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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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Franklin, if you're reading this, remember that religion and politics do not mix well. I used to hold Billy Graham's ministry as the only group worth their salt then my Jewish friend reminded me of what Billy and Tricky Dick used to say about them in private. Just like Romney the Grahams no longer have any convictions (other than the one that lurks out there when Franklin gets caught doing something wrong).
Sad that "Christians" are the group that can always be counted on the vote for the party that prizes the rich over the poor, war over peace, corporations over people. All that seems to matter to them is the "pro-life" stuff, which republicans only tout because it's an easy way to get votes without losing any corporate sponsors. There's huge cash to be made from war, so you'll never hear a "christian republican" being against that, even though they of course SHOULD be. But abortion, no big deal financially, so they get the christian vote on that alone. If the Koch Brothers somehow started making billions off abortion, the republicans would suddenly have no problem with abortion.
i realize there are a lot of people who think evangelist Billy Graham should be canonized as a saint or something; but I remember him speaking back in the 60s and Billy was an out and out racist. So why should we expect something different from son Franklin?
The part of the Bible that the Grahams have forgotten about is the one that calls us to be tolerant of and help our fellows.
This would be true if evangelical christians were born as full grown adults. Since about 68% of the population is 18 or over this would come to 55.3 million.
It is impossible to understand what Rev. Franklin Graham, as a spokesman for evangelical christians, actually means when he pretends to speak on the behalf of the historical figure Jesus. The words he uses are jarring; for each three words he speaks the fourth is in dissonance with all the Christian teachings I know. His father could at least get through several sentences or a paragraph of two before reaching dissonance. Words change meanings evangelical has become to mean that you are speaking to me as though you were Christ, rather than a representative of Christ's message. As for Christ's messaging, I do not get the part of being holier than thou with sparkling halo, because we are all quite flawed. This does not mean that I should neglect or accumulate more flaws, just because I can feign forgiveness based on Christ's message. This path to heaven has one major flaw in that you can plead forgiveness slightly faster than you can find new ways to sin. I have become certain that evangelists have mistaken original intent that forgiveness should be possible at least once, (an advantage over never), for the possibility of using the same trick so often.
Please go forth and live righteous lives, I will observe your example in silence the hope of never hearing from evangelist ever again.
As for seeing more Christianity in Romney's evangelical support, it would be sin to believe as much.
These bozo's actually believe what they say, that's the scary part.
The only truth that they believe in is that they are the chosen ones that are supposed to have all in the world of possesions so that others will not live in a vain and sinfull life so that they may see god when they die.
Such people are led into the desert and corn field by such men thinking that they are the truth. They are nothing but the devil incarnate as they continue to fool millions through the use of fear to make Americans give them their hard earned tax free money.
There are....the ones who walk behind the rows.
Franklin Graham: Mitt Romney and Evangelical Christians for mammon failed; the American people voted for decency and fairness. As much as Mitt pulled a bait and switch ruse, most of the people saw through it, except for those poor white folks who sit in your pews and fester hate and resentment. The Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers; which one of the family do you come from?
Thank god I don't believe in god.
I do believe in God. Just not the God Franklin Graham, Pat Robertson and Rev. Hagee serve. Mine doesn't interest itself in putting down others.
That is what is so screwed up about you people and your belief! You all have a different picture of this so called wizard in the sky and it can change based on your wrong doings! LMAO!
I think religion should be against the law with heavy death penalty punishment for those who continue to preach and practice this crap!
If God created all things and all spirits, then who created Satan? Does Satan have a spirit? You said you don't believe in God so why are you commenting about Him?
Sorry Franky, but not only are you an idiot, you're scary.
Franklin Graham is a fraud and a hypocrite, whoring after temporal power forgetting the words of his "master"? Give to Ceasar his due and to God his due. The American evangelical church is a whore!
It's good to finally see Bully Graham make a continued ass out of himself by showing how bigoted and racist his church really is.
I for one am glad that those who he say did not vote because they now do not have any right to complain what-so-ever about what happens in the next four years. No right what-so-ever.
Sure his supporters voice may be heard by him and his godlike attitude. But he is not god. And since his followers have taken a vote of silence so to shall Billy Graham and his followers take a vow of silence along with Billy Graham's son.
In America you have the right to vote or not vote either is your choice, but if you do not vote you have conceeded your rights until the next major presidential election which you can only cast a ballot in order to return to voting status from which you may again begin to complain.
