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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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I am a Christian who votes every election and I voted for the candidate who's values are closest to mine. President Obama!
I have a new idea, you must be born in this country to vote. I bet you liberals hate that idea.
I am not a liberal, but I don't like the idea. It makes you look ignorant.
Now what is that supposed to mean, dumb post. With all the voter ID's needed to vote, you are still claiming fraud on the behalf of democrats-liberals? Get a life and move on. Hate lost.
Would that also include Irish, German, British, Canadian, French, Australian, and South African immigrants?
That idea should upset both sides. Sham - don't be stupid.
Liberals always call us stupid or ignorant when we make a point about something. I will go further and say that you not only have to be born here, but you must have lived here. Obama grew up in another country. And yes, that would go for every immigrant. We don't want outsiders moving here and changing who we are and what we believe in.
The Constitution guides us and English must be primary language.
Sham,
The world is passing you and your hate behind.
I reject your hateful remarks.
I don't hate anyone and I love my country. Race and color of your skin means nothing to me personally. This is the right way to protect our Country.
Besides I am only posting my view the way I see it. You are the ones injecting race and hate. Those are your words.
I am a white evangelical christian and I voted for President Obama. As right wingers look for reasons they lost, they still have not looked at themselves and recognized that it is in large part because they have been behaving like obstinate little children prone to tantrums rather then governance.
If we look at the numbers we see almost 67,000,000 women voted compared with 57,000,000 men. That's 10 MILLION more women and this republican party said, "Hey, you know what, let's redefine rape and make some, not all, but some of these women not like us."
Hum.
What a hateful theocratic American mistake. This fool and his pappy would be as bad as the Taliban if there was anyway that they could get away with it in the U.S.
I really cannot help but think that organized Christians are a slap in the face to Jesus and his short by very moving minstry.
LTC Rattus, USA, ret.
Hello, Rattus, missed your succinct posts, the current one didn't disappoint. Good to hear you again.
Skyparrot,
Happy and safe Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Did you hear Mo Romney's post election rendition of his augmentation of his insult of 47% of Americans. This time, he was, if you will, "more generous" in that he kind enough to focus upon Blacks, Hispanics, young voters in addition to just a summary dissing of 47 % of us. Also, his tax proposals and cuts were going to hurt special education, seniors, early infant intervention for kids exposed envitrio to cocaine and methamphetamine.
I just knew that anybody that was a vulture capitalist .........just could not be inclusive as to the common good of ALL Americans.
However, I was still a little shocked at how heartless and hateful he was.
It's almost as if President Obama was going to take away and conficate Madame Romney's "dancing horsey," that is also a huge immense tax break. Certainly, even such a noble and sublime dancing horsey as the creature belonging to Mo and Queen Ann Romney......cannot possibly eat that much horse food or require even more care givers than does Madame Romney; who never worked a day in her effing life. (aside from bossing around the servants)
All the best,
Rat
It goes to show that liberals can be bought. That's all.
Free contraceptives, immigration. Blacks are just in it for race and are taken for granted.
Hi Sham, the republican party tried many times to pass the personhood law of the land that would have outlawed most forms of contraceptives. Sham, if the republican party had focused on our economic issues instead of trying to morally reshape the country into their agenda - they would have won. Not only did they focus on what a women can do with her body, but determined it was God that gave babies to rape victims. No, really, to blame the liberals for the candy it handed out but to not look at what the republicans did to lose this race. I'm a Republican, but I'm not voting for stupid.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahah, really sham, hahahahahahahahahaha, baloney, you'll buy into anything won't you. Perfect tool.
You DO realize that 93% of the black voters who voted for Obama were registered dems, right? Kerry, Gore, Clinton Mondale, Dukakis, and Carter also got over 90% of the black vote. Did you expect black voters to vote for a party that opposes civil rights legislation, opposes funding for healthcare and education, and tells them the reason why they're not rich (as Herman Cain said during a campaign speech in Atlanta back in February) because "They're too damn lazy to get off their a** and get a job." Sorry but you can't play the race card in this case.
People, it doesn't matter how Obama won, he won. Now let's move on to other things like when will Obama start taking responsibility, he fought for he second term so he knew what he was getting, and stop blaming Bush or how Obamacare is already costing jobs and it doesn't go into full effect until 2014 or how are more taxes supposed to help the economy grow.
What do you mean "fault" Obama won?
That was the preferred outcome. I cannot understand the tag line for the article.
Obama and the democrats prevailed against a GOP machine that the GOP thought would steam roll the election. Buy hook or by crook and every thing in between. And they tried it all. Does anyone think that they had anything left in the bag that they could have done or tried ?
The problem for the GOP is it is the party of selfish. They want their way above all, the only inconvenient obstacle is getting elected.
The Obama advocated for the people and the people advocated for Obama. And all of the kings horses and all the kings men were powerless to stop it.
