Onward Christian voters

Jerusalem Post ^ | Nov. 17, 2004 | MICHAEL FREUND

[yonif]

By now it should be clear that George W. Bush wasn't the only big winner to emerge from this month's US presidential election.

In terms of flexing political muscle and shaping the outcome of the vote, no group proved more successful than America's evangelical Christians. They flocked to the polls, boosting the incumbent and helping to set the country's political agenda for the next four years.

While some American Jews view this development with mounting concern, my reaction is far more sanguine, even upbeat: Israel should be thanking God for the rise of the Christian Right. They are the best hope for ensuring long-term US diplomatic support for the Jewish state in an increasingly hostile world.

Sure, American Jews still wield a great deal of political power, thanks to their concentration in key states and their extensive involvement in the political process. But the American Jewish community is in the throes of a protracted demographic decline and their power will inevitably diminish over time.

By contrast, US evangelicals, many of whom proudly refer to themselves as Christian Zionists, are clearly on the upswing.

According to the Pew Research Center, evangelical Protestants accounted for 23% of the entire American electorate, or nearly one out of every four voters, in the recent election.

And, as the Los Angeles Times noted, "Christian evangelicals provided much of the passion and manpower for President Bush's reelection" (November 12).

Indeed, political guru Arthur Finkelstein was even more blunt, telling the Israeli daily Ma'ariv that "Bush's strategy secures the power of the American Christian Right not only for this term. In fact, it secures its ability to choose the next Republican president."

Even outside the ballot box evangelical Christians are a force to be reckoned with.

A recent study by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University found that an astonishing 38 percent of all Americans describe themselves as being "born-again" Christians.

In places such as the southern United States, the survey revealed that a majority of residents, or 52 percent, fall into this category.

And because of their attachment to the Bible, more and more evangelical Christians are stepping forward to embrace Israel, demonstrating a level of commitment and support that is both sincere and deeply-rooted.

For years, groups such as the Unity Coalition for Israel have been toiling both to build grassroots political support for the Jewish state and to explain Israel's case to members of Congress. They have helped win Israel numerous friends in mid-western American states such as Kansas, where the Jewish community is small.

Others, such as Pastor Robert Stearns of New Jersey, have succeeded in organizing evangelicals to pray on Israel's behalf. Last month, Stearns launched an annual "Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, a worldwide effort that involved tens of thousands of churches from Korea to California.

Organizations such as Bridges for Peace, the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem and the International Christian Zionist Center have been at the forefront of encouraging Christian tourism to Israel and raising funds for various social welfare projects, while leaders such as the Rev. Pat Robertson have been outspoken on Israel's behalf.

Hence, it is about time Israel and American Jewry put aside many of their reservations and doubts and started to engage evangelical Christians more candidly and openly.

Of course, we must remain on guard against missionary elements seeking to proselytize Jews. But it would be unfair, and even wrong, to suspect all Christian supporters of Israel as being surreptitious soul-snatchers.

Many are sincere and devoted in their love for Israel, their sole motivation being to live in accordance with God's promise to the patriarch Abraham: "I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you shall be cursed."

To turn down their friendship and backing because of misguided stereotypes regarding their motivations would be an act of sheer folly on our part.

As Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder of the International Federation of Christians and Jews and a pioneer in the field, has argued, "It is wrong and shortsighted of Israel and the Jewish community not to reach out to these people, even as they become more and more powerful. The Jewish community needs to get its act together."

That message is beginning to get across. MK Yuri Stern recently created a Christian Allies Caucus in the Knesset, which works to promote better relations between Israel and Christian groups. And the Israeli Ministry of Tourism has been working more closely with US Christians to promote visits to the Holy Land.

But far more needs to be done. The bond between US Christians and Israel has all the makings of a historic alliance, one that could both heal the painful wounds of the past while paving the way for tremendous accomplishments in the future.

Properly cultivated, the relationship could help strengthen our position immeasurably and guarantee bedrock US support for Israel for years to come.

The writer served as a policy and communications adviser in the Netanyahu government.

[MineralMan]

The Israelis are still a bit skeptical of US evangelicals. The fear is that they will use their new strength not just to support Israel, but to attempt to convert Israeli Jews to Christianity, and in no uncertain terms.

Those Christians who want to build trust with Israeli Jews should bear in mind that aggressive attempts at conversion will cut short any progress that may have already been made or that may be made in the future.

As long as Christians supporting Israel recognize that the Israelis are Jews first and foremost, things will go along fairly smoothly. Setting up missions in Israel designed to convert Jews to Christianity will not lead to good relations.

There are some fundamentalist Christian groups who don't really care so much about converting Jews in Israel as they do about making sure that the "end times" prophecies don't get sidetracked. This may well conflict with the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Caution is called for.