Be glad America that we won't be hearing from the Billy Graham crowd for the next eight years.
Their god may here their votes but only their god hears and listens to their votes which are not counted among the rest of America.
Basically Billy Graham is saying that voting for a president does not matter unless it is the president that Billy Graham wants elected and that the only voice of wisdom that matters is what Billy Graham wants his sheep to believe is the truth.
If the religious right wing isn't carefull and continues their defiance then America will have no alternative other than to strip away any and all benefits associated with governmental support.
If you do not vote in a presidential election then you do not deserve to enjoy such benefits either.
Let the hunt begin.
Franklin doesn't think Christians voted for Christian Barack Obama? Well, he's always been a dipstick. And Blly de-classified Mormonism as a cult to help Romney?Senility. Just like McCain, Pat Robertson, et al. Bet they think gays are what threatens Petraeus' marriage, too. To hell with them.
I voted and I'm a Christian. Franklin Graham is a whore of the political right. He should absolutely pray for forgivevess of his selling out to the Republican extremists.
To whom will he pray??? And don't even utter that ridiculous word that describes your fake wizard in the sky!
I am a Christian, and I vote every time, also a former election volunteer for the County.
I psss on Billy Graham.
I psss on Franklin Graham.
I psss on Christianity.
It's more palatable for those on the right to believe that the results of the election are due to So-and-so not showing up at the polls or for such-in-such group showing up than to face the fact that the white male majority had it's day and times will be different now. For a group that prides themselves on logic, it really is stunning how many of them haven't been living in the real world.
THIS is "the party of personal responsibility"?! Suck it up, Republicans: You were beaten fair and square, and your post-election excuses -- and that's all they are -- make even the most craven welfare mother sound like a model of stoicism by comparison. The world has moved on, and it is your choice to join it or get out of the way.
I am a devout Roman Catholic and I voted for President Obama.
Wake up America! Someone said it best... The Religious right = American Taliban.
Is he saying that black Christians are not Christians? That's what it seems that he's saying. What a vicious statement.
Billy and McCain should just ride off into the sun set..Same goes for Trump,Hannity,Rove and Romney...
Seriously when are you folks going to let this go? Obama is in office for the next four years one would think that it's time we look to the immediate future for our children, for our families, than continually wishing to change the past.
Our government is too big. Nobody is going to get Mitt into office at this point. Obama is in, for another solid four years and our government continues to grow...
It's time we the people start acting like Americans instead of a divided culture of inept under educated buffoons who have nothing better to do than attack each other when our main focus should be directed to a government that is out of control.
I spoke to god recently. She is a black-Hispanic transgendered lesbian. Her message is that she hates all you right wing, fundamentalist, evangelical frauds who call themselves christians. She says keep it up and she will make the Noah fairy tale come true. Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy were just the prelude.
OK.... I call Bull@!$%# on this claim. I am a Christian. I voted. I am just sick and tired of evangelicals! Go away 'wing nuts'.
Hear that Christians? You only make up 26%. The U.S. ISNT a Christian nation. And hasnt been for decades. If you ever even were. In fact, I dont think its ever truly been a christian nation. Not by majority anyway. You have just been claiming it is.
So you dont make the rules, and its not your country. Like you try to claim on a regular basis.
Well, fundamentalists, that is Southern Baptists, Pentecostals and other evangelicals don't count Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Unitarians, Christian Scientists, Methodists, or any other sane believers as Christians. Guess Romney got them to accept the angel Moroni and the Book of Mormon because the Grahams removed them from the "cult" list. We shirttail, ragtag Christians voted...in most cases for Obama. We believe we are born to help one another in practice, not in the pulpit. I have to admit this is one of the funniest topics I've ever seen on here. I have laughed so much. I have to thank the right-wing for that.
This is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is, Obama won. Any trying to justify it just makes you a sore looser.
How exactly do they know if someone voting is religious or not? The census was in 2010, 2 years ago, not at the polling booth. So yes the Rev. Franklin Graham is ignorant in what he says, but how can you dispute it or argue it based on polling numbers? That's complete drivel biased journalism.
Journalist stop covering the garbage, and go cover what is happening, and stop debating polls, they are biased depending on the region you call, how many you call, are they in a white community, are they in a black community, Hispanic community? Its' garbage.
Go report and investigate real stuff happening in real time.