Does any one think that the GOP can get to that place in 2 years or 4 years ? Really ? Probably not witte crowd that they have calling the shots right now.
"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. -- George Bernard Shaw (1944)
Obama wins in '08 and Billy Graham decides he doesn't want to be the "Presidential Pastor" anymore. Effing racist. Obama wins in '12 and Franklin Graham says it's because Christians didn't vote...effing racist. I never respected the Graham family very much. They seem to be a family of cowards who hide behing christianity to veil their ungodly beliefs.
Franklin Graham is just another clueless evangelical who can't comprehend that there are Christians who don't think like they do. They disregard the words of Jesus and His life example, but claim to be His best followers. Jesus was more of a liberal than a conservative! Believe it or not, Mr. Graham, there is a Christian Left that is no longer so easily duped and held hostage by the evangelical right.
All of this from a man who once referred to Islam as a "gutter relition". Billy Graham is and was an honorable man and a man of faith. Franklin as I recall had drug problems as a youth. Apparently the after effects are significant.
As a white, middle-aged Christian Californian male who attends church regularly and reads the Bible; I voted. As a progressive non-partisan, I voted for President Obama as did millions of others who match my profile.
For those clerics who use their tax-exempt status as a church to cover their PAC-like inclinations, I believe there may be a very hot place awaiting them...and not just the IRS.
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
Don't forget the Grahams are very RICH WHITE RACISTS. Oh, but they are carrying 'the book',
while they don't pay taxes............. Churches can be the biggest scam games around, just about
on the level of casinos for raking in money. Only difference casinos hide the money off shore.
This Robinson character is just nuts.
Larry.......rhymes with scary....
"Reverend Larry Robinson"
Reverend??? That goes with your historian, politician, defense expert, disables vet, international business man and the rest of the Walter Mitty world you live in?? I think I have a better way to describe it --- PHONY.
My dad thought so very much of Billy Graham, I can't say I think so very much of the son. There was a big ad in our local paper just before the election with Billy's picture and something about voting moral values. Now, a couple of years ago, I heard Ruth Graham, the daughter, speak, she told of how frail and in ill health her father was in, well, are we to believe that he sanctioned this ad? No, those kids "own" his name and image or at least control it. This is not the Rev. Billy speaking, it's the power hungry, biased off-spring who are "cashing in". SHAME on them! My dad and Billy would be very disappointed in their day!
I have a better idea...........let's do away with the republican party all together. First to go is the "white only" members, the Tea Party. Next, do away with all special interest groups and lobbyists.
The rats are now running around in panic. They are turning against each other as we watch. Over all, I feel we helped America by giving themselves a spanking. If they don't change, they know they will get another spanking in 2016, These tea party people need to leave, so the real republican politicians can rule their party. The republican voters have a lot to do on getting their party back.
The Reverend Larry [Big Bird] Robinson is up and posting on another thread. Expect him to drop in here shortly to bless us with his wisdom.
His problem is teaching hate and not love. He's just a spored brat that his father gave him a chance to speak the words of the Bible. When I go to church, if I hear the preacher talking his belief of politics on either parties, I leave and never go back. I go to hear Gods words and not someone that thinks he's god. In the field he's in, he's a insult to his father.
Racists still crying that they lost the election. Too sad. The Grahams were willing to vote for what they've called a cult leader for years, just to get the black man out of the white house.
I think Christians are the COOLEST!
Atheists are WAY cooler Jason.
Nooooooo they're not. You're just trying to disguise your identity as a closet Christian lover aren't you?
I love all of my fellow human beings Jason.
leroy, leroy, leroy - we lie loudest when we lie to ourselves. Admit it. You'll feel better.
Are you more into Esther from Sanford and Son or perhaps you're more into the Joel Osteen type, hmm?
Let's put it this way Jason, I take the song "Imagine," by the late, great atheist John Lennon, to heart more than any other song.
I write my own music. That way I don't have to remember who I'm quoting. Now don't change the subject - you know that Joel Osteen is good looking Christian man.
Yep, typical head up their ass evangelical stuff. They dont care what the truth is. They just want to keep on believing in their own misguided take on reality. Just like Carl Rove. Well the 'truth' is, most people in this country DONT believe the lies that they hold so dearly. Thats why the twit didnt win!
Perhaps Mr. Graham should pay for those words in taxes if he wishes to express his political opinion; where he get's his facts from are no longer relevant, arrogance of the pulpit.
Franklin Graham, the Bible said, "how can you say you love me whom you've never seen and hate those you see everyday." You're a bigot and your establishment needs to pay taxes.
It amazes me how these "Christians" hate so much and have no consciousness about it. They love Jesus and hate Black and poor people. Give me a break!
