Sunday, November 08, 2009 Last Update:11:25 am ET

Society|Mon, Sep. 29 2008 03:48 PM EDT

Evangelical Woman Leader Lauds VP Palin

By Michelle A. Vu|Christian Post Reporter

WASHINGTON – The leader of one of the world’s largest Christian women’s ministries gave high praises to Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin as she refuted claims that the Alaska governor is unqualified for the office.

“She’s just as qualified as Obama is qualified,” defended Jane Hansen Hoyt, president of the 200,000-member Aglow International ministry, to The Christian Post.

Hoyt, who was in town for the Aglow national conference this past weekend, added, “She’s a smart woman, she’s intelligent, she has on-the-job experience that is very powerful and she brings that experience to Washington.”

Palin, the first woman to be on a Republican presidential ticket, has come under a barrage of criticism for what some consider her lack of experience, especially in foreign policy. She has been the governor of Alaska for two years and was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, before that.

However, her addition to the Republican ticket has injected excitement to the prior lackluster GOP base.

In particular, Christian right leaders such as Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family were quick to applaud Republican presidential John McCain’s running mate selection.

Like many evangelical leaders, Palin is a social conservative who is adamantly against abortion, gay “marriage,” and openly speaks about her Christian faith.

“I also love that she spoke to mothers, mothers of special needs children, saying you will have an advocate in Washington,” Hoyt offered. “It is that kind of heart.”

The Aglow president dismissed concerns that Palin won’t be able to juggle both a high-demanding political position and be a mother of five, including an infant with Down syndrome.

“We can function outside of the confines of the home,” Hoyt said. “People interestingly have questioned 'can Sarah raise a family? How can she serve in government and raise a family?' She said 'I’ll do it the same way the men do it.'"

Aglow ministry held this past weekend, exactly 40 days before the presidential election, its “A Voice for the Times: Calling Women to Transform their Nation” conference to encourage women to participate in the election and to pray for a spiritual revival in the country.

More than 2,000 evangelical women from across the country took part in the conference held in Washington, D.C.

Hoyt noted that women can well be the swing factor in the election because they make up 52 to 54 percent of the voting power.

“[T]heir voice be heard,” Hoyt declared, “that they’re not only heard in the context of a traditional woman’s role, but that the true feminism that God intended for the woman’s role that that comes forth in strength.”

Speakers at the Capitol Hill prayer rally on Saturday included Sam Brownback (R-Kan.); the Rev. Pierre Bynum, chaplain and national prayer director of the Family Research Council; Chaplain Alan Keiran, chief of staff at the Office of the U.S. Senate Chaplain; and Dr. Corinthia Boone, chairman of the Capital Region National Day of Prayer.

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  • Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:21 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Did Obama support the murder of Christians in Kenya? Aparently he raised $1 million dollars to his uncle who did.

  • Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:59 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    i would like to know how the quote unquote religious leaders can sit and say they are supporting someone who has been proven to be a lier, yet you all want to quote the scrioture that says that God hates a lier and a lier will not tarry in his site. do you all have to wonder why you all can not win the majority of the lost. further more i believe this shows me the hidden racism in the church starting at the pulpit. and oh yea I am a born again believer and live a saved cellabus life, but do not support any liers.

  • Mon Oct 06, 2008 3:45 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    pro-choice is by definition, not pro-life. If Obama was pro-life, he would not be complicit in the death of the unborn or the newly born who survived abortion attempts by voting against pro-abortion bills and voting for pro-life bills. Yet, he has repeatedly chosen to not do so.

  • Mon Oct 06, 2008 11:53 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Obama was endorsed by Planned Parenthood over Hillary Clinton. He stated publicly that he would not allow his daughters to endure pregnancy for the sake of protecting his own grandbabies.

    He has stated on record that the first thing that he would do in office is force all states to provide abortions - even those whose populace has decided not to participate in the slaughter of the innocent.

    NObama is the problem!

    Obama has been groomed by radical black liberation theologians.
    Obama has been groomed by radical red communists.
    Obama was friends with terrorist Bill Ayers.
    Obama is a threat to freedom of speach.
    Obama has no executive experience.
    Obama has been raised up by corrupt Chicago politics.
    Obama's VP stated that Obama is not worthy of the oval office.
    Obama and Biden's new campaign strategy is to project themselves as Reagan conservatives - this is either a lie or it is true: If it is true then why would liberals want to vote for him; if it is a lie, then why trust him?

  • Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:14 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    scitsonga
    You have said...
    "Perhaps among the evangelicals, not many others. There were others on board at first, she gave a couple good teleprompter speechs, but after that, not so good without props. Many folks that were intially excited about her now realize she is not what she first appeared to be..."

