what Mr. Romneys policies are, might be, or could be. You do know the policies of the President but you don't like 'em. The sum-bitch wants everyone to be covered by health insurance. The damn socialist wants a middle class, who all have substantive employment. Right now the Bastard is giving those who don't, food stamps, that sometimes amount to an optimum amount of $1.18 per meal per person. Aye Gwad, you're gonna vote for Romney come hell or water gravy. You go ahead and vote for Romney, but the President wins right handily. You sulk, scream and yell, and set about doing all you can to discredit Him, and those who voted for Him. Call 'em all Communists and Libs. You're not prejudiced though. There ain't a bigoted bone in your body. You love all your fellows. You are also a Gwaddamn liar. A Gwaddamn liar of the most dangerous order. A Gwaddamn liar who totally believes your own lies. Lest though, you're a true Christian. Personally, I'd rather be a knot on a boy dogs pecker than you.

He said that a union is between a man and a woman.

Last I heard, unions accept both women and men. What is your friggin point?

We can only read your many numbers being thrown around, which for some unknown reason reflects McCain. Could't care less about these numbers or even verify their accuracy but did research the Hispanics. You implied that out of 52 million eligible voters that only 12 million actually voted. This is incorrect when in fact we have approximately 24 million and 12 million voted which is 50%. Your 25% is grossly incorrect, which leads me to believe your other numbers are totally worthless.

LOL....Another "holy" man gone NUTS!!!!!!

Today, in my backwardass, racist, red state, of Mississippi, I've noticed most of my neighbors who had their "Romney/Ryan" signs proudly displayed on their front lawns/acres, are now proudly displaying "U PRAYED YET" signs.

I thought, YEAAAA, I prayed President Obama would win, and he did!!!!

Anyone else see these signs yet?

There isn't one candidate that talked about God throughout the campaign.

Good! They were to discuss real problems and offer real solutions.

If you want god in government we need to vote on which one. You won't want mine and I sure don't want yours.

Shesafatone: Yep, there ARE Progressive Christians, Gay Christians, Democrat Christians, Christians of all races, and even the Smorgasbord Christians. Yep, the pick and choose lot. And most likely voted like the rest - for Obama!!!

Roman Catholic here just like Biden and the Kennedy Dynasty and voted for Obama for the 2nd time!

I take issue with Franklin Graham using the terms "Christian" and "evangelical" synonymously. I am an Episcopalian. Episcopalians are Christians, but they are not evangelicals. Likewise, so are Catholics, Lutherans, and several others. Also, President Obama belongs to the United Church of Christ, not the Church of Christ. The United Church of Christ is not normally considered evangelical, while the Church of Christ is. It is possible for one to be a Christian and not be an evangelical.

ONE HUNDRED & THIRTEEN EXCUSES FOR WHY

Bishop Willard failed to fulfill his God's prophecy ...

and NO ONE has figured it out yet ?

It was the TREES man, they just weren't high enough after all

ya know dude ?

I tend to believe that it was the former. I believe that our founder fathers and the ratification by the states intended to inact the law that would prevent any one religion from being a sole voice of more consequence over another. In other words, people would be free to believe in any religious capacity they choose.

And as any grade schooler can tell you this is incorrect. The founding fathers watched religion tear the governance of England apart. Their very clear intent was to leave religion out of politics altogether.

No one was to govern with religious intent.

Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. Edmund Burke

Whether it was to establish that no one religion attain prominence, or that all Americans are free to "practice as they please", the separation of church and state, although not exactly "spelled out" in the constiution, is fairly clear to interpret. And let me add, these so called "christians", who don't vote, want to see an end to the sepearation of church and state ! Hell, "Dubya" himself said "GOD" spoke to him, all the time ! Also I can tell you all positivley, that we ALL dodged a huge bullet, when Romney did'nt get elected. Because the separation of church and state, would have ended for sure with him, and the Mormon church in the White house !!!

Obama is your president now, so all you teatards, birthers, ditto-heads and Fox cultist can quit your whining and belly aching. We don't need any crybabies in our country so pull up your diapers, put that pacifier in your mouth and wipe those tears away And suck on your blankie. If you don't like it self deport yourself, because that secede notion not going to work......

The republican party has become one sick puppy! They seem to see only through the eyes of the rich and can't understand the middle classes needs. That is what lost them the election and will lose them many more if they keep it up. "COMPROMISE! YOU NARROW MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY!

Shasafonte,

Conservative Christians! That is worth a good cry!

i can never remember any president having to go a lot of crap like Obama....the reason for this is simply that America has deep rooted racism that will never leave...just like the conflict in the middle east....like a chronic disease only thing is keep it under control

After reading through this nonsense, I would be thoroughly disgusted if I were a liberal, as the level of hatred and bigotry from the left is stunning.

You liberals lose horribly. Get over it, you won. Go hate someone else.

I'm confused, someone enlighten me so that I can see where he is coming from on this. He says that God is in control, so if that is the case and Obama won then doesn't that mean that God wanted Obama to be President? If the majority of Christians didn't vote, isn't that Gods will? So I am really confused as to why he is upset with Gods choice of Presidents. Is he saying that Obama is some sort of Anti-Christ and that Obama was somehow able to circumvent Gods will and win the Presidency? Can someone explain that to me? Also, if we do have the freedom of choice that God gave each and every one of us and it's part of his great plan, then it seems to me that God wanted President Obama to be President. He knew the outcome before it even happened so it must be Gods will.

