Black Pastors Say 'Stay Home' Election Day

Newsmax ^ | 16 Sep 2012 | AP

[xzins]

Some black clergy see no good presidential choice between a Mormon candidate and one who supports gay marriage, so they are telling their flocks to stay home on Election Day.

The pastors say their congregants are asking how a true Christian could back same-sex marriage, as President Barack Obama did in May. As for Republican Mitt Romney, the first Mormon nominee from a major party, congregants are questioning the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its former ban on men of African descent in the priesthood.

In 2008, Obama won 95 percent of black voters and is likely to get an overwhelming majority again. But any loss of votes would sting.

"When President Obama made the public statement on gay marriage, I think it put a question in our minds as to what direction he's taking the nation," said the Rev. A.R. Bernard, founder of the predominantly African-American Christian Cultural Center in New York. Bernard, whose endorsement is much sought-after in New York and beyond, voted for Obama in 2008. He said he's unsure how he'll vote this year.

It's unclear just how widespread the sentiment is that African-American Christians would be better off not voting at all. Many pastors have said that despite their misgivings about the candidates, blacks have fought too hard for the vote to ever stay away from the polls.

Black church leaders have begun get-out-the-vote efforts Yet, Bryant last month told The Washington Informer, an African-American newsweekly, "This is the first time in black church history that I'm aware of that black pastors have encouraged their parishioners not to vote." Bryant, who opposes gay marriage, said the president's position on marriage is "at the heart" of the problem.

[The Bard]

Black pastors are not the only ones suggesting this. I know of a couple of pastors, not from black churches, who are facing the same problem: Vote for someone who supports gay marriage and wants you to pay for abortions, or vote for the guy whose religion teaches him that he can become a god, and has a track record for also supporting abortion.

Not really much of a choice in that regard.

[jmaroneps37]

Oh BUT this CAN'T be true! Everybody (here) KNOWS Blacks will turn out at 100% and each one will vote for Obama.
Polls in NC and Ga showing 20% of Blacks voting for Romney are photo shopped tricks. The Michigan poll showing 23% of Blacks voting Romney? just something made up by the RNC - the unconfirmed Fla. NAACP poll showing the same 23% - well that's just the NAACP having a little fun.

[Talisker]

We were also told we could count on “the PUMAs” voting against Obama in 2008. I’ll believe it when I see it.

IF she doesn't figure out a way to run this year (and believe me, she's trying), Hillary wants Obama to lose so she can run against Romney in 2016. So, she needs Romney to win. So, every Rat from Pelosi to black pastors to PUMAs are staying away from the election this year.

That's Hillary's army. It's real. They're the REAL Uruk-hai. The regular liberals and RINOs are the Orcs.

[matginzac]

Maybe so but I sometimes think it’s an indication of a two fold phenomenon.
The black folks aren’t big fans of gays and gay marriage.
And the white Pubs are keeping a low profile in case there is any back lash if Obozo loses...this is mentioned a lot on Free Republic.
I could be reading too much into things but....

[fwdude]

The pastors will say “stay home,” but the ACORN-by-another-name organization will be at the curb with their buses on November 6, handing out cig cartons and no telling what else.

[ScottinVA]

BS. They`ll be out in force, voting for Bruthah #1 Homo “marriage” or not, they`re not going to let the gravy train jump the rail..

[COBOL2Java]

The pastors will say “stay home,” but the ACORN-by-another-name organization will be at the curb with their buses on November 6, handing out cig cartons and no telling what else.

...by the case - after a day's worth of precinct-to-precinct voting, of course...