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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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Mr. Graham, I would recommend you pick up your Bible and READ the New Testament; have you ever done that? From your nasty attitude, I feel not. Our Lord gave us very clear directions to follow in order to be one of His; He states more than once that we should not judge one another but love one another "as I have loved you". Where is this in you? You shame all TRUE Christians by your actions and believe you me, Our Lord does not know you nor does He know any of those who listen to and embrace your venom. Change your life or change your profession but more importantly, stop using the name Christian to cover your non-Christian attitude.
First off, evangelicals are to christians what alkayduh is islam.
Secondly, it's not the church's place to play any more or less of a role in the electoral process than to say "And remember, this [whatever] is voting day."
Far, far, far too many so-called churches have long since ceased being holy organizations and become nothing more than money-grubbing corporations selling religion. I happen to live in an area where this is far too obvious, as we have, within a few miles of each other, two massive, sprawling Six-Flags-over-Kingdom-Come style giga-"churches" - massive mall-like complexes, complete with gyms, pools, indoor sports arenas and Starbucks. They're an abomination and a massive traffic hazard.
At least once if not twice a month I'll get a visit or phone call from one or the other, asking for consent to close the road off of which I live between 7-8am, and again from 11am-12pm, so the churches can direct traffic. My response is always the same: "I will consent for $125,000, weekly."
Needless to say, I'm not very popular with these folks, but I'm sorry, I refuse to have the only route in and out of where I live barricaded for them without suitable compensation.
Graham is an old fool along with his son. anyone who follows a fool deserves a fools result. God doesnt care much about human elections, He cares if you treat your fellow man with the same love you have for him. While i wont judge romney because well thats a book no one has to read to know the outcome. I will say that selling your soul for a piece of what you think is heaven will only gain you the fruits of a bad labor. He is right to say to vote but thats it. no more. People did vote and as the will of the people, it is spoken who they wanted.
I am a Christian. I was raised within a very religious
family. I spent three years of my life working at a mission in Houston and have
gone on many mission trips both inside of and outside of the US. I read my
bible almost every day and devote at least 10 minutes to prayer every day. I am
far from perfect. I understand that everyone is a sinner and deserves to die.
That forgiveness comes from God and is completely undeserved.
I voted for Obama twice, and generally vote for Democrats. I
do this because the Republican Party platform does not conform to Christian
values, but to the spirit of the Pharisees. They are into the Law, but ignore the
Spirit and truth of Christ. The Democratic Party does not have a clue, but I do
not see in them the outright hypocrisy of the Religious Right. I pray that we
get better leaders, but as things stand now I cannot in good conscience vote
for Republicans who foster hate and division based on color, wealth and gender
as institutional matters. This far outweighs in my mind the support for
homosexuals within the Democratic Party. Republicans epitomize the LOVE OF
MONEY. Democrats almost as if by accident promote love for your neighbor. Until
we get people to run who actually follow in the footsteps of Jesus that is the
best I personally can hope for.
They are only into the law so they can create laws to persacute Americans based upon religion so Americans will be forced to give such people their money in exchange for solvency of their sins.
Grahams carnal sin is that he thinks he is benevolent enough to tell everyone else that they are wrong when in fact his very base of religion professes that a man must be NAILED to cross for something that someone else has done. And those who violate such a nailing should be made to pay for it.
Did you know that Graham and those like him profess that all Americans are born with a debt?
I don't know about you but the last time that I checked an American does not have any debt until they are issued their first credit card and use the credit card.
But Graham would have you believe otherwise that all are born with a debt so as to make Americans feel bad about theirself and the only way to feel better is to give away money to Graham so they will not be rich and have such a burden of monetary guilt upon them while Graham drives off with millions of dollars laughing.
"The fools think that I represent their God."
The only god that Graham represents is the hidden word of Satan. Satan who wanted all the power that God had but because God himself was greedy would not share.
All of these notions are centered around mankinds notion that one man is more than another but when you strip away the illusion of money where is the power? Where is your God then?
Daniel-Fang, thank you for your post. You have hit the nail right on the head in every way. I share your opinion; I hope there are many more who share it too.
Nothing is more pleasing to me than watching the death throes of Christianity.