Very good Andres and you are correct. Except you left out two things. Jesus was against killing of any kind and He said that a union is between a man and a woman. Like you said, Jesus did forgive the sinful but after forgiving He also said, "Go and sin no more".

Yes, JoAnn, I'm not going to go and pretend that Jesus was all for abortion, gay marriage, pornography, or running deficits during a recession to spur economic growth. I won't pretend that he was your textbook Democrat or even your textbook liberal. But the larger point I'm making is that the core of his teachings was love and compassion for the poor, altruism, helping the sick without personal profit in mind, and forgiveness —not contempt— toward the sinful. That is what he dedicated his life to teaching, and that is what true Christians should learn from him. Abortion and homosexual marriage were not issues he addressed too often, if at all. Conservatives, on the other hand, act as if he'd dedicated his life to condemning abortion and homosexuality and had never said anything about the poor or the sick. If you dedicate your political capital (or give your endorsement to someone who dedicates his political capital) to fighting abortion and homosexual marriage and don't do anything to ensure that every American has access to good healthcare, the way Jesus would want it, or to ensure that the poorest Americans have the means to climb the social ladder, then you do not follow Jesus' teachings. You're not a true Christian.

Again, I don't mean to imply that Jesus would agree with everything Democrats or liberals stand for. But at its most essential level, his message is far closer to the social mission of Democrats (helping the poor, universalizing healthcare, achieving more equality) than to the social mission of Republicans (freeing the privileged from the obligation to help the underprivileged).

After reading through this nonsense, I would be thoroughly disgusted if I were a liberal, as the level of hatred and bigotry from the left is stunning.

You would be thoroughly disgusted no matter what you were. People like you live to hate, and see hatred from everyone because that is the way you think.

Feisty said the most important thing to kick this thread off: religion has no place in politics. Many Christians, myself included, find Franklin Graham's comments offensive, self-serving to his transparent agenda, and demeaning to his own father's reputation. Like so many have done before, he trades on the good works of those who came before him rather than learn from what they devoted their lives attempting to share with him. It is not my place to judge, but I do have the right to an opinion and the ability to reason with all the facts before us. If the GOP is foolish enough to listen to his advice in this matter, they can expect an even more clarifying defeat in the next election. Perhaps that is what it is finally going to take for the Republican party to return to an organization more of us could support and the country desperately needs. Some of the smartest, reasonable, hard-working Americans you could ever hope to meet are Republicans, but they never seem to get in front of a microphone or get quoted - let's hope that changes soon and guys like this get less press.

Of course religion has a place in politics simply because religious people vote. The only question is whether or not religion uses the religious banner to launch a crusade against a particular candidate and apply their beliefs to the platform of a particular party. That is what 1600 plus pastors did from their pulpits. It's what Graham is doing in the article.

The problem is not that there is in religion in politics. It's that it is wrong headed religion. It's as wrong headed as thinking you can keep the arseholes from gaining control of the Republican Party and turning a political convention into a revival meeting - and a pretty bad one at that.

@ brenda1964:

For Christians or alleged Christians, The scripture says all goverment is from God.

Romans 13:1 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Revised Standard Version)

Graham's words are an excellent example of why I say ALL churches and/or religious organizations should have their tax free status removed and be taxed like any other business or organization. What we are calling "evangelical christianity" is nothing more than the propogation of Millerites under a new name. Miller was famous for predicting the end of the world, the "Rapture", and the arrival of God back in the 1840's. I don't know why the hell nobody has called them on this. I can't be the ONLY one who has known or notices this. Miller's predictions and prophesying were shown to be false by the time 1850 rolled around and simply because of non-fulfillment. They were ridiculed into silence but popped up anew under a different flag, and survived long enough to become the modern day "evangelicals". They preach the exact same thing, save that they've ceased putting a date on the Rapture and God's return- or else one of them puts forth a date and has a ready excuse for it's failure (God delayed his return etc...). Just a couple of years ago we saw one of them doing this exact same thing, and some are even using the Mayan Calendar ending in Dec 2012 to encourage like thinking. I call "PERMANENT SHENANIGANS!" on the lot of them, and I call it LOUDLY and publicly. If anyone belongs to a cult it is those people practicing the modern Millerite-ism, but call themselves "evangelical christians" or "fundamentalists".

Normally I would have voted for a 3rd party candidate for president and other offices, but I thought the danger of having a Romney as president (going by the poll numbers in the press) required me to cast my vote for President Obama. I see, however, that my vote wasn't needed by the President. I've regained some faith in my fellow Americans seeing how positively they've slammed the door in Romney's face. The entire last four years of fear, hate and crypto-racism directed at the President, the interminable lobbying efforts of the so-called "evangelical churches", and the blocking efforts of Congressional and Senate republicons have been noted and thoroughly rejected by the American People- Thank God! All that is left is to make churches pay taxes just like any other business. At least other businesses give a product for money. Churches get money by threatening your soul after death with eternal torments. Thus they are a "protection racket" and should be taxed or at least monitored to prevent them from benefitting from spiritual extortion, the same as we do for Gypsy fortune tellers. If they wish to engage in lobbying and influencing elections then they have placed themselves in the position to be monitored , legislated on, and taxed. Give them equal treatment with other businesses .

Merlin,

I second your thoughts!

