Pastors Guiding Voters to GOP

[Judi Lynn]

Pastors Guiding Voters to GOP
The Christian right seeks out members who might not go to the polls. The focus is issues, but some leaders don't oppose endorsement.
By Stephanie Simon, Times Staff Writer
October 1, 2006

With a pivotal election five weeks away, leaders on the religious right have launched an all-out drive to get Christians from pew to voting booth. Their target: the nearly 30 million Americans who attend church at least once a week but did not vote in 2004.

Their efforts at times push legal limits on church involvement in partisan campaigns. That is by design. With control of Congress at stake Nov. 7, those guiding the movement say they owe it to God and to their own moral principles to do everything they can to keep social conservatives in power.
(snip)

The Rev. Rick Scarborough, a leading evangelical in Texas, has recruited 5,000 "patriot pastors" nationwide to promote an agenda that aligns neatly with Republican platforms. "We urge them to avoid legal entanglement, but there are times in a pastor's life when he needs to take a biblical stand," Scarborough said. "Our higher calling is to Christ."

The campaign encourages individual pastors to use sermons, Bible studies and rallies to drive Christians to the polls — and, by implication or outright endorsement, to Republican candidates. One online guide to discussing the election in church, produced by the Focus on the Family ministry, offers this tip: If a congregant says her top concerns are healthcare and national security, suggest that Jesus would make abortion and gay marriage priorities.
(snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-churchvote1oct01,0,7179475.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[rubberducky]

1. This kind of stuff is disgusting!

But, also very dangerous for the dems.

[Chipper Chat]

2. I read a southern Indiana newspaper today.

The headline was "Candidates (for 9th district congressman)heating up for election." The long article only touched on TWO issues - and you can guess which two.
Mike Sodrel (R) was quoted as being "totally against abortion and totally against gay rights of any kind." Baron Hill(D) was forced to say he was against "gay marriage." (Any other response would have doomed his campaign on the spot). He cites exceptions to baning all abortions.
NOTHING ELSE was in the article: no Iraq, tax cuts, torture, or the Indiana Toll Road being leased to a Spanish company by Governor Mitch the Bitch. The paper is rightwing, but is damning evidence that fundies only care about biblical issues.
It's a shame. I hope Hill wins. Indiana needs to turn blue, or at least purple.

edited for clarity

[6000eliot]

3. Because Jesus was all about the torture and the child molestation.

[xchrom]

5. warrior jesus has to have something to do on his day off.

[saigon68]

8. Even the priests know that

[LeftishBrit]

4. I may not be the world's Bible expert...

but as far as I remember, the New Testament doesn't say very much about abortion or homosexuality. It does say quite a lot about peace, mercy, and helping the poor and the 'least of these'.

[Gman]

6. This is so friggin' cynical

"Suggest that Jesus would make abortion and gay marriage priorities"?? Jesus wouldn't make TORTURE a priority????? Jesus wouldn't make UNJUST WAR a priority???

[OhioChick]

7. Good points. n/t

[rock]

9. So they're pro-pedophilia?

[annabanana]

10. Yet they sic the IRS on an Episcopalian who preaches Peace.

Why do these shills still have tax exempt status? Any guesses?

[GeorgeGist]

11. In other bad news...

Pastor's continue guiding their flocks to insanity.

[mom cat]

12. Go collect some literature and send it to the IRS!

[MissMillie]

13. that was my thought....

thank you!

[yellowcanine]

14. Hmm, maybe they will vote against the pedophilia enabler party?

Recent revelations could make this backfire on the Repukes.