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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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the dark ages ahead...history repeating itself..if the tea party continue to get the power..
The tea party stands for the original constitution and the original intent of the founders for this country. The tea party is not the problem. It is all of those who love to lie who are creating our chaos.
The tea party are a bunch of racist maggots.
floridamom1,
You have NO idea what the Constitution says or means...
The first "tea party-like" action in the new United States of America (which did not really occur until the Constitution was ratified) occurred where? When? Why? Outcome?
I don't care if you answer from memory (from school) or from Wikipedia. Now answer theres questions. Who was thought to be the richest man in America at the time? And, what was the singnalar basis of weath?
What does the original Cnstitution say about Slavery? What does it say about women, poll-taxes, or land-ownership as a condition to vote?
floridamom1,
You actually seem to want to return to a confederation (our first decade, an overwhelming disastor). Jefferson was a great adherent and battled against Hamilton, Madison and Monroe. As a "Democrat" Presiebd he: declare war on the Barabbary Coast, purchased the Louisiab claim of France (contested by both the british and the Spanish governments), placed Americam troops (including a slave) on this dusputrd territory, and transferred the gold to seal the deal, all while Congess was not in session. Jeffersion, the herald of small government and an opponent of "national banks" (he vetoed comtinuing the first charter).
But he also went to war without Congressuibal approval. He spent tillions in todays terms to buy what we would have evebtually absobed anyway. He transferred funds (gold) without Congression action. And he courted forein trade and adventures to furtgers agricukaeusn .
So floridamom1, the tea party supports slavery as did the original Constitution? Good to know! And since women couldn't vote or own property, do you really think they were entitled to their own opinions?
If American's understood the intent of the Founding Father's they would understand that they only wanted rich white guys to vote. They meant it when they said all men are created equal, they meant white rich guys. And the country was based on the principles of the Roman Republic and the country was to be based on the idea of the true freedom of religion. They were Deists, not Christians and not interested in any form of Judeo- Christianity or whatever that meant in 1760. Evangelicals are religious zealots and they only want their totalitarian state of theocracy. They are a cult of lunatics not a religion, who should try to manage their own lives before trying to tell everyone else how to live.
And yet Romney, a mormon, is lumped into that category? Romney was vilified by the press. Lies were told about him and deliberate action was taken to present him as anything but what he really is - a good man who cares about people. Lies were told about Bain capital. Lies were told about his tax returns and in return the Democrats perpetrated the biggest lie this country has ever been told. Thank goodness we live in a free country where at the moment you are allowed to think and feel and say what you want. You can demonize the Republicans all you want, but until and unless you are willing to admit that both sides are wrong, this country will never recover from this chaos we are in.
When it comes to Romney your lying to yourself.
When Obama was ask about his birth certificate he resisted
but then show it, Romney could have done the same with his tax returns.
floridamom1, we still live in a free country because the GOP teabaggers were rejected.
"Deists".......I bet 98.9% of Americans don't know what you're talking about. But you're correct.
This Christian and her Christian husband voted for Obama, and so did our Christian children and our one voting-age Christian grandchild. Your point, Rev. Graham?
Reverend Graham understands that this country was founded upon judeo-christian values and morals and that the country is in decay because of the philosophies of men like Obama and many Republicans as well. But, Obama's policies are not American, they are not based on judeo-christian values and as such when we vote for people who are against those values, we vote against the Lord. Graham knows this.
Are judeo-christian values those that believe
healthcare for the uninsured, goverment assitance for
those who cannot find a job or feeding the poor is somehow
a bad thing. Is saying that you are Pro-Life but you are really
Pro-Birth/Pro-Fetus and once a baby is you cut goverment aid
for single mothers, cut education and programs for the poor children
is that an example of judeo-christian values, while at the same time
increasing Tax breaks, loopholes and deduction for the rich.
Bleesed are the poor, love thy enemy, judge that ye not be judge
those are real judeo-christian values you have forgotten, it you voted
for the lord then voting for Romney was the wrong choice, judeo-christian value
No. 1 "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven"
Graham is also rich Jesus also said:Matt. 19:21 - Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."
One last quote from Jesus, this will tell you why America cannot by run solely on judeo-christian values:
Matt: 6-24
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
"Reverend Graham understands that this country was founded upon judeo-christian values and moral"
Actually, floridamom1 the country was founded by Deists. Jefferson didn't believe that Christ was the Son of God let alone the messiah. How about that?
Organized religion has been dying a slow death for years. All this high profile publicity is not going to fuel some renewed interest. If anything; it's doing just the opposite.
Quite the contrary. It matters not what happens from here on out in your world, but what happened was that Romney brought the Mormon religion to the forefront and more Americans than ever were given an opportunity to learn about him and be exposed to the LDS church. Quite a boon for the LDS church, whether Romney won or not. The gospel will be spread in spite of those who try to hedge up the way. The gospel has nothing to do with politics. Romney fought the good fight. He is a good man, and whether he won or not matters not. He did what he should have done. Let the consequence follow. Good for you Romney. There is a place in heaven for good men and women and being President has nothing to do with it. The Presidency is but for a moment and heaven is for eternity.