It's time for all the Crazy Bible Thumping Tea Loonies to go hunting with Dick Cheney for a better America !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merlin #1.134, I also second that - "Salute" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a Christian. I have ,for many years ,decided that the majority of church going,religious persons ,claiming to be of my religious beliefs are not Christians and never have nor will ever be Christians. They neither Know nor agree with the teachings of Jesus the Nazarene. One has only to hear them spout their social savagery to know that it is impossible for them to be Christians and I include the elders of their church's in my opinion.

The whole of the universe is set up so you can make that choice and the hereafter for the reward of your choice.

Believe whatever you wish, DB, but no one can say for certain what happens after we die.

Politics isn't about the hereafter...it's about the here and now.

Your pie in the sky doesn't feed the hungry. Your religious beliefs have no business ruling the lives of others.

@ Kaybeetoys:

Well said. I agree!

@ Merlin-420455:

Good analysis and conclusion; remove tax free status and levy all taxes that apply!

Obama won the election because Romney was promising JOBS...... and there's too many people out there that do not want to work..........

Wrong, this article is wrong, Obama won because the so called Christians are not what they say they are, the spirit of God is not in them. Almost eighty percent of Americans claim to be Christian, if that were true Obama could not have won. Most of these people call themselves Christian because it is expediant and some times to their advantage. Most of the Churches today are nothing but clubhouses where people can catch up on the latest gossip, and the ministers do not preach nothing but love and riches. Our nation is turning from God, the One True God Of The Bible, at breakneck speed. Never has Bible truth been so rejected in America! Never have "professing" Christians been so shallow, weak, driven by worldly desires, and led so easily by deceptive leaders! How can a true Christian vote for those who stand against Biblical truth and not be held accountable by God???

To knowingly vote for a candidate who approves of abortion, and even worse, partial birth abortion, approves of sodomite marriages, approves of embryonic stem cell research, and stands against Israel, makes that voter "partaker of his evil deeds!!! 1 Timothy 5:22 "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure."

It is a fact of history that when nations are Godly, they are great. America was
at its best when it was truly a God-fearing nation, and the more ungodly we become, the weaker we have become in every aspect. Biblically speaking, there is no such thing as “separation of Church and State.”

Mr. W: "You liberals lose horribly. Get over it, you won."

Huh? Mr. W, schizophrenic much? Please take your meds and get professional help, ok? If you can considering the lack of medical coverage (soon to be remedied we hope).

Jerry: "Wrong, this article is wrong, Obama won because the so called Christians are not what they say they are, the spirit of God is not in them."

YOU ARE CORRECT, SIR!!!

"If you don't want tax dollars helping the sick and poor, then it’s time to stop saying you want a government based on Christian values" --- John Fogelsang.

So, do we blame the Christians for not voting?

Isn't the Republican Party the Christian Values Party?

I wonder what went wrong?

Could it be that Christians saw Mitt Romney for what he truly is?

Is this Billy Graham's kid? Because that explains a lot. Billy tried to sanitize the Mormon religion by removing it from its list of cults, even though clearly it still is.

I can't stand religious nutjobs getting into politics.

I thought these religious wingnuts believe that everything that happens is god's will. Obama won, therefore it was god's will, regardless of who voted for whom. Right??

Or maybe, the all-seeing invisible sky-wizard just doesn't give a crap about us because he didn't like the way we invented him.

Here's the research data from Pew Surveys: http://www.pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/How-the-Faithful-Voted-2012-Preliminary-Exit-Poll-Analysis.aspx#rr

As one can see, there is no significant percentage differences over the last few elections. Oh, by the way - are African American Christians not Christians? I guess not according to Graham.

All Hail Mithra, and Mighty Odin for our victory!

Oblama's winning was the result of voters on the public dole.

hjack - your stupidity is the result of your total lack of intelligence; integrity,character, ..... you get the point!

@BillCrane - good point. Back in the early 70s, in a basement Jazz bar, I invented a new religion called White Christian Buddhism. It swept through the assembled crowd of my three friends, who raised their beers in acclamation.

But even though the religion was intended to pacify the objects of Lee Atwater's republickkkan southern strategy, it never took off. Reason? The PR people failed to "message it" properly. For hindsight tells us clearly that we should have included a huge tax cut for the rich in order to appeal to the poor deluded white folks.

what a terrible cross to bare graham knowing god has forsaken you. go cry on lindsey grahams shoulder.

I certainly hope the wrathful, hateful, vile creature that Franklin Graham worships has nothing to do with elections in the United States.

What do you call a "Christian" who thinks that "other people" are going to "wipe out" God?... Obviously a faithless paranoid husk of a person. Certainly not a Christian.

The "Evangelical" voters are angry because other people tend to vote in "groups"...

If you can't keep your failed observation of your religions away from the voting box you should just stay home.

But Graham’s assertion -- and implication that had white Christian evangelicals just showed up in bigger numbers, President Obama would have lost -- is off base.

Bigger numbers? What's the 'script med this is guy taking? Everyone knows that the Christian religion is losing faithful followers more and more each year. Most are simply dying off and not being replaced. People are starting to maybe realize that science is teaching much more relevant things than an imaginary guy in the sky written in a book a couple of thousand years old can. I don't know. I don't hold grudges against religious folk unless they try to make me listen to it. Then I get p'eed off an let fly a few expletives showing them I mean business.