Christ is being relegated to the fable category more and more each day
Just as we have cast aside 3000 previous Gods when they became recognized as ludicrous due to our increasing intellects, Christ shall soon follow! The child buggering old men have had their moment in the sun and the cult is losing it grip on power.
Zombie's from the Bronze Age begat from virgins? Cannibalism rituals? Xenophobic hatred and racism?
The belief system is both absurd and obsolete, but beware! As any historian will tell you, a dying religion is a DANGEROUS religion
The only reason Graham votes the way that he and his GOP lap dogs vote based upon religion is because THEY are looking for free handouts of money from the religion that they spew all over everyone making the people give him their money making promises based upon a historical event and such promises that took place 2012 years ago!
Everyone calls Obama a Socialist or a Communist but those same people readily man telephones and knock people around with religion to make them give them their money.
Beggars and nothing more are they.
Evil Jesus is not happy.
Oops shouldn't have said that. But he is not happy because of the soiling of America by people like Graham.
Graham and those like him are the ones looking for free handouts and expect Americans to give them such a free handout or Graham's God will smite you to the ground and crucify you for all of eternity.
Why doesn't doesn't Graham and his littel baby cracker get real jobs that entail having to learn a trade.
Everyone can pick up a religious text and read from it for inspiration and we do not need someone like Graham telling us that we are wrong.
Why?
Because he is not the Creator.
The christian crack makes you say dumb things...
In the Republicans' world they didn't lose because no one liked their message. They lost because Democrats had a better ground game than they did. How about over 70% of those people polled after the elections thought the rich should pay higher taxes? How about Latinos not liking the self-deportation comments or defeating the Dream Act? How about the defunding of Planned Parenthood and the virulent anti-abortion message turning off many women? By their logic I could run on a platform of the moon is made of green cheese and when I got defeated it wasn't because I was a nut job but rather I didn't do enough to get my message to the people. Keep thinking like they do and the Republican party will end up being totally irrelavent.
I'm all for churches telling their congregants how to vote. Then they can start paying taxes like the rest of us!
Exactly, the increased revenue cold go a long way toward reducinbg the deficit.
There is a point I want to make, Mormons are not Christians! Mormons call themselves Christians but are not recognized by other religions as such.
Do me a favor next time daisy100 if you meet any of these people in person. Please 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. There is a point I want to make, who made you the final judge of who is a Christian or not? Please go to mormon.org and learn why a belief or not a belief in a 325 AD debate by a man made council seems to be your basis or definition of the Holy Trinity that many religions cling to. Are you one who does? Do you not believe that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ are two separate Heavenly beings? A father and a son? If you don't think they are separate, please read again what happened at Christ baptism and at the cross with the interaction between Jesus and His Father during both events. Was he hearing himself? Talking to Himself? Please explain your thoughts and teachings you might have to say they are one person as the Nicean Creed states from 325 AD. Is this the basis you are trying to use to call someone a Christian or not a Christian? A belief in a man made creed? Interested in your response. Thank you.
Just because her beliefs are flawed and man made doesn't make yours any better, jacksonhole. At least she wasn't fooled by some con man who supposed found golden plates with writing only he could read and magically disappeared once he 'translated' them so no one could disput him.
"Biblical Values:" A means to justify selective non-acceptance of another person different themselves; hypocrisy.
I don't get this article at all.
Why isn't there an article that attempts to explain how 93% of blacks voting FOR Obama actually isn't just pure racism? And maybe the article could explain why any and EVERY black person in this nation that either didn't support Obama or didn't vote for him was instantly and viciously attacked and then branded an "Uncle Tom", turncoat, oreo, "house n****r"and just about every other hate filled comment possible.
Why isn't there an article that attempts to explain why 70% of Hispanic voting for Obama actually isn't just either pure racism or simply BUYING their votes? After all, Obama himself was out there crowing about how he had DEPORTED more illegals than any President in history, and yet got an overwhelming majority of Hispanic votes, of course AFTER he gave over 1 million illegals the "right" to steal jobs from the citizens of this nation.
Ah well, I guess MSDNC isn't going to come out with any articles questioning race based voting, especially when the race based voting went the way they wanted it to.
Instead, let's have some STUPID article that attempts to marginalize the Christian vote and attempts to somehow say that the Christian vote, or the lack of it, makes NO DIFFERENCE in an election.
My favorite troll weighing in again, a few pound lighter in credibility since the election.
tell the christian fundmentalists to stop telling everyone else how to vote in order to escape God's judgement.
