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The outspoken Rev. Franklin Graham claimed today that the “majority of Christians” did not vote.
“We know that from of the statistics that I’ve heard that the majority of Christians in this country just did not vote for whatever reason,” he told the Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody. “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. 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.”
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.
In fact, white evangelicals/born-again Christians made up the same percentage of the electorate as they did in 2008 – 26%. They voted for Mitt Romney, a devout Mormon, by a wider margin than they did for Sen. John McCain four years ago.
And, they made up a larger share of the electorate in 2012 than in 2004, when the Christian Right supposedly fueled George W. Bush’s reelection. They also voted for Romney with the exact same margin as for Bush in 2004, 78%-21%.
Not to mention, Obama won the 48 percent of the electorate that was Christian and not Protestant or Mormon -- 50%-48% among Catholics (25% of the electorate) and 50%-49% of "Other Christians" (23% of the electorate).
In Ohio, they were 1 point more of the electorate than 2008; in Colorado, 4 points higher; in Iowa, up 7 points; in Nevada, up 2.
White evangelical voters in select swing states
CO: 25%, 76-22 Romney; 2008: 21%, 76-23 McCain
FL: 24%, 79-21 Romney; 2008: 24%, 77-21 McCain
IA: 38%, 64-35 Romney; 2008: 31%, 65-33 McCain
NV: 18%, 69-28 Romney; 2008: 16%, 72-27 McCain
OH: 31%, 69-30 Romney; 2008: 30%, 71-27 McCain
They did decline as a share of the electorate in North Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin. But the drops in states like North Carolina (Graham’s home state) and Virginia likely have less to do with apathy and more to do with demographic changes – transplants in North Carolina’s Research Triangle and growth in the Washington, D.C., suburbs of Northern Virginia, for example.
The fact is, Virginia and North Carolina are looking less and less like the Old South and more and more like Mid-Atlantic states.
White evangelical voters in the South (where exit polls are available)
MS: 50%, 95-5 Romney; 2008: 46%, 94-6 McCain
AL: 47% , 90-10 Romney; 2008: 47%, 92-8 McCain
NC: 35%, 79-20 Romney; 2008: 44%, 74-25 McCain
VA: 23%, 83-17 Romney; 2008: 28%, 79-20 McCain
Are there Christian evangelicals who did not vote? Certainly. But that’s true every year and of every demographic group.
Evangelicals make up 26 percent of adults in the country, according to a major 2008 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey. They matched that this election.
The U.S. Census says there are more than 311 million people in the United States. If evangelical adults are 26 percent of them, then there would be 80 million potential voters.
So far, 123 million votes have been counted in this election – and that number will get higher by the millions as votes continue to be counted like in 2008. Evangelicals made up 26 percent of them, therefore, about 32 million evangelicals voted – less than half of their population.
But there’s a need for context here: (1) They make up just 14 percent of the registered-voter base in the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. They outpaced that percentage in the presidential election, (2) This is true every other demographic group in the country as well.
Latinos, for example, according to the U.S. Census, are nearly 17 percent of the country, but only made up 10 percent of the 2012 electorate. They make up just 8 to 9 percent of the registered-voter base of the NBC/WSJ poll.
That would mean just 12 million of the 52 million adult Hispanics voted.
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.
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Maybe Frankie should have a little chat with the nuns from the bus about real Christians.
I wholeheartedly agree~
To say Franklin is a Reverend insults Christians everywhere. He is an alcoholic coke head with delusions of importance.
Rev. Franklin Graham is a fool, and if he is well educated, he is a charlatan. What, only right wing, politically ignorant, Faux News tea-baggers are Christians? Graham should reread Matthew 25:32-46. The man does not know his own Bible. The Nuns on the Bus are following that admonition of Jesus.
This man is so far from being a man of g**, it makes me shake my head in disgust. Franklin, somehow made his father sign off on mormonism, a thing that Billy Graham would never have done in his better days.
Franklin should be disavowed by all, he is a trumpeting, angry man. Personally, I have had enough of angry men of all types. -- Said by a white woman in her 60's+ from the Republican, religious cornfields of Illinois. Romney shot himself in the foot over and over, that's why he lost. Get over it.
Q: Why are Repugnants and Tampon Baggers like sperm cells?
A: One in every three million have the potential to become a human being.
Maybe the government can issue a green card to Graham and McCain so they can emmigrate from their alternate reality???
self deportation is the only answer for Repugnant Turds like them
No, Romney lost because number one, he picked RYAN which was a Disaster. Number Two, all Romney and Ryan talked about was putting Social Security money into the Stock Market and Vouchers for medicare. Number Three, Romney and Ryan had Horses Bits in their mouths with the Reins held By the Wealthy people and Big Corporations. Super Pac.
I'm Christian, and a Republican, and I voted for Obama. Those who feel so strongly that God dictates everything for a reason should accept that this was His choice, the people's choice. I agree that religion and politics should be separate.
Catholic leaders called the Ryan/Romney budget un-Christian and immoral. Guess we were all doing "God's" work in voting for Obama??
