A key evangelical leader with influence on American politics emphasized this past week the importance of Republican John McCain’s vice presidential pick on the decision of values voters this fall.
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(Photo: AP Images / Gerald Herbert, file)This Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008 file photo shows Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., center, flanked by House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, left, and Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., during a news conference at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington. U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia has been asked for 'personal documents' by John McCain's campaign, a Republican knowledgeable with the discussions said Saturday. Cantor, 45, the chief deputy minority whip in the House, has been mentioned among several Republicans as a possible running mate for McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.
Presumptive presidential candidate McCain’s running mate selection is the “most important” decision of the campaign, said Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission to CBS News.
If McCain picks a pro-choice running mate, Land said, it will only confirm the mistrust of evangelicals toward the candidate that some have criticized as being too liberal.
“[H]e has no room for error, no margin for doubt,” noted the head of the public policy arm of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.
Southern Baptists and many evangelicals, Land said, are looking at the VP’s position on the sanctity of human life, the traditional family, and religious freedom the most.
Some vice presidential candidates that religious conservatives would support include Gov. Palin of Alaska, who said she never personally considered an abortion even though her child had Downs Syndrome, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who during his run this election was highly popular among evangelicals.
Regarding Mitt Romney, Land acknowledged that some evangelicals would have a problem with his Mormon faith. But as for himself, Land said although he does not consider Mormonism a Christian faith, he does not believe that disqualifies someone from being president or vice president.
Another name Land offered was Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who is the fourth highest person in the House leadership. Cantor is a practicing Jew who has a 100 percent pro-life voting record.
According to a poll conducted by the SBC’s research arm in June, 80 percent of Southern Baptist pastors said they plan to vote for McCain. Only one percent said they plan to vote for Obama, and the rest were undecided.
Land had unfavorable things to say about Obama, who he sees as extreme in his support for abortion.
In particular, the evangelical leader found it troubling that the Illinois senator has opposed a legislation that would require a doctor who performs an abortion on a late term fetus to save the baby’s life if it is born alive.
“And Senator Obama opposed that bill,” Land said. “I don’t know how you can get more pro-abortion than that. And I can’t imagine even John Kerry doing that. And, of course, in addition to which, he voted against the partial-birth abortion ban.”
Land emphasized that he does not make political endorsement and would not say who he would support. However, he said he would vote for candidates that reflect his values and leave people to “connect their own dots.”
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Why do we worry about unimportant matters? The most important matter is God's word. God will discipline those who He loves. God changes not man.
If John McCain picks a pro choice VP, it's all over. Obama will win. I know too many christians who will not be able to bring themselves to vote for any part of a republican ticket that is pro choice.
Anyways, the more I listen to John McCain, there is a 'check' in my spirit. He says things that us evangelicals want to hear but it's all lip service to get elected. Kind of like GWBush in 2004 who I did vote for.
Governor Mike Huckabee is the BEST candidate among the Vice-President picks in the dangerous times that we live in. What also makes Mike Huckabee the most logical candidate is that he not only attracts Republicans but also Democrats without compromising his core principles. Both political party support is needed to win this election in 2008 and he has it. He is the Republican's secret weapon in the 2008 election. Governor Mike Huckabee's proven leadership is what can bring America together as a team. He is the perfect compliment to McCain.
The Liberal media fears him so much that they never seem to mention him as a possible vice-presidential pick. All the manufactured public peer pressure mustered overtly and covertly against Governor Mike Huckabee cannot withstand the winning strength and asset that he brings to the McCain ticket. Just allow Governor Mike Huckabee to speak and he draws both Democrats and Republican favor without a major cost to the campaign. Former Governor Mike Huckabee joins John McCain as the only candidates who ran for president that drew and connected with the younger voters of America.
http://blogsforjohnmccain.com/governor-mike-huckabee-helps-gop-win-2008-john-mccains-vice-president
I wonder if even Huckabee could make me stomach voting for someone who slept around on his first wife, got set to marry his rich mistress before he even divorced his last wife, and then lied in his book about the circumstances (chronology, not basic facts).
