Dobson using fear of "liberals taking over" to stir up Evangelical voters

[Human Torch]

Conservatives Put Faith in Church Voter Drives
Evangelicals seek to sign up a new flock of GOP supporters in states with crucial November races.
By Peter Wallsten, Times Staff Writer
August 15, 2006

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gopchurch15aug15,0,5887088.story

WASHINGTON — As discontent with the Republican Party threatens to dampen the turnout of conservative voters in November, evangelical leaders are launching a massive registration drive that could help counter the malaise and mobilize new religious voters in battleground states. The program, coordinated by the Colorado-based group Focus on the Family and its influential founder, James C. Dobson, would use a variety of methods — including information inserted in church publications and booths placed outside worship services — to recruit millions of new voters in 2006 and beyond.

The effort builds on the aggressive courtship of evangelical voters in 2004 by President Bush's reelection campaign, even as the Internal Revenue Service has announced renewed scrutiny of nonprofit organizations, including churches, that engage in political activities.

The new voter registration program puts a special focus this year on eight states with key Senate, House and state-level races. Turning out core voters is central to the GOP strategy to retain control of Congress, especially as the party struggles with negative public sentiment over the war in Iraq and other administration policies.

"Any time you go from a big presidential year like 2004 to an off-year like this, there's going to be a drop-off" in voter interest, said John Paulton of Focus on the Family Action, the political arm of Focus on the Family. "It's a question of how much. You could argue that the fear of what could happen if many more liberal politicians take over could be very motivating to get out and vote as strongly."

[xchrom]

1. god, guns, and gays.

[Webster Green]

2. That would nullify their tax-exempt status, I presume...

This can't be legal otherwise, can it?

[Human Torch]

3. Whether it's Dobson or Falwell, they always seem to get away with it.

That question always comes up when this kind of stunt is pulled, but I've never seen anyone seriously go after them.

[acmejack]

4. Notice the highest profile IRS investigation is of a LIBERAL church.

Imagine that! No political activity going on in Conservative Churches, not with the Governor of Texas routinely having political rallies in Churches and having protesters run off from the other side of the street. No Siree...

[Skip Intro]

5. wtf would happen if "many more liberal politicians 'took over'" - ?

What would happen that the so-called christians would fear?

We'd run up a huge deficit gviing tax breaks to the rich while the poor and "middle class" see their "worth" shrink further, as jobs waltz away to other countries?

We'd lay waste to tens upon tens of thousands of people for no goddam reason?

We'd sow antagonism and distrust of each other here at home?

Would we do something so unChristian-like as try to feed the hungry, get helthcare for everyone, persue peace (and security)?

Don't these wind-up xtians ever get tired of playing foolish puppets?

[AndyA]

6. It would seem to me that Focus On the Family should be in danger of

losing their tax exempt status. They are very political these days, and I know there are laws restricting what tax exempt organizations can and cannot do politically. I wonder if anyone has filed a complaint about the nature of this organizations political statements?

[Fleshdancer]

7. if the evil liberals take control then....

abortions will be legal again! Oh wait. Even with FULL republican control, abortion is still legal...interesting. :eyes:

For all the issues they scream against, the only time this administration has catered to their demands is to stop stem cell research on "snowflake" embryos...and yet fertility clinics all over the country are still allowed to throw them away instead. How long will it take (if ever) for these voters to realize they're being used lied to?