Karl Rove: Stayaway Christians Almost Cost Bush Election

Charisma News ^ | 12/13/01

[11th Earl of Mar]

STAYAWAY CHRISTIANS ALMOST COST ELECTION

Many Christians believe that prayer played a major role in sending George W. Bush to the White House, but stayaway believers came close to losing him the election, according to his chief political adviser, Karl Rove.

Rove said that one reason the 2000 election was so tight was that as many as 4 million Christian conservatives did not go to the polls, reported "The Chicago Tribune." Although the Bush campaign had expected 19 million evangelical voters to vote for their man, election returns revealed only 15 million turned out to cast ballots.

Speaking yesterday at an American Enterprise Institute seminar, Rove said the Bush campaign "probably failed to marshal support of the base as well as we should have," said the "Tribune." Rove added: "But we may also be returning to the point in America where fundamentalists and evangelicals remain true to their beliefs and think politics is corrupt and, therefore, they shouldn't participate."

Rove said that if the "process of withdrawal" went on it would be bad for the country as well as conservatives and Republicans. "It's something we have to spend a lot of time and energy on."

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

Well it is a bit unusual to pick up a conversation after 8 months, but I believe that the other part of my original post: 'I am afraid that a statement that this administration is not an improvement over that of X-42, makes your opinions not worth considering.' is still my position. Long time no see, have you been on vacation since December?

No, I'm just learning a few more features of the interactive software on this site - - never saw your first post. So, you think voting, in effect, "none of the above" makes one's opinion not worth considering? Whatever. Devotion to the messianic state and its legitimating sacrement, voting, does amazing things to its worshippers' minds. Why am I not surprised?

[YaYa123]

I agree...the very late information leaked out about the driving while drinking charge hurt. And I think candidate Bush would have gotten more black votes if not for that despicable NAACP ad about the truck dragging death of the black man in Texas, narrated by his daughter.

Conservatives, more than liberals, tend to be one issue non-voters, and we seem to take great pride in affecting an election by staying home. I hope the closeness of the 2000 presidential election, and 9-11 gives us pause the next time around.

[PJ-Comix]

I believe a big part of it was the undisclosed past drunk driving problem that came to light late in the campaign. People on our side tend to demand our candidates be pure as newfallen snow.

Too bad they were too clueless to figure out it was just a Demmycrat dirty trick to release that info at the last moment.

[Poohbah]

The "Christian Coalition" can, as a group, be Delphi'd with amazing ease by the liberals.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

So, you think voting, in effect, "none of the above" makes one's opinion not worth considering?

No, I think that the inability to see a difference between Bush and Clinton indicates a lack of information or lack of the ability to reason clearly or a lack of honesty. If some one is uninformed or irrational or dishonest, it makes no sense to consider their opinion.

[AlGone2001]

Hey Karl: there's a good way for the President to make Christians stay away in 2004 - keep appointing sodomites to high office.

They don't miss the opportunity to vote for a Kennedy, though. They'd miss a housecall from Publisher's Clearinghouse for that honor.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

So, you think voting, in effect, "none of the above" makes one's opinion not worth considering?

No, I think that the inability to see a difference between Bush and Clinton indicates a lack of information or lack of the ability to reason clearly or a lack of honesty. If some one is uninformed or irrational or dishonest, it makes no sense to consider their opinion.

Which election were you thinking of? I'm fairly sure Clinton was not a candidate for US President in the 2000 election. As for the candidates in 2000, there were many differences between them, some obvious, some not. One thing was the same for all of them, however. None of them merited my vote.

Our primaries this week were mostly favorable to the candidates I found suitable for a vote. The rest got chosen without my endorsement. For some reason this approach to participating in an election bugs you. I wonder why.

[Quix]

CERTAINLY WE NEED TO BE VOTING AND ENCOURAGING TO VOTE

AND PRAYING AND ENCOURAGING TO PRAY.

Believers reading this thread might also find the one posted at:

http://freerepublic.com/focus/religion/749443/posts

of interest--and certainly worth praying about.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Karl Rove: Stayaway Christians Almost Cost Bush Election

Charisma News ^ | 12/13/01

' catching up on some old reading material? lol

[born yesterday]

The commandment stands against 'swearing' not against coarse language. A great difference between the two exists. Coarse language does not mark spiritual impurity. Such righteousness remains like filthy rags. It completely misses the graciousness inherent in the Christian gospel.

[madison10]

I believe a big part of it was the undisclosed past drunk driving problem that came to light late in the campaign. People on our side tend to demand our candidates be pure as newfallen snow.

I don't think the drunken driving was much of a factor. What was in his past was in his past. Many Christians are a forgiving bunch for the most part..."There but for the grace of God go I," etc.

George W. Bush is/was not perfect (who is?) but to stay home and risk the Evil Empire taking over--THAT was un-Christian and foolish, not to mention careless with the privileges and rights fought for by our forefathers.

[SunkenCiv]

Ping!

[Antoninus]

Just how many of these 15 million evangelicals who came out for Bush will come out for Rudy?

Or do you folks think you don't need 'em?

[papertyger]

Apparently Karl Rove has learned nothing.