Mormonism didn't exist when the Constitution was written. So, according to strict constructionists like the Tea Party, the Mormon religion could not have been intended to be part of "religion" as defined in the Constitution, right?
I am an evangelical Christian, and I would have you know that not all of us voted for Romney. While I don't think the democrats have it perfect either, I would rather see a democrat in office than encourage the Republican party in the nonsense they are partaking in right now. The people who vote republican will not stop until our country is no less than a theocracy- a far cry from what we have now, and certainly not within the intent of our constitution. Do I agree with abortion? No. Do I agree with gay marriage? No. But these are more religious issues than anything else and I do not believe that legislating a religious morality works to advance the cause of Christians, and I do not see how denying certain government protections is kind to our neighbors. Jesus said "love your neighbor as yourself" not, "love your neighbor EXCEPT your gay neighbor, your black neighbor, your mexican neighbor, your neighbor who had an abortion..." etc. And certainly the way the typically "Christian" Republican party treats its neighbors, the citizens of this country, is a mockery of Jesus' commands.
And yet, Jesus also said to keep my commandments, which includes not committing adultery, which includes not bearing false witness, which includes keeping the Sabbath day holy, which includes not having other gods before Him, which includes....as an evangelical christian you ought to know and keep them. The Lord's way is not man's way. The Apostle Paul also said that if any man provide not for his own house he is worse than an infidel. The Lord requires you to do what is right. Neither of these parties is doing what the Lord wants. And lying about Romney and what he stands for won't get you on the Lord's side either. Should we take care of others, YES, should we force people to take care of others? NO! When the Lord comes you can have your theocracy, but until the people are willing to do what is right of their own free will and choice, forcing them to do what is right will only land you on the side of the adversary.
There is a difference between keeping his commandments personally, and requiring that everyone else does.
No, it wasn't the lack of Christian voters that caused Romney to lose, neither was it the will of God, but it was the fulfillment of prophecy when the Lord said that "the wisdom of your wise men shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall be hid." Sounds to me like today when everyone counts themselves as the purveyor of truth when they can't see anything because their heads are all in the sand. The Lord lets us choose and we then must reap the consequences of those choices. We will yet reap those rewards. Reminder - rewards are not necessarily always good.
It's very sad that you have kids that have to refer to you as their mother.
Sad how we can twist god around to approve whatever we want to do. Be it war, discrimination, executions, lying, anything as long as we can find some vague bible passage to justify it. It doesn't matter what disgusting things we do, God will always forgive our sins as long as we believe.
Victor Hugo would call Sandy, Waterloo-read the battle of Waterloo in Les Miserables Hugo contributes Napoleon's loss to a huge storm the night before the battle when all the artillery was swamped and could not be moved because of mud. Hugo said it was Gods intervention.
Obama is President of the United States of America because we Americans put him there because he deserves it, as do we.
We need to clean the House in 2014 and throw all the GOP trash out, they care about their friends whom you don't know.l
I was raise Catholic, then as they say found Christ
accepted him (as they say) as my "savoir", but one
day I read something a Sufi Master wrote, He said:
I went from church to church looking for God untill
one day I realise God was in my heart, my seach was over"
I freed myself from the curse of religion, stayed away from
church and began to understand God and his messenger, our
brother Jesus, Jesus tought us about mnay things but most of all,
he tought us about, Truth, Tolerence, Understanding, Compassion, Forgiveness, Peace and Love,
That is what Christianity is all about, the Lord does not need Warriors he/she needs messengers.
Render Those Things To Caesar Which Are Caesars And Render Those Things To God Which Are Gods!
So If Your Religious Values Are In Conflict With The Law Of The Land -- It Is A Personal Conflict -- The Law Of The
Land Must Keep As Level The Playing Field As Possible Regarding -- Race -- Creed -- Nationalities -- Equality Of
Rights Across The Board Is The Bottom Line Here Not An Individuals Personal Religious Convictions / Beliefs!
The Bill Of Rights Is The Bench Mark!
Dear Red States:
We're ticked off at your Neanderthal attitudes and politics and we've decided we're leaving.
We in New York intend to form our own country and we're taking the other Blue States with us.
In case you aren't aware that includes California, Hawaii, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and the rest of the Northeast.
We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation and especially to the people of the new country of The Enlightened States of America (E.S.A).
To sum up briefly:
You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states.
We get stem cell research and the best beaches.
We get Andrew Cuomo and Elizabeth Warren. You get Bobby Jindal and Todd Akin.
We get the Statue of Liberty. You get OpryLand.
We get Apple, Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.
We get Harvard. You get Ol' Miss.
We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs.
You get Alabama.
We get two-thirds of the tax revenue. You get to make the red states pay their fair share.
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms.
With the Blue States in hand we will have firm control of 80% of the country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92% of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90% of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the US low sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.
With the Red States you will have to cope with 88% of all obese Americans and their projected health care costs, 92% of all US mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.