    It is very clear that there has been a strong divide during this election between liberal and conservative thinking, especially amongst the faith community.

    This is strongly encouraged in the news media to keep the voters interest, and I find that too many interest groups are playing right into it.

    Personally, I am supporting McCain. Is he the best choice? No. Is he the better choice? Yes. I feel the same about Palin.

    In all my years, I have yet to see an election where the ideal candidate(s) is running. But I have also never seen the liberal/conservative divide so strongly across all interest groups as it is in this election.

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:42 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    If you don't realize how unqualified Palin is, you're not paying much attention lately. As an evangelical, I'm becoming more and more embarrassed by Palin. I hope tomorrow is not too painful.

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:51 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    lpepper, "Obama not only promotes this he wants you to pay for it with your tax
    dollars."

    No he doesnt support abortion, he doesnt like abortion, but he also knows that individuals should have the right to choose for themselves.

    As far as the tax dollar thing goes, the US is responsible for the death and destruction in Iraq at the tune of 12 billion dollars a month, i dont like that, yet most christians on CP dont seem to have a problem with it....Save the fetus and the embryo, but not much concern for the misery of the innocent Iraqi. The good CP folks should be outraged with what the US has done to Iraq, but they dont seem to be, its really pathetic. Funny how an agnostic such as myself see the immorality of the US invasion of Iraq, but the good christians of America seem to miss it, as I said, pathetic.

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:36 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    halver "Palin is still very much enjoying the popularity bump from when she was first introduced."

    Perhaps among the evangelicals, not many others. There were others on board at first, she gave a couple good teleprompter speechs, but after that, not so good without props. Many folks that were intially excited about her now realize she is not what she first appeared to be....

    "Qualifications are most important."

    Exactly why palin is in over her head, most see this. She is not qualified


    halver, your not alone in trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear............

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:44 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    steveh20
    you have asked...
    "if she is such an asset is she being kept so much out of the limelight now, surley after that great start they would want to build on that?"

    Palin is still very much enjoying the popularity bump from when she was first introduced.

    But we have to remember that she is not running for President.

    Her exposure is for the support of McCain, just as Biden is for Obama.

    Palin and Biden should not be in the spotlight as much much as McCain and Obama.

    And as Obama is finding out, popularity can take you a long way, but perhaps not the distance.

    Qualifications are most important.

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:32 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    dp, it is true I think that biden sometimes makes comments that are off base and wrong. The other candidates are also guilty of making rather absurd and senseless comments- obama and mccain. But the three aforementioned candidates are also capable of, and have demonstrated, in depth analysis of complex and important issues of the day. So far, I have not seen any of that with palin. She neither has the intellect nor has not bothered to take the time to learn in much detail the issues that face the US and the world. She is as they say a mile wide and a millimeter deep. I will say that she does a fine job reading off the TelePrompTer, bush can even do that.

    The reason the press has very limited access to palin is that the mccain staff has, belatedly, realized that she is in over her head and is now in damage control mode. The mccain staff did not take a deep and critical look at palin, much to their regret now, to see her short comings. We do not need another eight years of shallow, superficial leadership. We see what eight years of bush has gotten us. It's now time for a leader with intelligence and critical thinking skills. Sen. Obama is an extremely intelligent and gifted leader. Obama will be the next US president. America has had enough with the stupid people and most Americans now realize the need for intelligence at the top.

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:24 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    "I noted your surprise over the scrutiny and furor over a VP candidate."

    My problem is they are only looking at one of the VP candidates. If Palin said just one of the stupid things Obama's right hand man says on a daily basis...they would cruicify her in the news. Yet, you don't hear about any of the stupid things he says.... Why not?

    The mainstream media helps me quite a bit to know who to vote for...if they like them...I vote for the other guy.

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:21 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    "In my 40-plus years of voting, I've never seen such intense scrutiny over a vice presidential candidate."

    Did you hear what she said about all those reporters and Obama people up in Alaska trying to find dirt on her? She said they can send as many as they want as long as they spend lots of money for the local economy!!!

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:53 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    vicking, I had same problem when I tried to use HoChiMinh, with word separated out. took me a few times to figure it out too, the system didnt like the first two letters- very silly........

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:54 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    A little side note to all posters. I just had a strange experience which took me a little while to figure out. In reffering to Mr. Cheney and Mr. Nixon I at first used the diminutive of their first name beginning with the letter D. My post was rejected. When I changed to Richard it was accepted. Finally figured it out after three tries. Guess I am just slow on some things.

