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• Sunday, August 17, 2008 03:51 PM

  True Christians

  Part of the evangelical constituency has seen the light and recognizes that in the last eight years their beliefs have been politicized by their leaders and the Republican Party. There was nothing Jesus hated more than hypocrites and to realize that they had mistakenly thrown their lot in with an evil band of big time hypocrites split this once solid group into pieces.

  The question is: can Barack Obama successfully pull some votes to his side. I think yes.

  First of all, a significant part of this group is African American. Right now they are pulling the lever for him..and my guess is based on their history of loyalty to candidates who win their hearts..They are sticking with him. Secondly, beneath that monolithic appearance evangelicals hearts do not beat as one. Most are not fundamentalist raving extremists any more that most Muslims are al-Queda.

  In the University of Penn focus group doubts and fears about Obama appeared, but solidly even his detractors saw him as a good family man, a good father. Build on that.

  My advise, let's have more conversations and less debates; I am with the guy who said bring on the town meetings.

  McCain goes to the stump speech and POW stuff everytime. Of course he had quick answers at Pastor Rick's little get together: he used the proven stump laughlines and anecdotes..and every question was a soft ball down the middle for him. Obama had some explaining to do. I think there are folks in the evangelical community that are looking for new answers too. They may believe in "life" and not embrace Gay marriage, but quite a few of them know the realities behind unintended pregnancies and just as many have a loved one or a co-worker who has "a partner."

  Where Obama has to work with these people is explaining why McCain's cold war world view of enemies, saber rattling, and blood for oil will not work anymore. Obama has the same challenge with evangelicals as he does with blue collars and older people..he needs to tell us that we must change. We must conserve. We must sacrifice.

  All messages that have never been accepted by most Americans.

  Obama needs to make the most compelling case that the time is now for belt-tightening and neighbors helping neighbors. We can not afford to lose four more years falling further behind the global community.

  I know many Evangelicals have hearts, and I am willing to gamble that just as many have brains too.

  —capecodgurl Read capecodgurl's other letters
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