Some of the quotations and statements about the founding of our country are FALSE. They are pernicious lies spread by evangelicals thinking that if you repeat a lie often enough people will believe in it. For example, the statement "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools in 1782" has been proven false ().
Rather you should know that President John Adams and the entire US Senate unanimously signed the Treaty of Tripoli in 1797 with this phrase in Article 11: “the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion".
Don't believe the religious nut-jobs.
We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. -John Adams, Address to the Military, October 11, 1798
“Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." -John Jay, Constitutional Framer and 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Can you imagine any of today's Democrats including Obama making speeches like these?
President Harry Truman was not only proudly proclaiming his faith, but speaking prophetically in this 1950 speech.
"The fundamental basis of this nation's laws was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint Matthew, from Isaiah and Saint Paul. I don't think we emphasize that enough these days. If we don't have a proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in rights for anybody except the State!"--President Harry Truman February 15, 1950 Speech at the Department of Justice http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/president-truman-on-the-importance-of-morality-and-education/
"America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness, which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scriptures. Part of the destiny of Americans lies in their daily perusal of this great book of revelations. That if they would see America free and pure they will make their own spirits free and pure by this baptism of the Holy Spirit." From his famous address: "The Bible and Progress," ~ President Woodrow Wilson, May 7. 1911, Denver, Colorado.
I find it very hard to believe that Evangelicals comprise 26% of adults in the country.
Graham was wrong, big time WRONG. The American people had to come out and Vote for the American candidate, not the biblical one! The American people won since that is what they did!
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. -- George Bernard Shaw (1944)
"When men get in the habit of helping themselves to the property of others, they cannot easily be cured of it."
-- The New York Times, in a 1909 editorial opposing the very first income tax
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves, at will, money from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority votes for candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, usually followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through certain definite sequences. From courage by revolution to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to complacency, from complacency to apathy, and back to dependency."
-Alexander Tyler, 18th Century English Professor, writing about the fall of the Athenian Republic
Even faced with the facts of the election results, Republicans like Graham persist in making up excuses out of whole cloth, spinning stories to try to support their wrong-headed interpretation of the vote. They plainly live in a fantasy world. It couldn't be any clearer - America is in far better hands with progressives at the controls, rather than those who ignore reality when it doesn't support their ideology.
All this baloney about being good Christians and not one of you questioned the figure of 311 million potential voters. That happens to be the estimated current population of the U..S. My understanding is that to vote in an election you must be at least 18 years old. Millions of people of that 311 million are under 18 years of age. Why does being a Christian mean anything? You should vote for the person who you believe will do a good job. That Romney is Mormon should make no difference or what religion he or Obama have. My objection to Romney was that instead of doing his military service when called upon by his country, ducked out first to Paris and then to Harvard. Obama did not do military service but there was no draft during his time. This is also my objection to most of the Repubs in the Senate and House. The vast majority took deferments rather than serve their country. I think they had medical deferments meaning no guts.
how about Clinton?
The following is from the text of the letter that Bill Clinton wrote to Col. Eugene Holmes, director to the ROTC program at the University of Arkansas on 3 Dec, 1969:
Dear Col. Holmes,
I'm sorry to be so long in writing. I know I promised to let you hear from me at least once a month, and from now on you will, but I have had some time to think about this first letter. Almost daily since my return to England I have thought about writing, about what I want to and ought to say.
As you know I worked for two years in a very minor position on the State Foreign Relations Committee. I did it for the experience and the salary but also for the opportunity, however small, of working every day against a war I opposed and despised with a depth of feeling I had reserved solely for racism in America before Viet-Nam. I did not take the matter lightly but studied it carefully, and there was a time when not many people had more information about VietNam at hand than I did.
The decision not to be a resister and the related subsequent decisions were the most difficult of my life. I decided to accept the draft in spite of my beliefs for one reason: to maintain my political viability within the system.
And that is where I am now, writing to you because you have been good to me and have a right to know what I think and feel. I am writing too, in the hope the my telling this one story will help you to understand more clearly how so many fine people have come to find themselves still loving their country but loathing the military, to which you and other good men have devoted years, lifetimes, of the best service you could give. To many of us, it is no longer clear what is service and what is disservice, or if it is clear, the conclusion is likely to be illegal.
Sincerely,
Bill Clinton
America LOVES the Clintons and the presidency is Hillary's for the taking in 2016. The only question is whether or not she will accept it.
HARRY, Not only that but Willard SUPPORTED both the Draft as well as the war in Viet Nam as long as it was not him doing the bleeding and dying.
I cannot condemn those who dodged the draft. We should never have gotten involved there and I cannot say how I would have reacted had I been of draft age at that time. What I cannot tolerate is Romney's shameless hypocrisy. Evidently he thinks that wars are only for "Little People" kind of like the way he views the "47th Percent". This man has know core and little in the way of morality.