This Graham clown gives Christianity a black eye. Almost as black as the eye that Romney gave the Church of Latter Day Saints. If they were Catholic they would be excommunicated!
upstate John...How come you didn't type the correct name of the Church? The Church of "Jesus Christ" of Latter-Day Saints ? Just wondering......
artistic license.
Romney was part of the 1%, and if stories are true, he's more like 99.9 in financial status, he's also 99.9 in not caring about all the people, he's 99.9 in not giving to real charities.
Oops, for the evangelicals, what does 999 stand for anyway?
Did you not learn of all of the different real charities Mitt & Ann give to? Did you not hear the events that Mitt was involved in with helping hundreds of people in his congregation and at his work over many years of service? How much did Obama and Biden ever donate? Mitt & Ann also gave of their time in serving others and they will continue to do so. I like it when folks on this board use the word "if" like Jody5789 just did.
Have your answer at #137.7 jacksonhole...Mormons are not Christians.
BTW - I don't even have to go into the polygamy thing...no need to get dirty. Unless you want that too :)
I'll save ya the trouble jacksonhole:
- Mormons do not believe in the virgin birth. They believe the 'Heavenly Father' came down and had sex with Mary.
- Mormons do not follow the Bible...They follow The Pearl of great Price, and Covenants and Doctrines
- Mormons can't have addictive substances, but sin all ya want...we're ALL going to Heaven
Sounds more like Muslim faith to me ...but hey...I'm a Christian :)
BTW - Jews believe Jesus existed too...that doesn't make them Christian
Meals on Wheels, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Free Clinics, Second Harvest Food Banks, Coalition for the Homeless, Salvation Army, The Mustard Seed? Did the Romney's give a few bucks to these worthy organization or similar non-profits or was their largess restricted to their Church, just curious.
Look it up, the list was very long. By the way, Catholic Charities was so impressed with the LDS Humanitary efforts and how they do it, they asked if they could join the LDS Church in some joint efforts so they could be more efficient. Remember the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints is a lay ministery. Our leaders are called to serve with no pay. Mitt served as a Bishop for 5 years and a Stake President for about 5 years. Our Chapels & Temples are completely paid for before a single worship meeting is held. About 3 Chaples per day are finished and ready to use somewhere in the world. The law of tithing is practiced in the Church, so I know that Mitt at least paid 10% of his increase. Wasn't his charity contribution in the 30% tile?
WD- I answered you and you didn't reply to my points as I thought you wouldn't do. Polygamy was practiced by way of commandment back in the late 1800's. About 5% of the Church were called to participate. It was stopped being practiced in 1890- 122 years ago. If you believe in the Bible and call yourself a Christian, surely you will recall that the Lord commanded many prophets in the Old testament to take on additional wives. Abraham was one of them. Do you remember God doing this WD? Do you think God would ask a Prophet to take on many wives if that was not a righteous thing and approved by him? Just asking? How about Issac & Jacob? Seems God was rather pleased with these leaders too who were asked to take on more than one wife. Seems like if you have a problem with God commanding certain people to obey certain commandments at certain times through out history, you should probably take it up with him.
wd- I can post my answers again. You probably didn't read them the first time.
WOW are you out there and uniformed. Wrong ! Wrong ! Wrong ! I have my Kings James Bible right here and we are studying the New Testament world-wide this year. I taught a college age class just last night covering Matt 27-28. We believe in the virgin birth. Mormon's can choose to have addictive substances like coffee and tea and tobacco and alcohol, but choose not to. Seems Mormons live abit longer than most Americans, for some strange reason. You might sin all you want. We all fall short and need Christ's atonement in our lives to make up the difference. Jews don't "believe" Jesus was the Son of God. Mormons do. Big difference my friend. Do me a favor next time you meet any of these people, please show your consistant colors and go up to their faces and tell them they are not Christians. Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman,Orrin Hatch, Harry Reid, Lavell Edwards,Dale Murphy, Ty Detmer, Clayton Christensen,Willard Marriott, Steve Young,Gladys Knight,Donny Osmond,Johnny Miller,Glen Beck,Jimmer Fredette, Danny Ainge, just to name a few members I have met. Please report back to us your findings.
As a "Christian" Reverand, Graham should ask himself if his political attacks on Obama reflect Jesus Christ's behaviour? Does he think Jesus Christ would behave this way?
Mr. Graham,
I believe a lot of us did vote. We voted for Obama. I watched Romney try to lie and buy the presidency. That is not what the Bible teaches. You would do well to read it sometimes since you claim to be a Christian Preacher, and you would have voted Obama as well.
Let me help you with a little remembering. The religious right prayed for it to rain on Obama's first convention. It rained on the GOP's. It also rained on them again this time. Many are blaming Sandy for Obama's win. That I believe had a bit to do with rain as well. Are you paying attention to what's happening here? I think God just might be a bit ticked at you guys who are selling what he meant for us to have for free. Just a thought, if indeed anyone on your side ever thinks anymore.
You cannot claim to be a Christian and vote for Obama.
