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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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Die Christians.
Steve. Good
The outspoken Rev. Franklin Graham claimed today that the “majority of Christians” did not vote.
........“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.”
Select those Biblical values that you like and vote accordingly. For instance if you favor slavery, (Exodus 21:2-6 NLT) could be your guiding principal.
If you hate gays go to: Leviticus 20:13 "If a man has sex with another man, kill them both."
What wonderful sentiments Christians have in their hearts. Franklin, I believe that Christians are already voting their "Christian Values"
Critics say that Christians are not following ALL the Laws of Moses and that is true because God did not give the Law of Moses to the Gentiles. We follow closely to the Noahidic Law which had 7 commandments for righteousness which is close to the Council of Jerusalem found in Acts 15. The Council did not need to establish the 7th commandment for courts because our kingdom is not of this world and Christians are not called to establish nations. There was no need to remind the Gentile believers not engage in idolatry or blasphemy as these were not issues in contention. Nor was there a concern that any would consider stealing to be righteous. So James and the Council noted from the Noahide Laws those essentials that would be similar to the Moral section of the Laws of Moses as the extent of Gentile requirements.
The Bible in Acts 15 with the Jerusalem Council, enforced the teaching of Jesus that the Laws of Moses do not apply to Gentile believers
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" —to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well Acts 15:24-29
" The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God a]" has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it." Luke 16:16
But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit Romans 7:6
When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:20,21
But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:23-27
Gentiles were NEVER under the Law of Moses- it was given specifically for the Jews as their covenant with God
Christians are under Grace, not Law (even Noahidic Law), but we look to what the Lord gave us apart from Israel (the Jews) as our moral guidelines).
Rev Larry Robinson
"Rev Larry Robinson"
Jesus H. God Frog!
The matter of color is not an issue. People should have voted for Romney because he was the most qualified. If there were "pew huggers" that did not vote because Romney is a Mormon and/or voted for Obama who is a muslim; let their country and God down. One who believes in the God of the Bible could not vote for a man who encourages killing unborn babys, encourages women's rights but encourages killing them before they are born, pushed for the devation of marriage, descriminated against Christianity by forcing medical care to kill unborn babies, and supporting muslim prayer days at the white house, but not allowing Christian prayer days. My friends, you have screw us all and the children of this country. Enjoy high taxes, high gasoline prices, forced medical care, depletion of personal freedoms, etc. You voted for it. Embrace the consequences of your votes.
@FREEDOM FIGHTER: You are one mixed up A hole. You said Obama is a muslim. Prove it, you CAN'T. Plus if he is a muslim, then you were lying when you called him a marxist, a solicialist, a commie, and any other name. You pugbags are so so stupid, you can't get your talking points straight.
Yes, enjoy those high gas prices, as the President has no control over the oil companies. If he did, you would hear this idiot of freedom fighter crying how he is hurting the oil companies. Yep, think about it. The majority of people are embracing the consequences of their votes. But you AREN'T!
If you don't like what is going on, move out of the US for crying outloud. I don't know which country would accept idiots, but I'm sure one would.
Look at all the GOP distancing themselves from Romney and his statements. Why? They're either right or they're cowards.
Maybe, most likely both.
Romney lost because he was a lousy candidate (even Republicans didn't much like him) with lousy ideas who picked a lousy VP, organized a lousy convention then followed that with a lousy campaign. With the economy in the shape it's in, this should have been a Republican year. Yet they lost across the board. That loss wasn't because of voter fraud, it wasn't because "Christians" didn't vote, it wasn't because of "free stuff" --- it was because Republicans ran lousy candidates.
If Republicans want to win the White House in 2016, come up with people other than Pizza Man, The Donald, Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann and Rick Sanatorium. If you want to win a few Senate seats, try talking about something other than rape.
Why do Republicans keep trying to sell the notion that anyone that voted for Obama must be a welfare recipient? They are only permanently pissing us off. I have been on my job for over 35 years and I have voted for Republican and Democrat Presidents.
Stop being so hateful (should have followed that pre-election). Stop being so vindictive post election.
Now the liberal morons are playing the race card! Idiots like Alan Colmes think everytime Obama is criticized for anything the people who have a beef with his policies and stupid decisions is because they hate black people!