• Rev. Franklin Graham, Mitt Romney, John McCain and the rest of you losers -- get over it. If you ever want to have even the slightest influence in american politics, stop your endless blame game, your whining, your crying and your bitching. Nobody likes whiners.

tonybeeerm - Did you know there are at least 2,000 versions of the Bible? Nearly all of them are different in some ways. More likely than not, the most popular version is the King James Version.

Very few people realize that King James had "more than a few kinks in his hose." When he hired 58 scholars to "translate the ancient tongues," back in the l590s, they were professor/scholars from Cambridge, Oxford and Westminster colleges. All of them were conversant in Greek, Latin and Aramaic. They translated the Bible, with the full knowledge that if they did anything to displease King James, the would become toast. Simply put, they would just disappear. So, they had to be very careful, and accurate.

After the scholars submitted their translation to King James, he edited their translations, to suit his own beliefs and to protect his own prerogatives. The scholars knew this would happen. So, they put a disclaimer in the preface where they stated amid very flowery language praising King James, "We recognize this as the King's own work."

My oldest Bible is from about 1865, and it does have that phrase in it. However, newer Bibles do not mention that. That is further evidence of someone tampering with the Bible.

So, the Bible used by most Christians today, the Bible running the households of God only knows how many people, was tweaked by King James, who was a homosexual, big spender, party guy. That is not my opinion. Rather, it is historical fact. Anyone can read The History of Scotland, and get a real eyeful...

So, the Bible used by most Christians today, the Bible running the households of God only knows how many people, was tweaked by King James, who was a homosexual, big spender, party guy.

King James was gay? I did not know that.

King James translated a LOT of tongues.....

Thanks for bringing that up, WhistleBerries. I always found that inconvenient historical fact rather ironic...

Would the sore losers like some cheese with their whiiinnnne?

In the battle between producers and takers, the takers won. Give me my free Obama stuff.

It is a shame that Christians did not get up off their ever widening butts and vote. It is a shame to know that you would give this world over to a man who claims to be a Christian and yet goes against God's will. Those who did not vote gave our country away to destruction.

Thank God more of them didn't vote!

Hey Ranson, Graham's son is the real wacko, he relates to the Crazy Tea Movement that's destroying our Nation, these Crazy Bible thumping Loonies are getting Scary !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Debora, The Christians you are talking about did what was right, they knew ( "Romney & Ryan" ) were two Phonies.

Sherie / As a true believer in the teaching of Jesus I believe that most of the Christians who voted did vote for the Democratic and present P.O.T.U.S. The other choice is not and can never be a Christian. Not because he is Mormon but because he obviously doesn't believe in the Teachings of Christianity.

These people are pathetic with their “If this would have happened or if that would have happened”. They talk about President Obama like he’s the enemy, when in reality it’s actually Romney that would have brought this country to its knees or worse.

These so called religious “leaders” don’t represent anybody but themselves and the right wing Republican spin machine. To state that Christians would have voted for Romney is an insult. The philosophy of greed Romney adheres to is light years from the way most good Christian live their lives. President Obama is a good a decent man that cares deeply about this country and most of us Christians know that.

If Republican zealots really want to figure out why people don’t like them very much then they should take in a good long look in a mirror…… They have been living in a self constructed bubble of lies and spin for so long that they now believe their own propaganda is the truth…… They real are pathetic.

If this was Australia, and the U.S. had compulsory voting, Graham’s argument that evangelicals would have tipped the balance would not hold up very well.

Great closing line right here...

To the Author... THIS IS AMERICA AND PEOPLE ARE FREE TO VOTE OR NOT.

NOT AUSTRALIA... and if you can tell me ANYONE knows exactly how many relgious people voted for who and what religions...then you have a magic counting wand for humans...

This article and the hatred spewing from the comments make me sick...from both camps of politics...

The Author is VERY BIASED PERIOD and THIS IS AN OPINION PIECE to promote the hatred and division of America...

hjack: "Oblama's winning was the result of voters on the public dole."

So that means YOU are "on the public dole," correct?

FORWARD!

BTW: "If you don't want tax dollars helping the sick and poor, then it’s time to stop saying you want a government based on Christian values" --- John Fogelsang.

Preach! :D

So if Franklin Graham is correct that Christians didn't vote, does that mean we don't have to listen to their whining anymore? Can we make that forever and ever? Can I hear an "Amen!"?

I know! Let's fence off Texas and move all of them there, tell them they've got their own country now where they can do as they please. Then we'd only have to wait a few years until they're living in utter squalor from their own stupidity to invade, occupy and steal their oil and free their women.

Gee whiz, Montana, you've got a great idea on the face of it, but does it hafta be Texas? If you'd ever visited the People's Republic of Austin, where I lived for ten years, that might just change your mind! Maybe we could let 'em have Mississippi, where Haley Barbour conducts his bidness- most of 'em'd hardly notice the difference anyhow.

Fox, good grief no! We've got enough of that fundementalist ignorance already! Well...on second thought, I've really been wanting to move anyway...just make sure to give us reasonable, thinking folks advanced notice so we can get out before they lock the gates....

Montana - actually the people of Austin have asked to secede from Texas - should Texas secede from the US. They said they can easily be their own state and would prefer that instead of going along with dumb Texans (okay the "dumb" part was my insert). So, please keep Austin out of the group you're cordoning off!

So even Franklin, the guy who only got his job because of his dad, can't tell the truth. Sorry bunch, that GOP.