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:51 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Hi pastor tim,
    I noted your surprise over the scrutiny and furor over a VP candidate. I have a couple of explanations for why I think this is so.
    First the lesson of Richard Cheney. The last 8 years have taught us how important a VP can be in shaping U.S. policy behind the scenes. (As I am sure you know Richard Nixon was the first VP to have meaningful role under Ike)
    Second The Republican party promoted a larger than life "rock star" role and persona for Palin as a direct contrast to Obama. It is clear that it is the strategy to "run" Palin against Obama as much as possible. You will note that all the republican pundits compare Palin to Obama not Biden. This is a smart strategy taking focus off McCain in any area where he might be weak in the social conservative base. In fact in some arenas the dialog reads almost as if Palin is the top of the ticket. This is a smart way to secure allegience as demonstrated by this article in areas where Senator McCains record would not have gained it (i.e. Dobson's change of heart).
    Third the campaign intentionally through the highlighted cloak and dagger selection process and choosing a VP candidate who was a "maverick" and in her own words pit bull with lipstick (the whole lipstick on a pig thing amazed me. How could offense be taken by a woman who refers to herself as a vicious attack dog?),etc. etc. invited and desired a much more prominent role for the VP candidate than is traditional.
    The day when VP's were chosen for shoring up regional electoral college support (remember Kennedy and Johnson sincerely disliked each other and had very divergent political views)have been replaced with politics of celebrity and media rush.

  • Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:48 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    interesting perspective on the banking problems.
    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NU6fuFrdCJY

  • Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:59 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    People on this website loathed the fact that blacks would vote for Obama just because he is an African American.. well.. sorry, but just because I am a female does not mean that I am voting for McCain Palin. Poor choice, inexperienced (as evidence of Couric's interviews), unhealthy bliss, and quite frankly, just because she is religiously conservative is, and should not, be a reason for people to vote for her. Goodness, her foreign policy is scary enough to consider.

  • Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:44 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

    All the stars are lining up for Sen. Obama to become the next president, here's why:

    1. Economy is serious trouble, incumbents get blamed.
    2. Sen. McCain coming off as erratic, impulsive, un- steady and disparate.
    3. Sen. Obama is steady and thoughtful in his actions and demeanor.
    4. Sen McCain's judgement is highly questionable as with his pick of such a poorly qualified VP candidate shows- Gov. Palin.
    5. Bush/Cheney/Neocon fatigue- time for a change- McCain/Palin more of the same.
    6. Oh yeah, did I mention the economy.

  • Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:15 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    The vice president has very little work to do, so its amazing anyone cares. Yet, somehow, we do.

    It also amazing people are pretending that the President has to have lots of foreign policy experience, when many many presidents come from the ranks of governors who have no foreign policy experience.

    The pro-obama slant in the media is obvious, just it was obviously against conservatives when Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee were in the race. Its a shame, really.

  • Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:33 am Agree: 4   Disagree: 3

    The furor over Sarah Palin has totally amazed me. In my 40-plus years of voting, I've never seen such intense scrutiny over a vice presidential candidate. Is she perfect? Hardly...but name me one VP candidate who was...or IS for that matter. I'm tired of the partisan politics by the political parties AND the national news media. Sarah Palin is who she is and that's that. Either you like you and support her or you don't. However, we don't need to crucify her and her family, and we need to speak our loudly against those who are trying to crucify her, regardless of which political party you are affiliated with. We need to tell the rabid politicos and the equally rabid national news media we, as Republicans/Democrats/independents will NOT accept this kind of abhorrent behavior on their part. We may have freedom of speech in America but we do not have freedom to character assassinate simply because we disagree ideologically with someone.

  • Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:50 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

    The question I ask myself from this side of the Atlantic is, why, if she is such an asset is she being kept so much out of the limelight now, surley after that great start they would want to build on that? But its gone strangely quite, hmm,...Is it possible she seemed like a good pick at the time but now when the real hard questions are asked, being a hockey mum and having a husband who belongs to a union (fill in all the other family details always mentioned yourself) are just not enough?

  • Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:21 am Agree: 5   Disagree: 4

    Thanks for this report. It illustrates what a large
    number of women think about Sarah Palin. She
    is much more qualified to be in a high office than Mr.
    Obama, and the people of America will vote accordingly.
    All the frantic and sometimes ugly attacks on Ms. Palin only reflect
    the fear that is now gripping the Democrats because they
    face a definite possibility of defeat on November 4th.

  • Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:02 am Agree: 3   Disagree: 6

    I agree with scits. George Bush has left most Americans suspecting that evangelical Christians are simpletons like he is. Sarah Palin would only prove the point.

  • Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:09 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 9

    palin will not become the next VP, American electorate a bit slow to the draw sometime, but looks like their seeing her for what she is- not qualified, a bit of a hypocrite and a bit wacky, not particularly intelligent. American people have had eight years of that, they are saying enough is enough.

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