Tuesday, December 29, 2015 11:52:33 PM
Franklin Graham Quitting GOP, Beginning Voter Rallies
Mark Barrett, Asheville Citizen Times 11:17 a.m. EST December 29, 2015
(Photo: (Photo: Courtesy Billy Graham Evangelical Association))
The Rev. Franklin Graham says he is quitting the Republican Party as he begins a series of rallies across the country to urge voter support for candidates who hold "biblical values."
The rallies will be in each state next year, beginning with one Jan. 5 on the steps of the state Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa. Most of the rallies with dates announced so far appear to be timed to influence voters ahead of their state's presidential primary, with states holding early primaries or caucuses like New Hampshire and South Carolina also being the sites of some of the earlier rallies.
“God hears the prayers of his people, so I’m calling on people of faith in every state to pray fervently for America and our leaders,” Graham wrote on his Facebook page recently. “I want to challenge Christians across our land to boldly live out and promote biblical principles at home, in public and at the ballot box. The only hope for this country is if the people of God are willing to take a stand for truth and righteousness.”
Graham has given a couple of explanations for leaving the GOP.
He said on his Facebook page Dec. 21 that the spending bill that passed Congress Dec. 18 "is an example of why I have resigned from the Republican Party and declared myself Independent. I have no hope in the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, or Tea Party to do what is best for America."
He criticized the bill because it will not stop Planned Parenthood from receiving federal dollars for contraceptive services and called the bill in general "wasteful."
In a recent interview on Fox News, Graham said he wants to avoid the appearance of holding the rallies to help Republicans.
"I just felt it was best for me to not be aligned with any party but to be an independent if I'm going to stand there and ask people to pray for our country," he said. "I don't want people to think, 'Well, he's just doing this for the Republican Party.' No, I'm not going this for the Republican Party. I'm going this really for our country."
He said there are some good Republican candidates for president and, "I don't have an agenda to lead people out of the Republican Party." Graham says he will not endorse specific candidates.
He has said he is challenging Christians, including pastors, "to pray about running for office where they can have an impact. We need mayors, county commissioners, city council members, school board members who will uphold biblical values."
There's been some speculation about whether Graham's actions will hurt or help the GOP, with at least one commentator wondering if other evangelical pastors and their flocks may now be more likely to stay home on Election Day next year. On the other hand, some Republican presidential candidates are strongly courting evangelical voters and Graham's rallies could energize people more likely to cast ballots for Republican candidates.
The rallies are an initiative of the Charlotte-based Billy Graham Evangelical Association that Franklin Graham heads and collectively are called "Decision America Tour with Franklin Graham." The group started by the famous evangelist whose name it bears has become more identified with a conservative political agenda in recent years as Franklin Graham has taken more of a leadership role.
No date for a North Carolina rally has been announced. Follow the links below for more information.
http://www.wfmynews2.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/29/franklin-graham-quitting-gop-beginning-voter-rallies/78014894/
See also:
Franklin Graham’s anti-gay gambit goes horribly awry
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=114467318
Mark Barrett, Asheville Citizen Times 11:17 a.m. EST December 29, 2015
(Photo: (Photo: Courtesy Billy Graham Evangelical Association))
The Rev. Franklin Graham says he is quitting the Republican Party as he begins a series of rallies across the country to urge voter support for candidates who hold "biblical values."
The rallies will be in each state next year, beginning with one Jan. 5 on the steps of the state Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa. Most of the rallies with dates announced so far appear to be timed to influence voters ahead of their state's presidential primary, with states holding early primaries or caucuses like New Hampshire and South Carolina also being the sites of some of the earlier rallies.
“God hears the prayers of his people, so I’m calling on people of faith in every state to pray fervently for America and our leaders,” Graham wrote on his Facebook page recently. “I want to challenge Christians across our land to boldly live out and promote biblical principles at home, in public and at the ballot box. The only hope for this country is if the people of God are willing to take a stand for truth and righteousness.”
Graham has given a couple of explanations for leaving the GOP.
He said on his Facebook page Dec. 21 that the spending bill that passed Congress Dec. 18 "is an example of why I have resigned from the Republican Party and declared myself Independent. I have no hope in the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, or Tea Party to do what is best for America."
He criticized the bill because it will not stop Planned Parenthood from receiving federal dollars for contraceptive services and called the bill in general "wasteful."
In a recent interview on Fox News, Graham said he wants to avoid the appearance of holding the rallies to help Republicans.
"I just felt it was best for me to not be aligned with any party but to be an independent if I'm going to stand there and ask people to pray for our country," he said. "I don't want people to think, 'Well, he's just doing this for the Republican Party.' No, I'm not going this for the Republican Party. I'm going this really for our country."
He said there are some good Republican candidates for president and, "I don't have an agenda to lead people out of the Republican Party." Graham says he will not endorse specific candidates.
He has said he is challenging Christians, including pastors, "to pray about running for office where they can have an impact. We need mayors, county commissioners, city council members, school board members who will uphold biblical values."
There's been some speculation about whether Graham's actions will hurt or help the GOP, with at least one commentator wondering if other evangelical pastors and their flocks may now be more likely to stay home on Election Day next year. On the other hand, some Republican presidential candidates are strongly courting evangelical voters and Graham's rallies could energize people more likely to cast ballots for Republican candidates.
The rallies are an initiative of the Charlotte-based Billy Graham Evangelical Association that Franklin Graham heads and collectively are called "Decision America Tour with Franklin Graham." The group started by the famous evangelist whose name it bears has become more identified with a conservative political agenda in recent years as Franklin Graham has taken more of a leadership role.
No date for a North Carolina rally has been announced. Follow the links below for more information.
http://www.wfmynews2.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/29/franklin-graham-quitting-gop-beginning-voter-rallies/78014894/
See also:
Franklin Graham’s anti-gay gambit goes horribly awry
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=114467318
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