This is too good to be true, Kaybee!!! If Frankie Graham is correct (ha-ha) that means we will never again have to listen to another lying teabagger!!!

...but...

It's the "if Frankie Graham is correct" part that kills our fantasy. Sigh. For 30 seconds I actually had some peace in my universe...

WOW Kaybee!!! This means, if Frankie Graham is correct, we will never again be subject to the nasty lies of teabaggers!!!

...oh...but...

It's the "if Frankie Graham is correct" part that kills our fantasy, doesn't it. Sigh....For about 30 seconds there was peace in my universe...

Sorry for the double post...the first one seemed to have disappeared so I retyped it.

Apparently "god" doesn't want me talking sh*t about Frankie Graham!! The jokes on him!! It posted twice!!

This just another reason why religion should be kept at home or in the church where it belongs. It shouldn't be a negotiating tool in an election.

GetReal3327

Paul Ryan knew for a fact that Romney was not going to win, that's why he was running for United States Representative and won. Even Paul Ryan knew he was not going to be vice president.

At least the so-called wizard got something right.

You lost because you ran an absolutely terrible candidate - PERIOD. Going to war against women, minorities, sick people, working families and the elderly (and many other groups) didn't help your cause much either.

I have only one request: DON'T CHANGE A THING!

sfcret: What is ironic is if Romney had gotten 330 electoral votes and won the popular vote, Repubs would be screaming that he got a mandate. In fact many of the GOP pundits said exactly that.

So now that President Obama won by more than 100 electoral votes....GOP is saying it is not a mandate.

Can't have it both ways bucko.

President Obama ran on not extending the tax cuts for the 2%, majority of Americans agreed with him....as he said, more Americans agree with that than actually voted for him...that is a mandate.

Dems gained seats in the House and Senate...that supports the mandate that Americans are aligned more with the policies and values of President Obama and Dems than with GOP.

Y

Romney ran a real sh*ty campaign.

Who would of guessed a poopy-head @!$%# head would run a @!$%#ty campaign? lmao

Yes Dragon, it was a landslide by any measure. Obama is the third President in the past 100 years to have had two landslide victories.

sweeeeeeet!

Blah blah blah

spin spin spin

SCOREBOARD!

sfcret, seriously? Paul Ryan said the GOP has a mandate because they kept the House yet they lost seats in the House to democrats, their majority is less than it was before Nov 6; democrats kept the Senate and added more democratic senators. Despite keeping the House, democrats got more votes than republicans. Your logic is as flawed as Ryan's. You lost, spin will only make you dizzy.

President Obama becomes the first Democrat since FDR to win reelection twice with more than 50% of the vote each election.

Just wonderng, did you believe, as he did, that George Bush had a mandate when he failed to even win the popular vote??

Sfcret... You lost because you offered nothing but a white boy, mistakenly thinking that you still lived in a country stupid enough to choose by color. You no longer have those votes if Everyone showed up. Keep acting like crackers and you'll surely end up in the soup.

The GOP lost seats in both the House and Senate plus by millions of votes in the president's election. It's a Mandate.

I would say if you really think that all Mr. Obama wants to do is sooo horrible, why didn't you all sit back and let him demonstrate how badly his initiatives would do? Then you could all be saying you told us so and Mr. Romney or someone else would have won this election based on how horribly Mr. Obama did.

But since they obstructed so much we can honestly say you can't show his policies won't work and here you are all upset you didn't win again. Could it be you aren't so sure they would fail? Perhaps Mr. Obama would have helped the economy immensely and gotten re-elected easily, and then in 2016 things would be great and you would lose again? It would be worth the risk IF you really all do believe your policies are great and his suck, since he would have supposedly screwed the country up miserably as I keep seeing people say. You could come in and rescue all of us and keep a Republican in office for a long time if you did show us how wrong we are, but the truth is your policies have all been tried and they don't work.

I'd only let his ideas through if I truly trusted my own ideas, but that isn't going to happen because if you read history you find yours don't. I'm willing to let Mr. Obama do what he wanted to do in the first place since I believe that the policies are right for the country and will help us, and we saw what 8 years of Mr. Bush and his shadow Cheney did already.

Oh, and alienating most of the voting groups by being out of touch and rude to them isn't going to get you elected...just a hint there. So please keep doing what you have been doing. It's working quite well:)

If you don't want tax dollars helping the sick and poor, then it’s time to stop saying you want a government based on Christian values" --- John Fogelsang.

Absolutely. Also, if his name were Franklin Jones we would have never heard of him.

Franklin Graham and Mitt Romney, both sons of more accomplished men, born on third base, thinking they hit a home run.

Lets not forget that W belongs on the lucky sperm club list. What is it with these guys who've never had to struggle in life? Seems to me that they end up warped.

hjack: we the working class have been pulling the corporate welfare wagon for the rich since President Reagan said the government of the people is the problem and gave us government of the corporations.

Another possibility is that since four years have passed and the group in question are white evangelical voters... The count could be down by 2 million just due to attrition.

I think anyone that is identified as an "Evangelical voter" is a sure example of someone with a ring in their nose. If there is a Satan, "Organized Religion" is his favorite playground!

As long as there's a tax-free fortune to be made we will continue to shear the Lord's flock on a rotatin' basis.

I like to think that the GOP voting is down because the GOP governors screwed up on their own voter suppression.

