Palin Reassures Evangelicals
Senator John McCain has one major problem during the primary season; support for him was low among Evangelical and other social conservative voters.
Many social conservatives feared McCain would compromize on issues that matter most to them. This even though he has been firmly pro-life throughout his career.
His decision to ask Sarah Palin to become his running mate, however, has finally given Evangelical voters the reassurance and confidence they need to support him passionately and to show up at the polls in November.
Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religion Liberties Commission, for instance, said Alaska Governor Palin is “straight out of veep central casting.” Land added he urged the McCain camp to consider the political unknown.
Gary Bauer, one of McCain’s most enthusiastic evangelical supporters, called it a “grand slam home run” that is “guaranteed to energize values voters.”
Palin has been religious all her life. When she was a teenager she and her family were all active in the local church, the Wasilla Assembly of God Church. She was baptized here during those years as well.
Today she sometimes worships at ‘the Juneau Christian Center, which is also part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God.’ Her home church, however, is ‘The Church on the Rock, an independent congregation.’
Palin is well known in Evangelical circles for her strong opposition to gay marriage and abortion, and her desire ‘to see creationism discussed alongside evolution in schools.’
During a debate in 2006 she said she favored teaching creationism alongside evolution in schools. After criticism erupted she nuanced her words by explaining that she does not ‘think creationism needed to be part of the curriculum and that she would not push the state Board of Education to add such alternatives to the state’s required curriculum.’
When she was pregnant of her youngest child she found out he was suffering from Down Syndrome. Despite this diagnosis she decided to give birth and to welcome her son into the family. Research shows that this decision is extraordinary; 9 in 10 ‘pregnant women who are given a Down syndrome diagnosis have chosen to have an abortion.
“That will resonate in a big way,” said Quin Monson, a Brigham Young University professor who studies religion and politics.’
It is of great importance for McCain to energize the base. Many of those who thought former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney would be a sound choice said so because they believed he would have the ability to do just that. Palin, however, may be a much better choice, at least in that regard.
Having said that, appealing to the base may also cost McCain dearly. He is known as someone who is a pragmatist first and foremost, an ideological conservative second. Palin, however, may damage this image somewhat. Especially if Democrats hammer on her staunch opposition to before mentioned issues.
Whether that will make a difference or not remains to be seen. For now, all that can be said is that McCain has succeeded in forcing everyone to talk about him, not Obama.
Here’s a great clip of Palin on the sanctity of life….
Surely it is clear to everyone that the reason the religious right is rallying behind the Palin nomination is NOT because they think she is such a great choice (a small town mayor and short term governor of a hardly-populated state running for VP of the most powerful country on earth - good grief!). It is because John McCain has now told clearly demonstrated that he will roll over for them and meet their wishes. THAT is the signal they have been waiting for… If you care at all for the future of this great country, beware of allowing these mean and cynical agendas to succeed.
first amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,…. Our founding father’s were Deist, not Christian. Evangelical’s seek to push their laws onto others. Creationism taught in schools….no thank. Please let’s move forward not back into dark ages.