Posted on 12/05/2011 3:33:25 PM PST by Gamecock
Over the weekend, popular televangelist Joel Osteen revealed to Fox News Channel host and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee that he had been contacted by President Barack Obama for his 2012 reelection effort. While this outreach could simply represent the White House's effort to establish a bipartisan coalition ahead of next year's election, it could also signal a political effort to disaffected Christian conservatives.
I know. It sounds ridiculous. But it's true.
The Daily Caller reported the exchange. "He has reached out to us," Osteen told Huckabee. "And we have done some of the leadership things there at the White House with him and been able to pray with him just simple things like that. And he's been very kind and friendly to our ministry."
Huckabee lamented later in that segment that Obama had not joined a church and had only visited a local D.C. house of worship on a handful of occasions during his presidency. In 2010, Obama explained that he would not be joining a church because it could be "disruptive" to his presidency.
Christian conservatives, a powerful constituency within the Republican Party, are at a loss this year for a candidate to support. Erin McPike reports today for Real Clear Politics that evangelicals have no horse in the race this year and, as such, represent an underserved demographic that could be a wildcard kingmaker in this year's race. Even Christian powerbroker and Iowa native Bob Vander Plaats has not yet endorsed in this cycle and, despite rumors that he intended to do so, is keeping his influential endorsement in his pocket.
Could President Obama make a successful play for Christian conservatives next year? Not bloody likely. However, if he (along with stalwart evangelical conservatives) can sow the seeds of discontent with the GOP field, he could just keep enough of them home next November to squeeze out a majority in a close race.
The YBPDLN* Ping List ventures out from the Religion Forum for an appearance in the main section of Free Republic.
The YBPDLNPL is generally published infrequently, but based on the exploits of the megachurch pastors posts can spike for a period of time. If you would like on or off of this list please FReepmail me.

*YBPDLN=Your Best Purpose Driven Life Now
He's chasing the wrong church.
Going to give back our guns and bibles.
OMG! LOL Pathetic A-hole
‘Strong delusion’, and all that...
Joel Osteen in neither Conservative OR Christian.
And that’ll get played over and over.
Dude said some pretty idiotic things and we’ll remind him every chance there is.
True.
But many have not figured that out.
When that child-murdering sonuvabitch repents, gets down on his knees and begs forgiveness for being a life long enthusiastic supporter of killing unborn children, and announces that he will do everything possible to stop the slaughter of innocents, that might be a possible turning point.
But considering that the Devil is the father of liars, 0bama has already been assured of his place in that lower hierarchy.
0bama better make a ‘play’ for saving his own wretched soul first. I will go on the record right now and say that at this point, 0bama is bound straight for Hell. Bet the rent.
Obama uses religion like a “cloak of invisibility”.
Don't forget that this asshat also believes it ok to murder newly born children if their "mother" doesn't want them, or if it's a "botched abortion." This filthy POS doesn't care about human life and the millons of unborn and newly born Americans that are killed each year.
Until Joel "prosperity preacher" Olsteen very loudly and publicly condemns abortion, I have no use for him. And until he does, then he fits right in with our devout muslim filthy illegal alien.
Well that can be easily remedied. Just remind them that when obama was in the state senate, he voted to leave babies who survived an abortion on the cutting room floor to die a gruesome death. This is who obama is and Catholics and evangelicals need to very publicly be reminded. Bo passes for zero this time around.
Well that can be easily remedied. Just remind them that when obama was in the state senate, he voted to leave babies who survived an abortion on the cutting room floor to die a gruesome death. This is who obama is and Catholics and evangelicals need to very publicly be reminded. No passes for zero this time around.
Please add me to the ping list, please sir!
Hoss
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.