Maybe "christians" did not vote because they realize Mormonism is NOT "christian." Mitt Romney is working toward godhood. What is biblical about that?! Also temples are not used for worship; they are used for rituals for death and the dead.

I had exactly the same thought as I read that line. Since they continually use the excuse that God intended it to be for personal tragedies and anything else that doesn't fit the benevolent God model, the results of the election would also have to have been God's plan for the devout electorate who chose not to vote.

The denial of the GOP just doesn't stop. They so want to believe that they don't need any of the minority and just a small share of women if all white people just voted. This gives them the excuse to not be inclusive of the groups that don't want in, with the smug assurance that they can win without them anyway. It's a business case to defend racism.

No No NO... You don't understand! In THIS election cycle the power of the ballot box was GREATER than Gods will... Just this time though... Cuz the Charlatain Graham wants to set the guilt-money a-pumpin' in from all the followers he's sooooo disappointed in for having an independent thought.

If there was a God, little Grahams face would have come without a mouth.

That's easy. God wants whatever the person speaking for him wants.

HAR! You tell 'em, Hoodieboy! Those overbearing, phony-macho, swaggering, camo-wearing, gun-toting sissies and pantywaists in the Rethuglican Party have been blowing their mouths off for WAY too long about the supposed 'wimps' in the Liberal camp.

OK- Teddy Roosevelt (a Republican, true, but a Progressive reformer), Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, Jack Kennedy, Lloyd Bentsen, Ann Richards, Bella Abzug, George McGovern (RIP), stop me when I name a wimp...!

I have fought religion most of my life. Ever since I threw off the shackles my parents tried to inflict on me through 6 days a week of religious training from the time I was 5 until I was 13. Thank the gods of reason that I managed to clear my brain after all that washing. It seems like such an obvious thing, I still can't understand why other people don't renounce the ignorance and fear religion causes everyone in a religious society.

I don't think Franklin Graham believes in any gods. I certainly don't think Mitt Romney thinks he's going to another planet with mutliple wives after he dies, either. These people just can't be that stupid. They are in it for the profits, not the prophets.

Come 2016 I'm writing in Penn Jillette & Adam Savage. Bullsh!t and Mythbusters, bringing reality to Washington.

I love you atheists have to be all over these boards, spewing your anti-religous sentiment. If you don't believe in God thats your choice and your entitled to it. However, the vast majority of human beings believe in God in way or another. You are so arrogant to think that you are brighter or smarter then the other 10's of billions! Perhaps you don't like human religous institutions - thats fine - they're flawed, and have done alot of evil (although a lot of good as well). But to bad mouth others on a point you can in no way sceintifically or philisophically prove is just mean and dumb. I am pretty sure Aquinas is 10x smarter than Christopher Hitchens or any other atheistic apologist you can pull out, and about 100 X smarter than you!

David,

Show me one iota of totally objective proof of your God's existence, let a Hindu show me the same for Brahma, etc, ad infinitum. Atheists haven't asserted anything to prove, religions have. It's easy to get insulted but all you have to do is show me, as they say. So far no one has been able to take up that challenge with anything but pseudo-science that has been disproven over and over and over again.

seems like a symbiotic relationship is required. it would be nice if everybody recognized it, but most believe that them winning is more important than all of us winning

Michael T, great quote.

If memory serves me, Hostess was bought by Bain Capital. One more in a long line of successful, if troubled, businesses bought by Bain which then blames unions for the troubles and does its best to break the unions. The problem for Hostess wasn't the unions, it is that people's buying habits changed in the last 10-15 years in the shift to healthier eating plus the 2008 economic collapse meant people spent less on treats and snacks.

I personally plan to stock up on Twinkies before they are eliminated. The good news is that, in reality, they have no expiration date! I plan to save some for my great-great-great-great grandkids!

Ho Ho's - I LOVE Ho Ho's - now the snarky remarks may begin!

Michael Thompson,

I really enjoy your statistical posts but can't say I liked this one at all. I get so tired of the heroic worker/ evil master mantra. I am largely anti-union through experience. Well versed in history I understand the labor movement and the importance of unions but I believe they have largely outlived their usefulness and have become generally the masters they claim to protect the worker from.

I've had two union jobs. As a teenager I worked for a grocery store - I was saving money for a motorcycle and soon after my hiring on the union called a strike. Man, that pissed me off. OK, I was a teenager. No biggie.

Next round I was working for an union aircraft engine shop. Break and lunch time would roll around and the guys I worked with would literally drop their tools and disappear. Rule number one in aircraft maintenance is the job you are working on is the most important thing in your life, distractions kill. After one meeting with the shop union steward during which he chewed my ass for working through lunch break I was outta there, vowed never to have anything to do with a union again.

Petty perhaps, perhaps not.

I wear a tie now, answer straight to the CEO of my company, and decisions I make directly affect the jobs of six people. I have a responsibility to those people they can not possibly understand and I take it very seriously. They work their shifts and go home, but my shift never ends, I don't know how much sleep I have lost thinking about how I can keep my guys working in a volatile industry during a @!$%#ed up economy. There are a lot of men and women like me. I know because we talk a lot, share ideas. Having to lay even one person off is a sharp kick to the gut.

The idea that the guy who gets his hands dirty is more noble or works harder than the guy in the white shirt is utter hogwash. We both need each other.

