Posted on 12/05/2022 12:28:56 PM PST by thegagline
Call it a crisis of faith. Despite appointing the conservative judges who ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade — and fervently courting the religious right during his presidency — prominent evangelicals are beginning to shy away from supporting former President Donald Trump’s third bid for office.
A major factor is the same issue driving leaders in other parts of the conservative coalition away from his campaign: They’re not sure he can win.
“Evangelicals, conservatives and freedom-loving Americans … the common question is: Who can win in 2024?” Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of the Family Leader, told Semafor. “And I believe that’s Trump’s highest hurdle.”
Vander Plaats, who co-chaired Ted Cruz’s campaign in 2016, said he’d had many conversations with conservatives who “really like the former president” but want to move forward with “a vision for the future versus a complaint or critique about the past.”
Some Evangelical leaders are also tiring of the former president’s obsession with trying to somehow overturn the previous election and his ever-growing list of personal scandals and inflammatory statements.
Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council who prayed with Trump in office and defended him at critical moments, suggested Trump remains too focused on the 2020 election and that evangelicals “don’t want a lot of drama” this time around. He said the former president needed to earn their vote by speaking about issues that resonated with them instead — he pointed to Trump’s frequent references to a “war on Christmas” in 2016 as an example.
Vander Plaats and Perkins aren’t the only ones with doubts about Trump 2024. American Renewal Project leader David Lane trashed the former president just last week in his bi-weekly letter to evangelical Christian pastors, according to Religion News.
Christian Zionist activist Mike Evans, who helped pull together the evangelical vote for Trump in 2016, wrote in an essay shared with The Washington Post that even though the president kept his word on issues like judges, evangelicals must stop treating him “like he was an idol” and move on.
“Donald Trump can’t save America,” Evans wrote. “He can’t even save himself. He used us to win the White House.” ***
I thought this was from the Bee! If anyone knows the Bible, it's the folks at the Bee.
Matthew 27
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
God Bless America
The House win was table stakes. It was written into the dynamics as a baseline assumption given mid-term history. On top of it, the census gave the GOP additional opportunities to draw more favorable districts. Despite all this, we barely won a slim majority vs the massive red wave that everyone (including people here) were hoping and predicting. There is such a thing as performance vs expectations.
I did today unfortunately and this link was up there. Made me want to throw up. Shouldn't have named the site here and driven whatever little traffic I ended up driving. My apologies.
A win is still a win so your original comment was incorrect.
Much of the nation is going down the tubes along with its voters who voted for Plugs Biden and loser Democrats. America has lost its way and fell out of love with Freedom..But this was predicted.
Horse feathers!
Your post is dead on. But remember this. A lot of Freepers are offended by Trumps STYLE. They want style over substance. I think this for 2 reasons. They don’t need a good economy because they are either rich or retired or both.
WTH is this garbage?
Trump is losing Top Evangelicals, but holding steady with Bottom Evangelicals.
Vander Plaats who chaired Ted Cruz’s 2016 campain…. Tells me he was never trumper already
This “can’t win” argument means nothing if elections are stolen. It doesn’t matter who you run. THE ELECTIONS WERE STOLEN IN 2020 AND 2022. When is our collective common sense going to override the lies from the media?
“People want winners.”
Guess you voted for biden then.
Self righteous a$$holes, remember Trump got Roe v Wade overturned and you turn you back on him? God may turn his back on you.
This is true. Who is defining the word? Joel Osteen?
“...A lot of Freepers are offended by Trumps STYLE...”
I think Trump talks without using “politispeak” is absolutely refreshing...He talks like most everyday Americans instead of syrupy, schmoozing political talk...
Excellent post.
Top Evangelicals? Never heard of the names mentioned in the article, nor their organizations. This article sounds like bad fiction (no offense to the poster).
If he’s the nominee, they’ll vote for him. Or Biden. Their choice.
“we still won”
Its getting harder and harder. We better get this under control.
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