Karl Rove: Stayaway Christians Almost Cost Bush Election

Charisma News ^ | 12/13/01

[11th Earl of Mar]

STAYAWAY CHRISTIANS ALMOST COST ELECTION

Many Christians believe that prayer played a major role in sending George W. Bush to the White House, but stayaway believers came close to losing him the election, according to his chief political adviser, Karl Rove.

Rove said that one reason the 2000 election was so tight was that as many as 4 million Christian conservatives did not go to the polls, reported "The Chicago Tribune." Although the Bush campaign had expected 19 million evangelical voters to vote for their man, election returns revealed only 15 million turned out to cast ballots.

Speaking yesterday at an American Enterprise Institute seminar, Rove said the Bush campaign "probably failed to marshal support of the base as well as we should have," said the "Tribune." Rove added: "But we may also be returning to the point in America where fundamentalists and evangelicals remain true to their beliefs and think politics is corrupt and, therefore, they shouldn't participate."

Rove said that if the "process of withdrawal" went on it would be bad for the country as well as conservatives and Republicans. "It's something we have to spend a lot of time and energy on."

[Ff--150]

Those Christians, they think they can pray a president in, but then forget to vote for whom they prayed for!???

[Clemenza]

A lot of the old farts refused to vote for Buch because of the "drunk driving" incident. John Zogby stated as much.

Bush needs to campaign like hell for his base voters in the South and West. If his popularity remains high, he will pick up Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, with Florida being safe.

[RooRoobird14]

I am absolutely a pro-life "conservative a Christian." However, I was and am a BROKEN GLASS REPUBLICAN. Nothing short of sudden death or alien abduction would have kept me from voting for George Bush and AGAINST Al Gore last year--NOTHING!!! Any Christian staying home on any election day "in protest" in effect helps put more amoral-abortion-loving-leftist-socialists Godless Democrats in office. It's a STUPID, STUPID self defeating strategy of "win the battle, lose the war."

I don't agree with all of President Bush's policies, and I wish he WAS stronger in his pro-life stance. HOWEVER, I think he's a WONDERFUL president and I stand behind him 100%. I also thank God every day that lying, gutless woosy--man Al Gore is not Commander-In-Chief.

[Keith]

so true Karl, always amazes me how these idiots think they are doing the right thing by letting the Democraps take over...yea...that will really "teach" us. The Dems are much wiser at realizing that change usually has to come incrementally, not the "bull in a china shop" method.

Now watch me get flamed...proof of what I'm saying.

[lavrenti]

There are some people who get their jollies from being kicked around by their enemies. Bolsters their "faith."

[Howlin]

Are you under the impression that Bush is the president of JUST Christians?

[Scholastic]

Bump! Right on the money all of you!

[Tall_Texan]

And imagine how many evangelicals would have been even less motivated had McInsane not forced Dubya to defend Christians in the primaries. If McInsane hadn't declared a fatwa against the religious right (with shouts of "amen" and "hallelujah" from the fawning press), Bush might have never reached out to Christians at all. Before this, he was all gushy about wanting to be friends with the Democrats, "compassionate conservative" and all that.

A good many fundamentalists probably decided, as I did, that regardless of Bush's flaws, the Clinton-Gore Crime Syndicate was a far worse option that had to be stopped at all cost.

[eureka!]

Re#22 and the drunk driving. The Clymers played it hard as "why didn't he tell us, why did he lie?" and "his daddy's read my lips" snafu. IMHO, after Clinton, many undecided voters balked on the trust issue as to W...

[TRY ONE]

"Bush is a LIBERAL and you folks are suckers if you don't believe it..."

Yea, keep voting for the Algores...they're closer to your views!

[rdb3]

Let me see if I have this straight.

We stay home because the candidate doesn't go all the way in our beliefs, often on just one single issue. Meanwhile, others who could not have a decent conversation about the issues are dragged to the polls to vote. So, while those on our side sit on the sidelines as a matter of "principle," the other side gets elected and shoves everything we hate down our throats in droves and droves.

Do I have this right?

[Howlin]

Four million voters, who are in essence saying that it makes no difference to them whether Gore or Bush won, is an enormous number.

You'll soon see a list of those people; right here on this thread.

[afuturegovernor]

I see absolutely NO movement regarding abortion

I can't be overturned until a liberal justice retires. We just need Justice Stevens or Ginsburg to retire. I sure there people on FreeRepublic that think Al Gore would have been great.

[Psalm 73]

"Bush is a LIBERAL and you folks are suckers if you don't believe it."

So, let me guess - you wrote in a vote for Lester Maddox?

[Alberta's Child]

The Republican Congress three times sent to Clinton a partial birth abortion ban and three times he vetoed it.

That is precisely why pro-lifers tend to be so cynical about it. Republicans in Congress were all in favor of a late-term abortion ban when they knew Clinton would veto it, but their "courage" disappeared once the party was in a position to ensure that anything they passed would be signed into law.

[Revolting cat!]

We can exchange insults all day long and persist in our illusions that all is well with our political party. In the meantime, there are four million voters (only 4 mill?) who think that all politics is corrupt and it doesn't make any difference who's in office. That number will increase, despite war time popularity surges for the Pubbies. The scandalous corruption of the US Congress continues unabated.

[Howlin]

I'm not going to flame you; I am beginning to believe in separation of church and state.

[afuturegovernor]

Do I have this right?

You forgot to add are given cigarettes to vote for Gore.

[Polonius]

No delicate sensibilities here, just seeking clarification. So, which heathen celebrations are you speaking of?