We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.
38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory, 53% that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.
We're taking the good weed too. You can have that crap they grow in Mexico.
Sincerely,
Citizens of the Enlightened States of America
What is the point of this article? It has lingered on the links for days and it really has no news value just political gloating. I believe religion should stay out of politics but I suggest all of you higher people who openly welcome an evil more sinister religious type into this country, keep an eye on Islam because if you think Christians are bad... How can you just assault one religion? You are bigots and hypocrites if you don't go after them all with equal fervor. Please, stop being so biased and get them all. Do you hear NBC? get them ALL or get hijabs. lol Do you idiots realize Islam is the fastest growing religion in this country, Right? It's not Christians. lol Remember the majority rules. Don't say you weren't warned.
And yet you are the first to bring up Islam. You must have a hang up with Muslims.
Religion And Politics Are Like Oil And Water -- The Don't Mix At All Well Together!
This Just Clouds The Issues More When Trying To Mixed Them Together!
The Bill Of Right Is The Bench Mark Of The Land -- Not The Bible Or Koran Of Rights!
It is truly sad that Obama had the charismatic power over all of those that voted for him. We will all have to suffer together, republicans and Democrats alike. The new regulatory legislation that his epa team are submitting as of the 1st of the year will forever change this country. We will all experience the double dip recession that will take all of those free things promised away from all of those poor folk. It is tragic that we will all have to pay higher taxes, and that we have a President that will lie to us all in order to save his reputation on his failed foreign policies. You all know that we will be in another war in 2013. Obama will take us there. You are oh so foolish, and I feel sorry for you.
And I feel sorry for you, go back to your trailer, put on your white robe and go to your meeting, you are lower than pond scum. After your meeting please for all us, put the barrel against your head and pull the trigger firmly.
We have to pay higher taxes because Bush started two wars on credit from China rather than having Americans "man up" and pay for these wars as they go. Someone finally had to be fiscally responsible. As for more wars, romney would have us invading both Syria and Iran while cutting taxes on the wealthy yet again.
We know its not the fault of Christians that Obama was elected because no true Christian voted for him.
Good to see that christians like yourself don't judge others as jesus commanded and that you prefer further wars and more poverty as Romney proposed.
I think the Christians like the Rev. Grahm are the reason the Republicans lost because they try to shove their religion down your throat, freedom of religion also means freedom FROM the religion of others. For me, a 55 year old white man that makes in the top 15% it is the religious taliban of the hard right that convinced me to vote for Obama. The hard religious right fits well with the tea party and what the Republican Party has become the Party of Hate. They hate gays, people of color, women they ate anyone that doesn't look and think exactly like they do. They are low class scum and until the Republican Party has the guts to stand up to them they will not win another national election. The GOP is becoming the party of the old confederacy and the old south is getting smaller and smaller.
Sandy == Proof that God hated Romney. How can any good Christian argue otherwise?
And don't forget Hurricane Isaac's direct Hit in Tampa right before Romney's Nomination? Does it not occur to these ignorant Zealots that these signs are GODs Vehement OBJECTION to a Heretical Mormon/ Non- Christian fooling so many Christians into supporting him? TWO HURRICANES FOLKS. What more does God need to say to these nincompoops?
If the GOP completes its transformation to the party of the Christian Right, they will continue to lose, and lose even worse. There simply are not enough Christian Right voters to win enough elections.
They will continue to be marginalized, until they realize that religion and politics should not be mixed.
By forcing candidates to the far right the Christian Right produces candidates that are often unelectable. Candidates lik the Senate candidates that shot their mouth off on abortion, or Chritine O'Donnell who clearly was unqualified for office.
Be careful in your analysis. Who won control of the house of representatives again?
Just keep on being obstructionists and you will lose the House in 2014.
In the words of Richard Mourdock, maybe this was something that God intended to happen.
It shouldn't have anything to do with religion, but the American people elected another Christian.
funny the dem platform of helping the poor the weak and the sick and elderly, and fighting the money changers is more in line with Jesus's teachings than the rethug platform screw the poor the weak and give as much as possiable to the money changers, but far right christians don't care about Jesus's message
the christian right is neither
I'm a Christian and I did vote for Obama. I really do not know where Mr. Graham received his information but the Christians did vote. I'm not electing a pastor or bishop for President. The Republican party does not represent christianity or who God is. When you go to the doctor, do you question your doctor's beliefs or do you just want that doctor to treat your illness.
Just because you call yourself a Christian, doesn't make you one. Franklin Graham is one poor excuse for a Religious leader. Biased and downright strange. Republicans still looking around for someone to blame, not looking at their policies. But Franklin, carry on, and Republicans will continue to lose at the polls.
A mention of Christianity and stupid comes out.
If the GOP continues to deny women basic rights over their own bodies it will become extinct.The grown ups in the GOP have let the socially insane take over. The GOP can not be the Good Old Party of the ultra zealot Christians...The citizens of the United States will not abide by another Inquisition.