Posted on 08/10/2015 5:25:09 PM PDT by markomalley
Commenting on the GOP debate last week, evangelical leader Rev. Franklin Graham said he watched the presentation and, as far as billionaire real estate developer Donald Trump was concerned, the reverend said he thinks a lot of people agreed "with some of the things" that Trump said, and added that the successful businessman was "no dummy," is "not a politcian," and "says what he thinks."
Franklin Graham also disclosed that he has met and spoken with Donald Trump. In 2013, at a 95th birthday celebration for Pastor Billy Graham in Asheville, N.C., Trump, his wife Melania Trump, Sarah Palin, and former Vice President Al Gore were seated at Billy Graham's table.
Concerning Trump, "I've met him and talked to him," said Rev. Franlin Graham in an Aug. 7 interview with reporter Greg Garrison at AL.com, the blog for the Alabama Media Group.
"I think everybody who watched last night couldn't help but agree with some of the things he said," continued Rev. Graham.
"He's not a politician," Graham said. "He says what he thinks. He's no dummy. He's worth a lot of money."
"Whether he'll see this all the way through, who knows?" said Rev. Graham. "He's a very smart man."
In his remarks to AL.com, Rev. Graham said he would not endorse any candidates and that over the years he had "been disappointed in politicians, very disappointed in the Democratic Party, very disappointed in the Republican Party."
"I think Americans across the board are fed up with the shenanigans that go on, politicians who go to Washington to benefit themselves, who promise one thing and deliver another," said Rev. Graham. "Americans are ready for a change."
Asked about the health of his 96-year-old father, Billy Graham, Franklin Graham said, “I was with my father this morning, telling him I was going to Birmingham. He was there in 1964. He remembered being there. He didn't remember what year. He's 97 (turning 97 on Nov. 7)."
"It's hard for him to remember," said Franklin Graham. "He doesn't hear well, he doesn't see well. His mind is still pretty sharp. He's just old. He's just happy to get up in the morning."
"He realizes his ministry now is praying for people, praying for people including myself going to Birmingham," said the younger Graham. "He would love to come to Birmingham. I'm looking forward to it."
Franklin Graham, 62, is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and he also runs the international Christian relief group Samaritan's Purse. He is married and has five children. Franklin Graham regularly preaches in the United States and overseas.
His father, Billy Graham, is considered the most influential evangelical preacher of the last 70 years. Over the decades, Billy Graham's preaching reached a total estiamted audience of 2.2 billion people. He is consistently ranked by Gallup as one of the most admired men in the world.
Uh Oh...but Trump has not done any repenting!
This is why The Uniparty is reacting to him as they would to a five-inch-long splinter in the butt.
Graham didn’t get the memo that he is supposed to hate Trump and trash him. Listening to God instead of Fox News I guess...
The revered needs to be educated. Trump like Kasich has “evolved” into accepting gay marriage.
Nice try, linking Trump to someone like Kasich or Walker.
Typos in an article such as this are unforgivable.
Comforting that Franklin Graham feels the same as many of us regarding this country.
So how do your explain his “evolutionary” thinking on gay marriage? Maybe a read of the entire article will provide you some perspective.
It may not be an endorsement but coming from Rev. Graham is exactly what a lot of us feel and like about Trump! His comment Speaks volumes!
Just smiling.
Shrug. I read it. It’s still a ways off from attending gay marriage receptions like Kasich and Walker. Nice try at hijacking the thread though.
Outrageous...who is going to sick the pedantic little metrosexuals from National Review on him?
God Is Merciful. I’m glad Reverend Graham doesn’t have to see and hear the stuff that’s going on. God Bless him.
I agree with Graham.
I also think Trump is a TERRIBLE candidate, a total ass.
Cruz will win this thing for us.
I have said this before. If they would stop with the mud slinging and confront Trump on the issues, he wouldnt last long.
Unless Donald gets past this and starts to define his solutions to the problems, it wont end well with him.
But then again, maybe they think this is the way to get him to run 3rd party and split the vote?
How these people think is outside of me. Run a man off, then he runs 3rd party and splits the vote? Hows that help things? I think of Teddy Roosevelt as of now. That did not end up well.
Maybe you glossed over this paragraph or its just didn’t register:
“Roberts also asked Trump what he thought of the controversy over having the Miss Universe pageant in Russia after the country recently passed a ban on spreading “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.” The country has also received criticism from athletes planning on participating in the Winter Olympic Games this upcoming February over the ban, passed in June.”
Trump’s reply:
“Perhaps we should have known and we didn’t, and after we signed it became quite clear,” Trump told Roberts of the criticism he and NBC received when they decided to host the Miss Universe event in Russia.”
In other words had he known about this before he signed the agreement, he would not have held the contest in Russia.
There’s your tough guy!
He says what he thinks... will get him the most attention.
You win. Trump is not a tough guy. The quote proves it. /s
Nice try.
“Trump has previously said that he prefers not to discuss gay marriage. He told controversial radio talk show host Howard Stern on his Sirius XM show, “The Howard Stern Show” in February that he’s against gay marriage, and also that the topic has “never been an argument that’s been discussed with me very much. People know that it’s not my thing one way or the other.”
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