Why don't you imbeciles shut up everyone time there is a certain word used to the liberal morons it is a racial statement or word! The past is over and if you are stupid you can be white, black, brown, green or whatever, you are still stupid! Many biggots in Congress like Lucas and Waters and others who keep living in the past are the real racists and they need to shut their big mouth and move on! Do you get it?? As far as Alan Colmes is concerned he is just an total imbecile who thinks he is doing good but all he is doing is pandering! So shut up Colmes and get your fat head out of your rearend!
@RICK COLO, yes Alan Colmes is just like his mentors. All of his mentors now work at Fox News. When are you going to give them the same advice you just spouted off about?
It is to weep. The longer you folks in the media (web/press/talk radio) continue to marginalize our nation, appealing to only a narrow maragin, the longer our nation will continue to fight amongst ourselves. The wider the gaps will continue to get, the wider the frature will continue to get and it is to weep.
It wasn't that long ago that this nation, everyone being on the same page; won a war, rebuilt and fed the european continent, assisted and fed Russia - We did. Not Russia, not China, we did. When this nation, who is supposedly E Plurbus Unum, are on the same page, we reshape and move Everests. We do, not Russia, not China.
But my country continues to fight amongst ourselves, widening the fractures, increasing the gaps and it is to weep. If our country implodes, the planet will follow; we are the strongest economy on the planet, despite our current broke, burned, battered, bruised, flooded condition. We must, even just for ourselves, we must come together, we must get along. I believe we are a nation of moderates, who gets along with our neighbors, our co-workers despite our differences. Our forbears recognized we would have differences, but that was why we came to the continent, to find a place to be who we wanted to be, to worship who we wanted to. We came here to be free. Can't we all just get along?
moderates are liberals who lack the courage to admit it.
'moderates are liberals who lack the courage to admit it.'
No Larry ---- moderates are people who WIN most elections. In politics -- second place pays nothing. Bill Buckley said years ago --- you don't nominate the most conservative candidate, YOU NOMINATE THE MOST CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE WHO CAN WIN. Now guys like you love standing up and screaming Marxist, communist, Stalinist -- all that garbage. It probably makes you feel all macho, all warm and fuzzy inside. But it doesn't ACCOMPLISH anything real.
It's about RESULTS Larry --- not about words. I would think a big time, high roller, international businessman like you claim to be would be more focused on results.
No, it's not 'Christians'' fault Obama won
The ENTIRE Republican Party had a hand in this loss because they were all firing on the same cylinder - we hate Obama.
The Republican Party is the problem with no solutions.
Liberals in a 2014 LANDSLIDE!
As a practicing Catholic, I hold Christian values above all things. VP Biden said it correctly when asked about banning abortion, which is that Christians believe abortion is wrong but we do not force our religion on others. When Jesus told us to spread the word he did not hand us a stick to beat people into submission that did not listen. Jesus is love and we have love for all people. Romney is one to run away from since he is obviously not a Christian in practice, only a heathen would lie so much and promise to make war. Thou shalt not lie and love thy neighbor, love thy enemy, seem to be forgotten by the "religious right", which is so obviously very WRONG.
@BARNEY BLANKENSHIP, more power to you for being a Christian, or so you say. Can you quote to me from the bible where it says women are second class citizens? Can you, really?
We all know how Catholic's treat women, so you have the balls to say you are a Christian? Not by my standards. Christians tend to treat all people equal. Catholics don't. Care to explain that? And no, I won't hold my breath waiting for your answer.
I don't know why you are attacking me and perhaps chatholics, the vice president is catholic and he doesn't seem to be someone that treats women as second class people. I think all people are created equal.
I know lovely Catholic women and they are treated just fine by their husbands. They unfortunately are republicans but they are good women and I like them a lot. One is a Democrat so I like her more but they are good Christians.
This article has been up for a week. Enough already, get rid of it and stop beating a dead horse.
Speaking of a dead horse,how is the GOP taking the loss of the electon
Heheho,
Ha he ho time for the tea Alanna to go
Americas favorite theatrical prop,the bible
He he he he
The bible makes for good brain wash tactics for the sheep
That's awesome you were able to form your own morality and world view starting at birth!Sorry your uncle molested you,or whatever got your panties jammed up
Give me a BREAK about the MORMON thing, considering obama in no way,shape or form is christian. And by the way, not judging, it's called dicerning. Can't support what God hates and call yourself christian!!!
