WASHINGTON – Christian conservatives have thus far failed to rally behind a single candidate, but a prominent conservative leader predicts at least one candidate will emerge from the upcoming Values Voter Summit with major support from social conservatives.
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(Photo: AP Images / Kiichiro Sato)Republican presidential hopefuls Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., Sen. Sam Brownback R-Kan., and Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo. line up on the stage before the GOP Presidential candidates debate at Ford Community and Performing Arts Center Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007, in Dearborn, Mich.
Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council, recently said he was “very optimistic” with the field of candidates that will attend this week’s Washington Briefing 2007: Values Voter Summit. He believes there will be one to two contenders that will be revealed as the favorite among social conservatives during the three-day gathering.
But even if none of the candidates appeal to values voters, it is not a good idea to sit out an election, Perkins said.
“As citizens of this country we have the ability and the right to participate and I believe as Christian citizens we have an obligation to be involved in our community and our country,” the FRC president expressed during a news conference Thursday.
Over 2,000 social conservatives are expected to attend the Oct. 19-21 values voter summit in Washington, where eight Republican presidential hopefuls will address the largest gathering of pro-family activists.
The summit’s Republican guests include contenders Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, and others. All Democratic candidates except for New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson have declined the invitation to speak.
Those at the values voter summit will look for a candidate who shares similar values, which for most include pro-life, pro-marriage, and pro-family principles.
Although Giuliani is pro-choice, the former New York mayor will also address the crowd of anti-abortion activists. Perkins said Giuliani’s presence as the only pro-choice Republican candidate will bring a kind of civility to the event at which he will be cordially treated and given the same amount of times as others to speak.
Furthermore, Giuliani will benefit from attending the socially conservative event because it will be harder for attendees to “demonize” him after they spend time with him, according to Perkins, who said he used the same tactic while running for a position in the U.S. Senate.
Also addressed during the news conference last Thursday was the controversy over a possible third party candidate.
During a meeting in Salt Lake City late last month, about 50 pro-family leaders had reportedly decided they would consider backing a third-party candidate if the Republican Party chose a pro-choice nominee, such as Giuliani.
Perkins contends that the media “misconstrued a little bit” the intention of social conservatives to “create a third party.” What the coalition intended to proclaim was not a decision to support a third party candidate but to proclaim their refusal to compromise certain core principles.
“There is no desire to create a third party,” Perkins explained. “There is no action underway to create a third party. There is simply a statement that ‘Yes, if the [Republican] party breaks faith with social conservatives then there will be a number of social conservatives that will break rank with the party.’” Continue >>
Comments
I've heard many people say that once they hear Mike Huckabee, they support him. The results of the on-site straw poll demonstrate this. Mike Huckabee got 51% of the vote; and his closest competitor only got 10%. GO MIKE! If you want to see the video of Mike Huckabee at the Values Summit, go to his website: www.mikehuckabee.com
This forum for the GOP does not erase the records of each candidate. Giuliani is a democrat in GOP clothing, Romney is a flip-flopper that stood for liberal causes as Mass Gov, and McCain is the "maverick" that compromises with the Left on every stance. Each of these candidates now wants you to believe they stand for Conservative values. Thompson says he will not "court" the "religious right" (to me the values voters) and has given support to abortionist firm in the past. Where is the GOP as a party moving toward? Are we for smaller govt, less taxes, conservative social issues? If so, we need to have folks like Mike Huckabee and Duncan Hunter as the front runners. Hope the primaries shake out someone other than Giuliani or it sets a bad precedence from here on in.
I can't believe what I'm hearing - MONEY plays a roll in compromising our values? Yes, sometimes we have to choose the lesser of two evils - BUT NOT THIS TIME. Don't let the secular establishment tell us what to think of Ron Paul. Let's check it out for ourselves! He is staunchly pro-life. He is the ONLY candidate who is running on a truly conservative, non-interventionist foreign policy. That means a strong national defense, free-trade, free-travel, no nation-building, and no policing of the world. America needs to re-acknowledge God. And America also needs to stop playing God around the world. We need to return our attention to the Constitution to preserve our sovereignty, our security, our economy, and our constitution. As for money, the latest disclosures show the following cash available for primaries (after debts are paid):
Giuliani - 11,428,979
Thompson - 6,443,312
Ron Paul - 5,443,667
ronpaul2008.com
So far this conference has been exceptional. They have all gone into why Roe Vs. Wade should be overturned as unconstitutional, and should be renamed from abortion, to infanticide. They have gone over the issue of illegal immigration and that these mayors and governors who willingly let them stay in their states and cities should be tried and convicted.
