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."

[k2blader]

This is not a "new" problem. Christians always tend to stay home and it's hurt other candidates before Bush. Some just don't feel a need to participate in "this world." Leaders such as Dobson and Colson are trying to reverse that trend.

Yes, since my 1st (somewhat regrettable) vote for Dole, I've come to learn it is not a new problem at all, which is rather disheartening.

Dobson & Colson are two trustworthy names in my book. Also, have you ever read any articles by Marvin Olasky? He is another strong Christian Conservative voice out there.

[Some Christians] fail to recognize that God invented government.

Agreed. I'm working to get some people in my Bible study to begin to understand this. :)

[Jewels1091]

You forget....it is their White House too. Try to remember why this colony fought the revolutionary war...part of it was FREEDOM OF RELIGION!!! That means all, not some, not only Christians, it means ALL! Their votes and taxes count just as much as YOURS.

[Michael2001]

"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"

I voted for Bush and I support him now, but there is a feeling that he takes our votes for granted. Most of the people in my Church voted for him as the lesser of two evils. We certainly can't vote for the Democrats, so we go for the Republicans. But if they keep taking us for granted more and more Christians are going to stop choosing the Repubs as the lesser of two evils; rather they will stop voting altogether.

[k2blader]

That is an extremely complex question. As a Christian, I see it all the time - Christians do not quite make the connection between their personal faith in Jesus Christ and their duties in the world God created.

As a fellow Christian, I concur. With the rest of your post as well. :)

'Twould be a boon to have a Pastor who is of like mind. I think it would be most beneficial if we who understand this help to educate those in our own churches.

[Humidston]

All I can say is I personally signed up a couple hundred fundamentalist Christian voters in my own church and they were all totally behind Bush. In fact, I had a mini-stampede both Sundays that I worked my booth (with complete cooperation from our pastor).

[Michael2001]

"Guess you would have been more happier with Gore in the White House, eh dumbass?"

Like I said in the above post; some people would rather not vote at all than vote for the lesser of two evils. As long as you keep voting for the Repubs even though they compromise on your values, they will continue to compromise your values. Maybe all those conservative Christians staying at home will send a message to the Republicans who take our votes for granted, and don't act on the issues that are important to us.

[Michael2001]

"But there was no question that, too their own, they were publicly pro-Bush early - even while Bauer was running."

Almost everyone I spoke to would have preferred for Bauer to win. But when it came down to voting I was one of the few who voted for him because "he doesn't stand a chance". Well with that attitude of course he doesn't stand a chance. Even had he lost, had he gained say 20% of the vote in the primaries, it would have forced Bush to take a look at the issues those 20% cared about.

[Michael2001]

Do you have a function that can search the inside of every thread and finds where "evangelical" is mentioned and automatically says something negative? If not you should, it would save you a lot of time.

[Michael2001]

"There's that same old assumption that a given party or candidate was owed those votes. As long as any party or candidate assumes that they own votes, there will never be significant changes. They will not be accountable to the voters and then will blame the voters for not voting even when the voters are displeased with the party of candidate."

Bump

[Exigence]

Also, have you ever read any articles by Marvin Olasky?

Name sounds familiar. I'll have to search out some of his work.

[Jewels1091]

But not their prayers. Which is why Christians should not be lured into giving up their Shield and their Strength and their Great Lord, the Almighty.

Since when is the White House a House of prayer. The people who live there are free to pray and believe what they want. You are free to vote or not to vote for whomever you want. But every single citizen of this nation has just as much right to that White House as any Christian! And the President who lives there! Why on earth would a leader say to a non-Christian, sorry, I can not lead you, I am not your President, you don't believe exactly like I do...I am a Christian, and I bet some of my beliefs are not the same as yours, does that mean I am not GOOD ENOUGH to go to the White House? Does that mean you are right and I am wrong? And if you say your Bible tells you that you are the right one, I say the same thing. You will not find Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist in the Bible....everything is MAN made.

[Chemnitz]

I think you are correct. There was an enormous shock fed by a suddenly puritanical press about the drunk driving charge. It was foolish of the Bush campaign to keep it under wraps. Offered early as a confession, it would have helped Bush. Leaked by opponents at the last minute, the negative impact of the story peaked at poll-time.

I think the reaction was hypocritical and silly. It was the equivalent of bed-wetting charges. W grew up and sobered up. However, Gore was treated as if he were a sober philosopher after 8 years of defending and participating in the most corrupt administration in history. Gore's womanizing and pot addiction never made the headlines.

I agree with those who say that appointing more sodomites will not help Bush. I would also like to see some pro-life initiatives.

[Jewels1091]

I must say that this site really woke me up to the people I thought were Bush supporters in here. Either the democrats pluged in tonight or most of the people here are not what I thought they were. The thought that we'll teach the republicans a lesson brought us clinton for 8 years because of perot. NONE of the conservative issues made it through and alot of honor and country was thrown out the window. So, what lesson was learned???? And just how many years is it going to take to find how how hard that lesson is...chinagate anyone? The logic of staying home because someone doesn't agree with you 100% is stupid. Using that logic how many of you would be married?????? You vote for the person that is closest to you for president or senator and pray for the best. So...those of you who think Bush isn't good enough or conservative enough aren't going to vote for him next time, you'll just sit home and watch hillery go into office with billyboy again...that is just soooo stupid! And if you do that, then you deserve hillery!

[TightSqueeze]

that as a conservative in a war, my enemy is the one who is killing our soldiers, and our citizens. Like them, you make an enemy of those who disagree. Osama has taught you well.

Posts like this just show that you are a raving lunatic, apart from that that it seems that you suffer from schizophrenic paranoia, no doubt that some of the fear you hold is valid what with the way you treat people and all.
I have no truck with you or any other mentally ill person, I do hope you get the help you so desperately need before something dreadful happens.
This is good-by Louise, until you get help and begin to treat others around you with the same dignity you expect in return, we will have no further communications, no matter how you rant, rave and slander.

[inspector]

Shouldn't you be wrapping christmas presents instead of posting here?

[Varda]

I don't expect to ever see abortion as a main campaign issue. Just because it would not impact that many votes.

I guess all politics is local but in Pennsylvania the abortion issue is major. Bush lost bigtime (-200,000 votes) here running as a mushy moderate and Sen.Rick Santorum easily won re-election (+300,000 votes) on the same ballot running as a strong pro-lifer.