Has anyone noticed how "Christians" help feed the hungry, help with clothing, are there for people i.e. Hurricane Sandy, give of their own time and money. Over and above what the government takes from them in taxes. So many people against Christianity and the military. . .and they come to your rescue everytime. The government takes our money, but is slow to respond. Its the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the churches, and many military, police, firemen, and medical volunteers that are there with words of encouragement and help in time of need. I give them all of the praise in the world.
That doesn't fit their worldview though.
The government does a fine job now that President Obama is in charge. But Christian agencies are doing amazing and wonderful work in the area where Hurricane Sandy was so severe. The Red Cross is also doing a wonderful job there helping to feed and clothe those who have lost everything.
Many Christians were absolutely torn by our choices.Many of us voted for BHO,x2
Religion has everything to do with politics, period. Without the 10 commandments from Christianity or the Jewish Torah and laws, there would be no moral laws in this nation at all. period. All Western law and Jurisprudence are based on Christian teaching and Jewish teaching. If anyone doesn't know that , they haven't studied our nation's history outside of the edited history being taught in our nations high schools. You need a college education to hear the truth of our nation's history, and make sure you don't go to a liberal college, or you will miss it there too. The truth is in short supply these days.
Thou shalt not steal has inspired laws such as: grand larceny, grand larceny theft, shoplifting, robbery, armed robbery, embezzelment, forgery, etc. Thou shalt not kill has inspired laws against murder such as: 1st degree murder, manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, 2nd degree murder, assault, assault with a deadly weapon, etc. All our laws are based on moral principles we get from religious faith and religious institutions. All contracts in our nation are based on two parties agreeing to honor the contract they sign and treat each other as equal partners. You will find this in the teachings of Jesus on how to get along with each other, with the government, and how to treat your neighbor. Too many people in our nation could care less about the history of our nation and what we once stood for. Our society has become a me first, not others first nation. We throw out the teachings of our faith and follow what we decide is best. That leads to anarchy, looting, abusive behavior, murder of babies in the womb, infant abuse on the rise, mothers murdering their own children outside the womb, school shootings and on and on because we are taking religious teachings out of every aspect of our society. We don't want anything to do with God, so God say: Go ahead and see what happens when you forget to honor me. We are paying the price for our own arrogance and neglect of God in our schools, communities and our own lives. Maybe our nations fast path to destruction will turn us back to Christ. That is our prayer for aall of us.
Got news for you. Laws that forbade stealing, lying about someone else, murder, and all of thos other things were codified by civilizations that existed long before your religion came to be. Smart people know that law is necessary to live together but don't agree that there has to be some kind of supreme being cop to make that work.
Mitt was never going to win if he did the people would have revolted.
All 49% of the voting population,,,,There wasn't a good candidate in the race and most of the majority were still voting against W. The best that could have happened I can't type, but needless to say we need some real men with honest hearts in DC and kick all those crooks to Arlington.
Franklin Graham is a loose cannon. He is part of the problem s with this country and not the solution. If he had his way his form of religion would be the only one practiced in the US. His interpretation of the bible would be absolute and would be the sole basis for running the country. The hell with the Constitution. I hope the IRS investigates him and all of his organizations for tax evasion.
It's over, it's done - lets not play the blaming game please. Lets get to business, every day people put up reasons or excuses for Mit losing only fuels the news media and helps them avoid the real issues. Notice if you will, that they have nothing better to talk about. The perfect example is Al sharpton spending five entire minites making fun of Mit pumping his own gas - wait. Isn't this the same man Sharpton said was too rich, too out of touch, a man that could not relate to the average man..... and here he is pumping his own gas?
Come on people, lets focus on President Obama. What is he doing? He said he spends every day thinking about us and the unemployment issue - what has he done? He said that he had plans in place, where is the news media and why aren't they covering these things. Tell me, show me - lets get focused people. Tell me what happened in Gaza, was it a terrorist attack or just an act of terror? Who knew, who didn't, why didn't they act - forget about the indiscretions of the CIA head and tell me why Americans died.... I'm just asking?
William Yuthink
Americans are dying every day all over the world, is Benghazi more important than any of the others? Maybe you're just salivating over the anticipation of catching the president in some lie or dereliction of duty.