McCain Not Inciting Passions of Evangelicals

By Mike Glover|Associated Press Writer

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McCain has work to do among religious conservatives, says Don Kass, a Republican activist in nearby Plymouth County.

"He needs to work quite a bit harder than he has to get those folks," said Kass. "And I say those folks because I'm one of them. He needs to give them something that motivates them to get to the polls."

Religious conservatives are an important constituency in this swing state that voted for Bush by 12,000 votes in 2004 and a growing force in state Republican politics. Republicans recently ousted Steve Roberts, a 20-year member of the Republican National Committee, and replaced him with Steve Scheffler, head of the Iowa Christian Alliance.

The other RNC seat went to Kim Lehman, head of the Iowa Right to Life Committee, and both campaigned on forcing the party to showcase its hard-line opposition to abortion and gay rights. Scheffler says he backs McCain but concedes there isn't much enthusiasm among religious conservatives.

"It's not where it should be, but there's potential there," said Scheffler. "I've encouraged the McCain campaign, I've told them several times that I would be more than willing to put together a small group of people the campaign needs to have a dialogue with."

The balancing act McCain must walk nationally is firming up his conservative base while reaching out to independents. Scheffler warned the equation is different in Iowa and throughout the Midwest.

"To succeed in Iowa, it's because you have a big turnout of self-identified evangelicals," said Scheffler. "I don't see that scenario changing."

Randy Feenstra, another Plymouth County activist, doesn't see these voters turning to Democrat Barack Obama, but he worries that they "just won't vote."

Top Republicans acknowledge the problem and vow to ease concerns. On a recent visit to Iowa, Republican National Chairman Mike Duncan delivered a pep talk about McCain. "For a public figure, he's a very private man," Duncan said, but he promised the campaign would offer a clearer view of McCain as a person "as we move through this fall."

But some religious conservatives wonder if McCain even has the potential to stir their passion. "Some said he was the safe alternative," Zylstra, the college president and talk show host, said. "He just doesn't ignite the fire."

Sharing regular morning coffee here with Droog and Rens, Jake Kieft, who backed Bush with enthusiasm, shrugged his shoulders over the campaign.

"I'm hanging on the fence, I really am," Kieft said.

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BobTX »

Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:44 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

I'll say he is not exciting us. McCain cheated on his first wife and ran off with one of his mistresses, who might soon be our first lady! THAT is a greater threat to marriage than gay marriage in my opinion.
wbmoore »

Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:37 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"Paul exercized his rights as a citizen, but when did he ever preach about a particular candidate or write about one in a letter to the church?"

It was not an issue at the time, as he did not live in a democracy. However, the word of God gives us instructions on the qualities and issues God considers important. We must use His word to decide which candidates closest match those qualities and will address the issues God thinks are important.
blue1018 »

Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:32 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 1

neither candidate shows the strong values of a christian. mccain believes in this grotesque war, torture without trial, and a rich-take-all economy. obama believes in abortion, strong government control of nondiscrimination policies, and - though i agree 100% with him - rights for gays. what is the point in arguing about it anymore.

but let's face it. obama will win. and i am fine with that.
wrhalver »

Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:19 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"Sharing regular morning coffee here with Droog and Rens, Jake Kieft, who backed Bush with enthusiasm, shrugged his shoulders over the campaign"

I guess the coffee was spiked with a depressant.
believer »

Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:42 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

radias, you make some valid points, but to use Jesus and Paul is a real stretch considering the governments of their day were monarchies/dictatorships and not a democracy. But God's Word sets the agenda already with regards to who we should be voting for. I believe it's in Psalms or Proverbs where God's Word declares that God honors the nations whose leaders honor Him, but unfortunately with some candidates these days talk is cheap in this area.
Radias »

Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:32 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 0

Yes, Paul exercized his rights as a citizen, but when did he ever preach about a particular candidate or write about one in a letter to the church?

Who did Jesus vote for?

I just finished reading a book by Greg Boyd called 'The Myth Of A Christian Nation; How The Quest For Political Power Is Destroying The Church.' The Spirit of God within me has completely agreed with the book and its examples.

Republicans cannot win without the christian rights votes. John McCain is in serious trouble as the above article alludes too.

Jesus is still weeping over us.
SqueakyWheel »

Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:47 pm Agree: 5 Disagree: 0

Let this be a wake-up call for McCain! Your evangelical base is porous, more than you realize.

You must address the issues that we care about. Otherwise you might as well pack your sleeping bag into the Senate office.

Without base-building, your foundation is extremely shaky!

When will you ever learn? Hopefully, before the election season gets along too far.

Otherwise, you will have no one to blame except for yourself & your ill-advising advisors.
JHS »

Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:23 pm Agree: 6 Disagree: 5

"George Bush has a very compelling personal story, a very compelling religious experience and in their hearts they believed he was a man who loved the same Lord they did," said Zylstra"

The only thing Bush did was wear Jesus on his sleeve to geta bunch of right wing bible thumping greedy morons to vote for him, then he proceeded to drag the country through the mud!!!!!!!!!!
wbmoore »

Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:15 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 5

"Well christian leaders, you've tarnished and damaged God's church by mixing it with the filthy politics of this world - and what has it gotten you?"

The church is not tarnished because of mixing in politics. Even Paul exercized his rights as a citizen (Acts 22:23-30). We have the responsibility to be good citizens (Romans 13).

The church is tarnished because so many people within the church are not saved. The church is tarnished because many of those who are saved are not living holy lives. The church is tarnished because we have not done enough to evangelize and disciple.

We have to go further, not backwards.
Radias »

Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:56 pm Agree: 5 Disagree: 2

It's quite ironic that Karl Rove's chickens have come home to roost.

He presented GWBush as the ultimate "christian" presidential candidate ever and in doing so made it almost impossible for any other republican to meet our expectations.

I voted twice for Bush - in 2000 and 2004. And now I find myself in the position of having to really vote for the lesser of 2 evils again - I will most likely vote third party. And before anyone yells about the supreme court, just remember that McCain, even if elected, won't get church approved nominee's past the majority democrat senate.

Well christian leaders, you've tarnished and damaged God's church by mixing it with the filthy politics of this world - and what has it gotten you?

Surely Jesus is weeping over us.
DannyPoo »

Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:50 pm Agree: 5 Disagree: 1

Article quote: "But some religious conservatives wonder if McCain even has the potential to stir their passion. "Some said he was the safe alternative," Zylstra, the college president and talk show host, said. "He just doesn't ignite the fire." "

Being from one of the cities mentioned in this article I want to say, that it's true many Evangelicals are just not excited this year. But it's not McCains lack of talking about faith that's the problem, its the fact that McCain doesnt seem to talk or strongly support the values that we want to see exemplified. Many evangelicals aren't as concerned about whether McCain is "evangelical enough" as we are actually concerned about whether he actually supports our issues.

Many and possibly including myself will vote for McCain because we view him as a better alternative to Obama. But this is not what turns out the vote, McCain will make or break his campaign on whom he chooses for VP.

In the end though, I even question whether to vote for either candidate at all. I do not want to give the impression to the GOP Party that they can count on our (the conservative evangelical) vote and move "left" as a party just knowing that as long as the candidate is not as liberal as the democrats, that our vote is counted on. Many others i'm sure are concerned and contemplating doing the same thing.

McCain, your VP is essentially a make-it or break-it deal for many of us, so choose very wisely. Choose someone who has a long, tried and true record as a social conservative

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