Duncan Hunter actually came off the strongest out of all of the candidates, I liked Ron Paul too but his stance on the war is still abysmal and will cost him his election.
Conservative Christian Values Voter:
Are you looking for the right candidate to support?
Please consider this essay:
"Who Was That Masked Man?"
http://truthrealm.com/?q=node/7
I am listening to the summit as I write this and Fred Thompson came off the strongest so far. Currently, Fred has my vote...
Which candidates are financially ready for the primaries? The answer might surprise you:
Giuliani - 11,428,979
Thompson - 6,443,312
Ron Paul - 5,443,667
Check out Ron Paul Campaign's Press Conference yesterday for more:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/fundraising
Christians ought to be ashamed of themselves for not doing their homework on Ron Paul! What are we going to do, let the WORLD tell us who's worth voting for? Ron Paul is a born-again Christian. He is staunchly pro-life. He is the ONLY candidate who is running on a truly conservative, non-interventionist foreign policy. That means, in case you've forgotten, a strong national defense, free-trade, free-travel, no nation-building, and no policing of the world. America needs acknowledge God. And America needs to stop playing God around the world. Help Ron Paul preserve our sovereignty, our security, our economy, and our constitution. For the sake of our children and for God's glory. ronpaul2008.com
"The summit’s Republican guests include contenders Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, and others."
'and others'?!
Ron Paul and his supporters who have put him into the top FOUR fundraisers is classified as an 'other?'
What has happened to our schools and our government over the past 50 years has also happened to the churches of America. No longer do America's churches represent the higher values of traditional conservatives and traditional Christians. The American church has turned into the quiver for the arrows of world government and a New World Order.
If we and our Republican candidate don't even rate a mention in this article by name - if we and our candidate are consigned to a disrespectful 'others,' then we will find other uses for our money and our organizational power.
The American church and its leaders have become irrelevant - no, distructive - to traditional conservative Americans and Christians - and Christ's mission.
David Sadler
www.david-sadler.org
NOTES:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071014/29695_Presidential_Favorite_Will_Emerge_from_/'Values/'_Summit,_Conservative_Predicts.htm
Presidential Favorite Will Emerge from 'Values' Summit, Conservative Predicts
By Michelle Vu
Christian Post Reporter
Sun, Oct. 14 2007 11:48 AM ET
Just read an article that says Sam Brownback is dropping out of the race on Friday. :-(
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071018/ap_po/brownback
While I am discouraged at that, it only encourages me further to throw my support behind Huckabee and I believe others will follow. With Brownback dropping, Huckabee will get a decent boost in his support.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/10/perspectives_its_huckabee_or_h.php
It really doesn't matter what the "conservatives" do or who they choose, because they and Tony Perkins are absolutely wrong. PERIOD. Without a Ron Paul candidacy, the Democrats will win the White House. That's the end of the story!!!!
I totally would vote for Huckabee! But, as DeMoss noted, money plays a large role, unfortunately.
Through the first three quarterly reporting periods, Republican
candidates reported total revenues as follows:
Mitt Romney: $62.4 million
Rudy Giuliani: $46.1
John McCain: $30.5
Fred Thompson: $12.8
Ron Paul: $8.0
Sam Brownback: $3.3 (through 2 quarters; 3rd quarter number had not been reported yet)
Mike Huckabee: $2.3
Still, I would NOT vote for Romney. A liberal president would be better than a Mormon one.
It is interesting that there are so many mentions of Huckabee here, I have found more and more people all over the net are mentioning Huckabee, I'm wondering if he is going to go from underdog to potential president overnight.
I personally have a few concerns with huckabee on illegal immigration and border control, also have been a Sam Brownback supporter for quite some time now. However, Huckabee would be a preferred candidate to much of what is out there right now, and would put my support behind him if he continues to gain momentum.
Vote for RON PAUL!!! Christians, read his stance on the issues! How can you not support him? He is the most pro-life, supports home-schooling, sound monetary policy...
Join the revolution this country needs... www.ronpaul2008.com