Seeking ... I'm a personal fan of the little chocolate donut gems ... even if they do taste like wax! HoHo's run a close second. DingDongs too ..... (who on earth came up with their names??) :-)

Layton - don't know but I still love those darned things! Cannot believe the company is going under! How can that be????

My problem is that, Franklin Graham is supposed to be Christian, but he would rather vote for a white man who believes that Jesus Christ is a prophet, than the black man who is Christian. I am christian and hate the fact that Christian people just will not tell the truth. Obama does not believe in same sex marriage or abortion; he only beleives that we all should have equal opportunities and we should make choices on what to do with our body. God will forgive anyone who sins and repents, but He will not accept you in Heaven unless you believe that you have to come to through His son Jesus Christ. I've had it with you all so called Christians, sit down and shut up and try again in 4 years, but at least don't nominate people who think they can choose for others.

Juana: "God will forgive anyone who sins and repents, but He will not accept you in Heaven unless you believe that you have to come to through His son Jesus Christ."

Huh? What about Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Taoists, and other denominations? With respect, if you're going to heaven, then I'm going to hell. My idea of hell would be eternity in the company of Right Wing Jesus Nuts who deny others' spirituality. Hell sounds like much more fun (and interesting) to me!

Just saying....

Mark: "The idea that the guy who gets his hands dirty is more noble or works harder than the guy in the white shirt is utter hogwash. We both need each other."

Tell that to the Masters in the white collars. They don't seem to know it. I love the way they triple their salaries into the millions of dollars but object to us wage slaves making a living wage...they couldn't survive on our salaries apparently. Why do they expect us to?

And if you think the blue collar workers do NOT work harder--ask Mitt or Trump to lay bricks for 8 hours or pick vegetables out in the hot sun for 12 hours (making LESS than minimum wage--agricultural employers are not bound by min. wage)--hahaha!

I guarantee you they'd both fold within MINUTES! I dare ya!

TalkingPoints, thank you! I totally believe that Billy Graham had no clue what he was saying. For years he's gone on about the Mormon cult. For his son to use his dementia to try and further his personal agenda. Disgusting. As noted in posts above, Mitt & Franklin will NEVER be half the men their father's were.

I agree 100%... You said exactly what many God-fearing Americans (Black, White,Asian and Hispanic) know to be the truth. These Zionist/Dominionist UN-Spirit filled religious Pharisaic Edomites have destroyed Christianity around the world with their pseudo-Gospel(not-Gospel) rhetoric.

Give me a thousand Christians and a weeks time... I'll find the one that's telling the truth!!!

I was going to say the same thing. I find it offensive that a reverend would say that Obama lost because Christians didn't vote. There are a lot of Christians in the Democratic party. Obama is a Christian. To me, Christian values are all about helping other people. I think Obama displays more Christian values than Romney. I wasn't viewing the election on a Christian vs Morman basis at all. I mostly saw it as one guy wants to lift up the middle class and the poor (and has a history of doing so) while the other guy wants to squash them (and has a history of doing so.)

And you know Oblama is a Christian how?

Because he went to church on the Sunday before election?

And you know Oblama is a Christian how?

Remember this little episode?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_Wright_controversy

hjack... If this comment string were a Chucky Cheese you would be the whack-a-Mole game.

It is even harder to win an election when you choose to run as Ebenezer Scrooge and brag about just leting all of the poor starve to death or die without health care.

Eureka - and it's really hard to win an election when everything you say and do proves you believe in absolutely nothing - I give you Mitt Romney - Mr. Nothing Man!

As a woman with a strong work ethic I have to say you're right - those of us with strong work ethics voted for President Obama.

Those are fine Fox talking points, but they simply aren't true. All the people I know who voted for Obama are hard working middle class people.

Why do you think so many corporations put their money behind Romney? Because they think he'll do what's best for the country, or because they want "stuff" like huge tax breaks and remove pesky regulations?

Doubt anyone wants people with disabilities to go without healthcare. Problem is the Democratic slugs on welfare, food stamps, and fabled disabilities. Problem is undocumented people using our system that we pay for. Problem is the gamer we all pay for. Problem is that group of 'workers' who are uneducated, refuse to get educated, and continue to gripe about their income.

Unfortunately, that group votes for more government handouts. And the Dems and Oblama play to it and continue to take from workers and give to slugs. Where do you fit in this category?

You want to talk about the uneducated "workers" and hand-outers, you need look no further than the red southern states. Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and a few others. ALL Romney voters. Combine the literacy of ALL of those states put together against a fruit fly and the fruit fly wins!

Eureka, Do yourself a favor and learn a little about history. Do you know how McKinley became President? Do you know why? Do you know what he did while he was president? Do you know why he was assassinated? Do you know why Teddy was given the VP ticket for his second term?

McKinleys death marked the beginning of a REAL middle class in this country. You could learn a lot about what we just dodged by looking into this. The similarities are amazing. And yes, the already rich got MUCH richer once their paid for stooge was gone and they got their empires broken up for the sake of America.

I am a conservative Christian who campaigned for McCaskill and voted for Obama. What bothers me about this post is the bigotry being expressed about Christians. Christianity is about a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. Romans 13 says that God puts those in authority that he wants in authority. He wanted this President and we got this president. Don't judge those of us work at our faith. Yes, there are some scoundrels and there are some people who are very scared of the things they are seeing. But most Christians are not hate filled. For every one of the scoundrels and idiots the media focuses on, there are 10 who are struggling to be the best they can be. Would you be saying these things about any other minority? Look at the statistics in the article. True Christians, followers of Christ, are a minority. What has happened to the Liberal concept of taking care of the minorities or does only count for everyone else except Christians?