I am a Christan and voted for Obama so I guess it is at least one Christians "fault". What makes Grahm believe his opinion of what a Christian is to be that of Gods? I separate my church and state because I wouldn't want and wouldn't want to impose my religious points of view through legislation. Every man is created equal, not just Christians. Gay marriage is a big for instance. While it is considered a sin by Christians it is not a crime and as long as gay people go to a church that will marry them I don't understand how the government should have the ability to delegitify what these people practice in thier church. The lessening of others rights based on one faith is why I keep my church and state separate. When you allow a group of people to be oppressed because of your beliefs then you open the door to having the same thing happen to you. Justice for all, not just those you agree with.
"Religion has no place in politics", this very statement is so wrong on so many counts.
Policies are made by people who make the policies based upon their beliefs; all politics is based on religion... the question is whose religion. So the question is not does someone's belief influence politics but whose belief's will influence our policies.
Whether it be Christian, Muslim, or even Atheism (yes, do not be fooled Atheism is a religion) all policy is based upon someone's faith.
The real statement is "Politics has no place in Religion".
Morality is a part of every thing we do. When one faiths BELIEFS interfere with someones rights religion has over stepped its place in society. Do we want moral politicians, yes. Do we want a Christan dictator who's faith would have him neglect every ones rights, no. I love the freedom of religion, it protects all religions though not just Christan's.
Something bnad happens to some one else. Christians say, "its gods will". When it happens to them its someone else s fault.
While it may not be the "christians" that caused Obama to win, everything that is wrong with this country is because of the "christians". Especially the really "good" ones.
Why spend time rebutting the bigot Franklin Graham about whether "Christians" voted or not. He really means to say President Obama is not a Christian in his wretched eyes, and therefore Christians should have come out to vote against him. Graham is a bigot and a fool. Where did he get his divinity degree? By mail order?
I find this article interesting. I did not know that evangelicals were only white. That is stupid and ill informed. The article is by a duffus who does not understand the evengelicals at all. I don't know if it still is, but a few years back the largest evangelical church in the world was in South Korea. The problem with evangelicals is they are not evangelizing, but rather have taken on false doctrines escusing their failure.
This is a warning, The Kookaboo religious right is still here and no where near defeated. They will find some way to blame it on Gods wrath and redouble their efforts. The GOP Propaganda machine funded by their corporate masters will be set into high gear. It's not over. Remember 2010?
Isn't it odd that Graham would choose to endorse one Christan over another Christan based on nothing other then faith? Kind of like the NRA endorsing Romney even though Obamas record on gun rights is better. If they are Republicans I wish they would just say so and quit claiming that their endorsements are any thing other the partisan decisions based on party affiliation.
millions are signing the petition for secession from the blue states...what does that tell you???
It tells me they are sore losers. Didn't see this BS when Bush got reelected with out winning the popular vote. Also it is no where near millions.
It tells me that deep seated hatred never dies, it's just passed along to the next generation. It's been 150 years since the civil war, and the south is still trying to hang on to their belief that the south will rise again. They hated Eisenhower after little Rock, they hated Kennedy for sending the forces to Alabama, they hated Johnson for sending The FBI to catch murders, Now they hate barrack Obama because his skin color isn't white.
There are a lot of narrow minded people out there who will wave the flag, wrap their rhetoric in the constitution and scream to the heights about freedom for themselves, but are very ready and willing to suppress, or take away the rights of others.
A person who claims to be a christian and then votes democrat is doomed to hell.
Heaven for the atmosphere, hell for the company.
And there you have it folks. The precise reason why the GOP has become irrelevant.
You will be there yourself.
Billy Graham's position is that only around 10% of those who call their selves Christian are Christian. The rest are by choice going to Hell and eventually the eternal Lake of Fire along with all others. Most don't believe that, but a person can believe a lie and be damned. The Romney endorsement was one of the lesser of two evils.
We all have the abilities and capability to guide ourselves through spiritual things. We certainly don't need charlatans like Franklin Graham spreading his hate and oddball 'theology' into the mix. I'm guessing smart people just turn him off.
A Navy Veteran who votes for Republicans that routinely disrespect them by rejecting and voting down Bills and programs that Benefit Veterans is doomed to be a MORON.