The irony of the 2008 presidential race is that this time around, the Democratic nominee is by far the more religiously devout candidate, promoting a born again language and professed faith. In a match up with John McCain, it's Barack Obama who can genuinely speak the language of evangelicals, softening some of the Democratic party's "God problem."
Indeed, news reports are speculating that many young Evangelical voters might break for Obama in the general election, a proposition that fits with some of the recent polling data that I have spotlighted at this blog.
The Obama campaign is already actively targeting Evangelicals, priming born again voters with an emphasis on the Senator's commitment to Christ. Consider this flyer distributed at churches in Kentucky quoting Obama as asserting: "My faith teaches me that I can sit in church and pray all that I want but I won't be fulfilling God's will unless I go out and do the Lord's work."
Evangelical pundits have taken notice. As Christian Broadcasting News senior correspondent Richard Brody writes:
I know the conservative policy purists will say that Obama is liberal and therefore Evangelicals won't buy his "Evangelical speak". Not so fast. Remember, many people vote based on an emotional connection to a candidate or if they can relate to that person. Obama may need to work on this perception that he is "elite" but when he talks about Jesus and the Bible and the fact that he's a sinner, it makes him more real and in the process, more electable too.
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looks like Obama clinged to religion, huh?
Wow, if Obama can secure the evangelical vote this will be the easiest election in a long time.
You talk about evangelicals and born again voters, but...
"My faith teaches me that I can sit in church and pray all that I want but I won't be fulfilling God's will unless I go out and do the Lord's work."
... this quote by Obama is decidedly, completely, and fundamentally at odds with evangelical and born again tenents. Namely, that it is faith and faith alone, not good works, that are required.
i think it's pretty confusing. remember, obama is a member of the united church of christ, which basically the most theological liberal of american christian denominations. obama is on record as saying he believes in evolution more than he believes in angels. his style is one thing, but his substance is another....
It won't do the Democrat any good. Jimmy Carter was way more religious than any Republican presidential candidate since, but it didn't do hi any good. Just like John Kerry had a way more honorable Vietnam role than any Republican, but it didn't do him any good, despite his supporters in the primary crowing that he would be "immune to Vietnam criticism". Look how that worked out.
Richard Brody is equally deluded (or just disingenuous?) when he talks about "this perception" that Obama is elite. "This perception" didn't just appear out of thin air. Like the "perception" that Democrats are godless, or draft dodgers, it's a product manufactured by the Republican-owned media, which is Problem No. 1 for Democrats, and American democracy: they can, and do, trash any and every Democrat in the effort to get the Republican elected, no matter who or what that Democrat is.
6
Trianglation anyone?
Obama is not an Evangelical. Not all religious Christians are evangelicals. Evangelists believe in taking a very active role in converting others to their religion. His Christian denomination is not evangelical and, if anything Obama takes the anti-evangelical stance. He talks about faith as a personal issue and journey for himself.
Though less observant, McCain has more direct ties to evangelical movements. The way Obama talks about his faith is possibly much more attractive to evangelicals than McCain, but that's very different from calling him an evangelical.
As both a Democrat and a Christion (and a scientist), I keep wondering how the Right claims Christendom all for them selves. Christ preached a gospel of inclusion, of reconciliation, of acceptance, and of peace. Nothing coming from the "Christian Right" in my lifetime has ever resembled those messages. And Jesus was definitely of the do, don't pray approach - from runnign the money changers out of the temple to visiting lepors. So when I hear Sen. Obama say his faith motivates him to get out and do, I hear a frame that draws straight from the Bible. perhaps not so inconsistent at all.