What happened to Liberals accepting any minority? What happened to Liberals being the kind group? I am a Conservative Christian who worked for McCaskill and voted for President Obama. a Christian is a person who has a relationship with God through his son, Jesus Christ. Evangelicals make up 26% of the country's population. That is a minority. Sure we have some scoundrels and some idiots but for every one of those there are many who are just trying to be the best person they can. Why is that so threatening? If any one posting on this link were to talk about African Americans, Muslims, Jews or Homosexuals in the manner you are talking about Christians you would go nuts. Again, what happened to Liberals accepting everyone? Or is there prejudice in your ranks also? By the way, while I was out walking and campaigning for Claire in a highly Conservative, the days sometimes reached 104 degrees. (And I was only treated rudely one time.) Not bad for a conservative Christian in a conservative area is it? How many of you meanies did something like that?

Okay, so I'm an idiot. The first post was lost then it showed up. Couldn't take either one off. grinnn.

Question for you hijack - why did the states with most of the people you mentioned vote for Romney? Look at all the states in the south. You can see Mexico from their houses after all. You guys need to wise up. Statistics show the more educated and the more self reliant you are the more you tend to vote for Obama. And by the way I think studies would show that the more you insult and spread hatred the more you vote for Romney..

And it is just as hard to deal with voters who tend to spread and read the stories about Santa Claus. I wonder how many spreading those Santa stories still think Santa left those things under the tree. They believe much worse after all. Just make up a malicious story about Obama and they will believe it no proof needed. Now that is something you need to be concerned about.

@ Jen-523820:

I have never met a christian. The people I have met that claim they are christian are in the world and love the world. They have no spiritual verifying credentials or true miracles that their scripture says they will have and use. They are like the non-christians, in that they love only their own kind. They love conditionally. They walk by sight and not by faith. They are proud and boastful hypocrites that love and trust money. They want to render unto themselves while claiming they render unto god and Caesar. I'm still waiting to meet a real scriptural spiritual powerful christian.

Jen -

If you read carefully, I think you will see that very few posters object to Chrisitans or Christianity. It is the narrow-mindedness and hypocrisy, the demands that only the fundamentalists are right and everyone else should just shut up and do what they say.

That is what posters attack. Not the spirituality, the dogma and man-made portions of religion. That, and often also the fact that most fundamentalists are what I call Old Testament Christians (meaning that they call themselves followers of Christ, but really emphaisize the old testament fire and brimstone, kill kill kill mentality)

It is the christians fault that Obama won. If the christians whould get out of the Republican party, it would be a good party.

Without the far right the repubs would grow again.

Eureka: (you obviously have NOT found it) "If you don't want tax dollars helping the sick and poor, then it’s time to stop saying you want a government based on Christian values" --- John Fogelsang.

I am really surprised at Franklin Graham. And I believe that President Obama has met more than once with Billy Graham. First off the plate should be if one calls himself a Christian you don't throw vileness at him. You treat him with respect and courtesy just like you are supposed to do the ones that disagree with.. The republicans appear to me to be taken over by the devil. They are so worried about what others are not supposed to do like being gay, or having abortions, that they forget what they are supposed to do like treat them kindly even though they don't agree. They can vote anyway they want. But on the republican side this time there has been too much vitriole, lies, slander even, and made up stuff because they think that would get Romney who I don't even know why they would support him to begin with would win. It is ridiculous. Thankfully the majority had other ideas I think the Christian spewing all this hatred should spend a little more time with the Bible and a little less time with the republican talking points. And then why if they are so haughty taught, do they let Limbaugh keep running his mouth making millions. And that might go for Hannity, Beck, Palin, Huckabee, Santorum, Oreilly et al. They are giving Christians a bad name. What they are spewing is not Christianity at least Jesus' kind.

@Robert-958789:

People like Franklin Graham and his demented father are not Jesus Freaks. Or they never would have endorsed a candidate like Mitt Romney (Mormon) over President Obama (Christian). Up until a few weeks before the election both Billy and Fanklin Graham considered Mormonism an "anti-Christian" demonic cult. Apparently their racism trumped their belief in GOD. Just like it does with most Southern White Evangelical Christians. Their beliefs and practices are 180 degrees opposite the real teachings and lifeworks of Jesus. Unfortunately for Those misguided zealots, most people are aware of their con-job. And reject their hateful and divisive message. They are the very reason themselves for the decline in culture they seek to lead.

The large majority of those "Holy Rollers", (a better description of them) are into politics over racism, power and money. Just like their rich associates, friends and corporate, rich mentors, they worship MONEY over all else. Just like the rich plutocrats who control the GOP. The historic Jesus condemned people like them and would completely disown those hypocrits today. He would be nowhere near Republican ideology, rank & file base, or governance. And Jesus definitely would have pulled his flock out of the dangerous, demonic clutches of their religious and political agenda. Just like he did with the Jews and Gentiles over 2000 years ago.

"God told them not to vote."

God wanted Obama to win that's why he told these people not to vote.

Disappointed in Rev. Franklin Graham.

If you don't want tax dollars helping the sick and poor, then it’s time to stop saying you want a government based on Christian values" --- John Fogelsang.