[marty60]

Finally, someone is speaking the truth.

[yonif]

Ping.

[bluebeak]

most of the people who volunteered to help GOTV were conservatives ... be it ... christian conversatives, fiscal conversatives, or security conservatives (those who support military, law enforcement, etc.) ... Some where a combination of the three.

This was the bulk of the ground team.

And these people won't be thrilled with the republicans if people like Arlen Specter are given chairmanships ... moves like that could hurt republicans in 2006 and 2008.

The Democrats and 527s did a great job (better than republicans) of registering new voters (and targeting areas that were likely to be heavy democratic) ...

The Republican GOTV effort was superior to the democrats (but it tough alot of ground muscle ... there were alot of volunteers compared to previous elections ... most where there to support bush). We were fortunate ... IMHO ... that Kerry was a lousy candidate (i.e. not many people voted for him ... the dems. and 527s got alot of people to vote against Bush, status quo, etc.)

Without the 527s, I think Bush would have won by 7-10%.

Frist better choose wisely in decisions for the 2006 senate ... especially the Specter issue.

Without the grassroots base, the blue hairs will be in trouble in 2006 and 2008.

[Paulus Invictus]

It is estimated that 74% of Utah's population is Mormon. Add to that the fact that Bush got 71% of the vote in Utah (highest percentage for Bush of any state) and you can easily understand that Mormons are patriotic, conservative Republicans. Sorry, I just had to say it in case we get more Mormon-bashing thanks to Hatch and his inexplicable stances re such people as Specter and Kennedy (UGH!).

[Jim-FREEportPA]

Insightful and I agree. I have relatives who vote like me but certainly are not Christian Right but Republican.

As a Bible believing Roman Catholic I vote as Christian Right. For two weeks I told my immedicate family that WE ARE COMING!! The Christians DID come just like we held the House in 1996 that we won in 1994 after a lousy Dole candidacy.

[Digger]

Sorry, I just had to say it in case we get more Mormon-bashing thanks to Hatch and his inexplicable stances re such people as Specter and Kennedy (UGH!).

Well, why don't all in Utah oust him? If So Dakota can do the deed, this should be slam dunk.

[Jim-FREEportPA]

IMO all 100 Senators are primadonas. That explains Hatch and explains our conservative senator, Santorum, who helped block a true impeachment trial per David Shippers.
Specter wanted a real trial. The Senate lacks guts on both sides of the aisle.

[conserv13]

Thanks. I would also be wary of Christians who support Israel because the Jews are 'Gods people' and who are ready for the rapture.

[MineralMan]

"Thanks. I would also be wary of Christians who support Israel because the Jews are 'Gods people' and who are ready for the rapture."

Yes, indeed. Those folks don't care about converting the Jews in Israel, because that would defy their premillenial idea of the prophecies.

Anyone who says that the "Rapture" is soon to come is also predicting the horrible death of Israeli Jews some time after that, during the tribulation period.

There's tons of stuff on the web about all of this, and it's worth reading, if only to inform onesself of what the motivations are behind the "evangelical" Christian movement to support Israel.

The Israeli's are concerned about all of this, and, perhaps, rightly so.

Did you know that there are premillenial Christian groups who donate money all the time to help Jews get back to Israel? The more that get there, they believe, the closer the Rapture. It's all very strange, and the goals of these folks have little to do with the goals of Israel.

[Howlin]

In terms of flexing political muscle and shaping the outcome of the vote, no group proved more successful than America's evangelical Christians. They flocked to the polls, boosting the incumbent and helping to set the country's political agenda for the next four years.

According to the Pew Research Group and Michael Barone for Fox News, Evangelicals didn't vote in any greater numbers than the rest of the other demographic groups this year; in fact, Pew says that the religious right voted in the same numbers they did in 2000.

VOTE BY RELIGION

BUSH

KERRY

NADER

TOTAL

2004

2000

2004

2004

Protestant (54%)

59%

+3

40%

0%

Catholic (27%)

52%

+5

47%

0%

Jewish (3%)

25%

+6

74%

*

Other (7%)

23%

-5

74%

1%

None (10%)

31%

+1

67%

1%

Within that group, 23 percent considered themselves Evangelicals and/or born again; of that group 18 percent voted for Bush.

[graf008]

Why do they even include Nader in these? It would be more productive to include Badnarik or someone who actually had an influence...or no one at all.

[onedoug]

Dennis Prager, a Jew, has been saying this for years.

[Howlin]

Because he only got an *?

[graf008]

We knew he was a non-factor before the election. The polls might as well include Lyndon LaRouche....

[redgolum]

I am a Christian, and I support Israel not because of any "rapture", but because they are the only decent society in the M.E.

[SJackson]

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