Jesus never condoned murdering innocent babies
Jesus never condoned sexual perversion as normal and equal to heterosexual marriage
Jesus never called for us to surrender our personal responsibilities to care for those in need to govt and thus give glory to man rather than God.
Jesus never called for stealing from those who produce and give to those who haven't
Jesus never called for enslaving people to govt instead of liberty.
Reverend Larry Robinson
I feel sorry for You Referend Robinson, You are so very far from what Christ stands for.
"reverend" you are a nit wit. Romney/Ryan had every intention of improving the lives of their own class of people by stripping the poor of any meager relief that they do receive. What exactly is your church again? The right to choose is not Obama condoning murder of babies. Isn't God supposed to be the judgmental one? You need to be a bit more humble, or don't they teach that in seminary any more?
well then empathy&karma- refute my points instead of making a generalization
Jesus never gave Larry Robinson permission to speak for him.
Jesus never spoke to Larry Robinson on any of these issues.
actually He did harl60 when He called me and annointed me to proclaim the Gospel in His Name. And He promised that we would speak and act as He directs us.
in your mind only
Larry, the bible is silent on abortion, not one word, not one paragraph, not one verse, nada, zip, zilch, zero. I believe Christ would not judge and would have a conversation with whomever at the appropriate time. I believe his admonishments to care for the least of ours trumps a zygote or a clump of cells with a potential of a maybe human.
Larry, I think you have an humility problem, namely none, now don't let your ego or arrogance get in the way of a little soul searching.
Well, sorta... If you mean that it specifically prohibits it, yes. But there's plenty of references to approved killing of the unborn and mothers; Numbers 5:11-21 and 31:17 are two easy-to-find entries.
Larry, I'm not going to try to disprove your claims but call on you to give biblical references to where Jesus (not somebody else) said anything about your points. We're all waiting.....
I will address your third through fifth points by referring you to Romans 13:1-7, concepts the GOP seems to have a particularly hard time wrapping their heads around.
Of course, if Jesus is speaking directly to you, you might consider doubling up on the tinfoil lining your hat...
This is a nation "under God"; not the evangelicans' puritianistic god, but the God of all people. This supreme power exists in many forms and is worshiped in many different ways. That is the wonderful message of our great country. I have NO TOLERANCE for the Franklin Grahams among us.
It's hard to vote for Republicans when they stand steadfast that a woman's body is not her own and that the rich should pay even less in taxes--especially rich corporations. Outlandish.
But I did vote. For Obama.
Well!! I had something I wanted to say!! But enough is enough!!
As with most who have gained whatever visibility they've achieved due to having a famous gene pool, Franklin Graham is a very weak, translucent facsimile of his father. He's so sorely lacking the substance and values that made his namesake the iconic figure that he became, wherein his never had the inclination to stoop to this absurd vitriole, because he didn't have to employ this type of tactic to be noticed...and in part, his greatness was predicated upon that fact. so, yes Franklin, we've noticed your weakness one more time, as you wallow around in your fathers great big shoes.
Graham is nothing but a mean-spirited hatemonger with no understanding of Christian values. But, Franklin, don't shut up; keep spewing your garbage to turn off the remaining few sane Reps.
I guess believing Christians didn't vote is easier than thinking that they took the word of the black Democrat over your [speaking to Mr. Graham] self-aggrandizing, self-serving, self-promoting horses$%t, huh? /s
You cannot claim to be a Christian and vote for Obama.
Jesus never condoned murdering innocent babies
Jesus never condoned sexual perversion as normal and equal to heterosexual marriage
Jesus never called for us to surrender our personal responsibilities to care for those in need to govt and thus give glory to man rather than God.
Jesus never called for stealing from those who produce and give to those who haven't
Jesus never called for enslaving people to govt instead of liberty.
Reverend Larry Robinson
The Lord did call on us to protect the young, the helpless, the infirmed. When he spoke of Rome, he spoke of the government, you know render unto Caesar and so forth. You sir are a charlatan in the name of reverend, I pray for your soul.
Hello Rev. Graham, may I remind you sir, that The Christ was a Liberal and a true Rebel, he changed the world with his message, man may have at times perverted it, however, his admonishments still hold true: care for the least of ours and to love our neighbors. I will take the Liberal and Rebel over your brand of sanctimonious bigotry and misguided contemptuous twisting of his message. Rev. Graham you have no creditability.
The guy is crazy, period.
If this nation was a theocracy then fine go ahead and poll the Christians and the Lions or whatever. However There is SUPPOSED TO BE A SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE in this nation AKA secular nation that allows any religion to practice their beliefs but NOT to butt into our government. Those that do should be treated no differently than any other business. I for one am fed up with groups who can break constitutional law with impunity. This destroys respect for the law and teaches our children it is perfectly ok to commit crimes up to and including mass shootings in high schools for example. When are the authorities going to grow a pair of balls and start enforcing the law in this country?
Graham is a racist posing as a religious leader. His father was noted as being the minister for the rich. Neither ever showed any love or empathy to the poor and downtrodden.