I have been in pastoral ministry for 32 years, and I have know very few pastors that made over $50Gs. Here at Smoldering Wick Ministries we help pastors from many denominations, and I have worked with none who make that kind of money. The majority of churches in America are 100 people or less, so the majority of pastors never come close to $80Gs a year.
VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE HUCKABEE HELPS MCCAIN WIN IN 2008
Most American's DO NOT favor abortion. Nor do they wish to align themselves with factions dedicated in butchering innocent babies inside and outside the womb. And NO, that baby is NOT the women's body; it is a separate body with a separate heartbeat and separate brain activity. And YES, the unborn baby FEELS PHYSICAL PAIN as it is being ripped out of what should be the safest place on earth - mother's womb!
The Planned Parenthood abortionists lie to young women all the time just to get their money, while those ex-mothers and ex-fathers suffer emotional distress as they realize everyday that they have just allowed a child killer to convince them, not only to take their money, but also to kill their precious little baby. Abortion STOPS A BEATING HEART and the future of a civilization.
People weep and wail over the loss of a High School football player destined for a great professional career who had been gunned down by a random shooter, but yet we will never know the great deficit future generations will suffer for the loss of over 50 million innocent babies in this country alone. Shame on America for tolerating this horror ... and shame on its citizens for tolerating their personal complacency. Pro-choice is a lie - Babies do not choose to die!
Away with this archaic freakish, barbaric practice! It will soon be done away with, along with these fake pro-abortion polling numbers! As long as the president chooses judicial nominees his Vice-president better be pro-Life if he is ever going to win an election.
"A nation that cannot protect its most innocent and helpless citizens and the sanctity of human life is a weak nation that will utterly collapse economically, socially, relationally and entirely." - HMH
ATHEISM is a CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. Get out while you still can.
http://www.evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
Only Huckabee for VP
I think that the idea of a monolithic conservative-evangelical base that will control the outcome of this election is false. So, to assume, on Land's part, that Christians, even Evangelicals, will vote for McCain based on Huckabee, etc. is laughable. The Barna Group might disagree with this analysis but that is because their definition of Evangelicalism neglects to see the true history of Evangelicalism in America and often confuses it with Fundamentalism of the 20th Century.
It is funny, really. Some don't want McCain to pick Romney, but now Ridge is being introduced as a possible VP. Ridge is not pro-choice, but Romney protected families and babies in Massachusetts. I don't get it!
It's about time some of those leaders realize what the pew setters found out months ago by doing our own research. Mike Huckabee got into politics so he'd be more able to do something to promote the values causes important to us. Huckabee has 10 1/2 years of chief executive experience getting things done as fiscally responsibly as possible with a huge Democrat majority. McCain would be smart to choose the VP that can ignite the Evangelical base of the Republican Party. Mike Huckabee is the VP that can do that. McCain/Huckabee '08 sounds great.
If McCain is wise he'll pick Huckabee. He's the only one one his VP list I'd trust enough too vote for
giantrobot, that will not slow Obama's compaign at all. Although McCain is seen as a liberal republican, Huckabee is seen as a tooth and nail, go down fighting, in your face conservative republican on all issues. If anything, democrats will win over anyone teetering on the fence who wanted a more liberal government after Bush, but wasn't necessarily in favor of Obama. Huckabee is about as far away from liberal as you can get. McCain will polarize himself completely if he chooses that path.
WHO CARES WHAT RICHARD LAND THINKS. HE IS A REPUBLICAN HACK WITH TAX EXEMPT STATUS.
giantrobot
What is your source? What transcipt?
<I have read hundreds of time, Jesus Christ is the center of everything they teach and believe. He's the head of their Church. How can you not accept this?>
Apparently, some may have a very superficial understanding of the theological underpinnings of the Mormon Church. That's why it is so easy to misunderstand the differences between orthodox Christian faith and the Mormon faith.
Things on the surface are not necessarily what they really are.
With the vast resources of the internet, it doesn't take too long to research what each faith tradition really stands for and what the differences are.
Then the Truth shall hit you between the eyes!
Not all claims to the Christian faith are grounded in the biblical worldview. Be aware & watchful.