Posted on 01/07/2016 4:24:54 PM PST by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
Republican presidential contenders are proudly announcing their faith, quoting Scripture on the stump and cozying up to religious leaders Wednesday, as the battle heated up to win over evangelical voters who often are key to victory.
But front-runner Donald Trump continues to attract strong support among evangelical voters, who in most states make up half or more of the GOP primary electorate, without overtly trumpeting religious themes.
He has mentioned that he is a Protestant and raised questions about the evangelical standing of his closest rival, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. However, his success with the religious right has come more from bucking political correctness and railing against America's decline, say experts.
Indeed, Mr. Trump had the highest level of support among white evangelical voters, 33 percent, in a recent NBC News/Survey Monkey poll of Republican voters nationwide.
Mr. Cruz, who has aggressively courted religious voters, had the second-highest level of support among white evangelical voters, 21 percent, followed by retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 12 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida at 10 percent.
The poll, which was conducted Dec. 28 through Jan. 3, found that, overall, Mr. Trump still enjoyed a commanding lead nationally at 35 percent. Mr. Cruz finished a distant second at 18 percent, followed by Mr. Rubio at 13 percent.
"It is very clear that he is acceptable to a lot of evangelicals," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a Christian-based political advocacy group.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I listen to Doc Thompson on the Blaze (He is one of better radio shows on the blaze). He said his parents are supporting Trump and they are Religious not because Trump is religious but because they just want to stick it to establishment!
There is a LOT of that going around.
I believe I see the reason why. Trump seems to offer an answer — no, he appears to BE an answer — to the “Truth has fallen in the streets” problem.
People will put up with a lot of rough edges to get truth in the middle of a fetid sewer of lies. Once we have it, we don’t have to stay with the rough edges, but first things first.
Trump isn’t ultimately where we want to be (unless he, too changes to the better as he goes). But Trump represents some distinct points of improvement over where we are now.
At a certain point, is merely becomes a campaign claim, and it's using a claim of being a good Christian for political gain. That is not the tactic of a Christian or Christians.
I care if Trump is a Christian or not. Will I be satisfied if he doesn’t bring it up every hour on the hour? Yes.
People impress me more with their good works.
If they try to overplay their Christianity as a selling point, I don’t necessarily see it as the Christian thing to do.
“Look at me, look at me, I’m a Christian. Don’t forget on election day now. I’m a Christian!!!” “Oh yes, he’s such a fine Christian. Vote for him!”
Doesn’t do it for me.
At a certain point, is merely becomes a campaign claim, and it’s using a claim of being a good Christian for political gain. That is not the tactic of a Christian or Christians.
They’re wanting to stick it to a pack of lies, lies, lies.
And that Donald does pretty well. Ain’t perfect, he takes some wild shots, we see some groaners. But most of his pattern is at least on the target.
Does it appear that a candidate will take incredibly seriously the Muslim onslaught? Will a candidate stop the destruction of our laws by building a wall? Who seems to most support Christians in the Middle East, not just talk about it?
I think there is great confidence that Trump's RESULTS will be more favorable to religious and faithful Americans than Cruz's, regardless of the individual's perceived "Christianity."
“first things first.”
AGREE!
Trump is not and will never be perfect, no candidate is. God is using Trump and this election will change his life forever...prayerfully, more towards serving Christ Jesus!
Donald is more of a truth guy than so many others that have been around.
Truth is a good sign of the hand of God beginning to work, especially in a milieu of lies, lies, lies all over the place. We’re often so used to other expressions of piety that we might forget even Jesus said He was the Truth, as well as the Way and the Life.
Donald is a fascinating case, he may be a weak believer, he may be a future believer. God often lines His ducks up well before He “shoots” them.
But when truth tellers are so hard to come by, Donald is worth a good hard look in spite of all his not-quite-bullseye groaners. He has some idea of where the target is.
Could you imagine a President Trump giving a weekly address to the American people?
POTUS Trump: "Here is another lie the America people have been told ..."
Churches in a good solid sincere grasp of Christ can be relevant pretty blessed (sic) easily.
They take the issue and they apply Christ to it and voila. Not even rocket science, and yet it is something that needs the faithfulness to carry out.
But there is such a thing as being gratuitous just because an issue is cool. That’s the wrong thing to do.
I’m not religious, I’m a Christian.
http://www.elections.state.il.us/ElectionInformation/LatestFiled.aspx?id=50
IL has a beauty contest and then election of 3 delegates and 3 alternates per congressional district. The name of the presidential candidate follows the name of the delegate in parenthesis.
So how many Evangelicals will recognize the Evangelical names and vote for those delegates? How far ahead of Bush will the well-known Bush delegates run? How can the totally unknown Trump delegates possibly win?
Both the establishment and anti-establishment sides are split between many candidates. Which side will be able to consolidate and which side will remain splintered?
I agree with your take on it.
I tried to express this myself.
Trump hasn’t minced words. He has always said what he thought/thinks.
He has been wrong, and he has been right. At least he wasn’t telling me what a great Conservative he was while not living up to that.
He’s telling the truth now, no matter what it costs.
I like that. I also like what he is saying. He has grown to be a lot farther to the right than he used to be. Some folks still haven’t notices.
LOL
We ask folks to pick up our cause, and when someone does, we trash them for changing in our direction.
If Trump doesn’t get our backing, what national figure will ever adopt our positions again?
IF Trump wins and successfully does half of what he is proposing, he’s a great President.
Well said.
Also well said!
That’s what I think too!
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