Has Kerry made any effort to reach out to fundies?

[Onlooker]

I have friend who is a liberal evangelical Christian. She absolutely supports Kerry, yet is a fundamentalist. Her main difference with people like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell is that she supports social welfare programs and thinks, once saved, God will understand if you feel you have to commit a sin, such as abortion or being gay.

I think Kerry needs to reach out to this group. I'm sure there are fundies who would consider Kerry if they were aware their movement was not monolithic.

[louis-t]

1. Don't think there are enough to make a dif

Evangelicals are hammered with repub philosophy. Statistics seem to show that the more a person goes to church, the more likely they are to vote repub.

[sangh0]

4. Slogans are no substitute for critical thought

39% of evangelicals vote Dem.

More than 50% of Catholics vote Dem

Statistics seem to show that the more a person goes to church, the more likely they are to vote repub.

Statistics also show that the more effort we put into winning a group over, the more votes we get from that group. In politics, you never win by giving up on people.

[louis-t]

6. Wasn't meant to be a slogan.

Saw a report on it yesterday. Showed traveling "get out the vote" tours sponsored by Evangelical churches in the south. Labeled as 'non-partisan' yet the videos shown in the displays only show 1 candidate. Guess who?

[sangh0]

8. Intended or not, they were slogans

and not very accurate ones.

39% of all evangelicals vote Dem

More than 50% of all Catholics vote Dem.

No one is lost until everyone else decides to stop looking for them.

[Dob Bole]

2. There are definitely evangelicals who support Kerry, but

I haven't heard of any Kerry support among fundies until now. Here are liberal evangelical organizations that are cool, though.

Sojourners:

www.sojo.org

Evangelicals for Social Action:

www.esa-online.org

And of course there are the Civil Rights groups like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, etc...

[Dob Bole]

7. Distinction between evangelicals and fundamentalists...

Here is a good article detailing them:

http://slate.msn.com/id/2089641/

I am myself an evangelical. I have created this thread to answer any questions that people have, here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=111&topic_id=29899&mesg_id=29899

[johnnyrocket]

3. Unfortunately, the fundies are a 'cult' and Bush is their cult leader...

no facts, or news, or campaigning will change that much. They are mostly a lost cause of dead-enders sticking with their loser until the end.

[eriffle]

5. Fundie Kool-Aid is too strong

There are Fundamental Christians who actually believe in the teachings of Jesus and actually try to help out their fellow humans. Religion has no place in national politics or national policy except that people have the right to practice their own religion in their own way. I consider myself a Christian and try to lead a Christian life. Tell a fundie to go read James, that's what makes me be a liberal Christian. The problem is people like Fallwell makes bunches of money, he benefits financially from Bush's policies, so to keep Bush in power he brings religion into to to get a block of voters to help him out financially. It's extremely sad. I think this is why Catholics vote liberal more often in that *most* of our priests take vows of poverty so money does not get in the way. On the other hand the bishop of the WV diocese basically endorsed Bush by saying we need to vote for the person who is anti-abortion. Our priest refused to read the bishop's remarks and instead played an audio tape of the bishop. Our priest has said many many many times that pro-life does not mean just abortion.

[checks-n-balances]

9. Sojourners and ESA are excellent; also "The Other Side" magazine

Kerry is reaching out to the THINKING and COMPASSIONATE Christians - GWB has cornered the market on the other types. Your friend doesn't sound like a total fundie, just an thinking evangelical with heart for human suffering. Dob Bole's post (was it #2 or 3?) has two excellent sites and Kerry is definitely resonating with people related to both websites.

Good question, but I do think he has done well enough in this area. It would be fruitless for him to make overtures right now to the true fundies; believe me, they despise anyone other than GWB and the GOP anyway.

[Ariana Celeste]

10. My uncle is Evangelist..

And 100% supports Bush...

Why? Because he is of the mind that Muslims are the new plague and are taking over Europe, and if not stopped will take over America as well, killing all Christians who stand in their way.

Many of them don't care how many people die in Iraq, as long as there are "less Muslims killing Christians."

Disgusting.

On edit: "They" changed to "many of them." Generalizing is bad. :)

[newyawker99]

11. Hi Ariana Celeste!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DuaneBidoux]

13. Multiple Choice Question for your Christian Uncle:

In his sermons and teachings in the New Testament Jesus most often spoke about:

A. Tax cuts to help stimulate the economy

B. The unholy sin of homosexuality

C. Preemptive military action for self-defense

D. Looking out for the poor and needy

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. I think the fact that Kerry mentions religion AT ALL in his speeches shows

that he is reaching out.

[CitySky]

14. As a Christian myself,

I say the best way for Kerry supporters to "reach out" to the hard-core fundies is to tell them the Election is November 3! ;)

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. I have seen "People of Faith for Kerry/Edwards" bumper stickers at

out headquarters. I took one to give to my neighbor, but I haven't seen them on any cars. :hi:

[surrounded]

16. Not all evangilicals are fundamentalists

and no one is all bad--misguided--yes, bad--no. My husband and one of my sons are both evangelicals. Neither would vote for Bush, because they are smart enough to see that the Republicans are using their faith for secular purposes. So there is hope. It has taken me 31 years to convert my husband from John Bircher to Republican to Independent, and yes now he is a registered Democrat (temporarily to participate in the Iowa caucus)--but just to show you that not all evangicals have been sucked into the Republican spin machine.