*Sigh*
I want Ronald Reagan back!!
The article cites several reasons (read: excuses) why this invitation was declined. I would add another one. Just one more way for McCain to distance himself from Bush.
It is my own personal opinion that this turn of events is just plain silly! At the least, McCain could have met with Graham just to show respect to the man for a lifetime of serving Jesus Christ and ministering to people all around the world. Graham is old and ill. Why couldn't McCain just make it a visit of respect - not endorsement?
I sincerely hope that it was an underling in the McCain camp that made this terribly bad decision. Perhaps when McCain sees the anger and outrage from Christian evangelicals, he will have a change of heart.
I certainly hope so.
If not - we just might be left with an Obomination for president.
Ugh!
Article conclusion:
McCain’s decision not to meet with Graham will likely provoke outrage. And the campaign will likely back down. Graham is no Hagee or Dobson. They will say it was all a mistake and blame it on staff or a “misunderstanding.” But in the process they have revealed their mind-set. Their decision to ignore the leaders of America’s 80 million born-again voters represents a stunning, high wire act for a Republican presidential candidate.
By repudiating evangelical Christians he scrambles the traditional loyalties. It may win him some pro-choice women voters, demoralized by Clinton’s loss to Obama.
And it may win him a few months more of favorable media attention.
But marginalizing a voting bloc that represents 42 percent of the nation is more likely a desperate decision, revealing a campaign that is unsure of itself, fears defeat and has decided to roll the dice.
HT: Newsmax
*******
Update: McCain Says He Wants to Meet with Graham.
Well that was a quick change of heart!
Excerpt:
Monday, June 9, 2008 1:56 PM
By: Newsmax Staff Article Font Size
After a report on Newsmax.com indicated Sen. John McCain had rebuffed an offer to meet with the Rev. Billy Graham, the McCain campaign sought to clarify the matter.
Christian Ferry, McCain’s deputy campaign manager, tells Newsmax the campaign has been in the process of setting up a meeting between McCain and Graham.
Ferry said a misunderstanding of McCain’s intentions apparently arose because on June 3, 2008, the campaign sent what Ferry said was a routine letter declining an offer by Brian Jacobs, a Fort Worth, Texas, minister to broker a meeting between McCain and the evangelist.
Newsmax noted in its report that Jacobs had identified himself as a consultant to the Graham organization who had arranged a similar meeting between Graham and George W. Bush during the 2000 election.
In the June 3 McCain campaign letter, Amber Johnson, director of scheduling for the McCain campaign, wrote to Jacobs, “Thank you for your kind letter offering to set up a personal meeting between Senator McCain and Dr. Billy Graham.
"Senator McCain appreciates your invitation and the valuable opportunity it represents [italics added by McCain campaign]. Unfortunately, I must pass along our regrets and do not foresee an opportunity to add this event to the calendar.”
Ferry said that despite the suggestion that the McCain letter makes regarding no interest in such a meeting, the McCain campaign in fact had already been working with Graham’s son, Franklin Graham, to set up such a meeting.
Graham's spokesman also noted that Jacobs' offer for a meeting was made independent of Graham, as the initial Newsmax report made clear.
"Upon further inquiry I understand that two people unaffiliated with either Billy or Franklin Graham apparently independently, without any knowledge by the [Billy Graham Evangelistic Association], tried to broker a meeting between Mr. McCain and the evangelist. Apparently it was their indirect and unofficial involvement that was declined."
Ahh! So it was just a misunderstanding and miscommunication after all?
I caught this story this morning also.
ReplyDeleteWhile McCain has no obligation whatsoever to meet with Graham, I believe he is making a major personal mistake, and a political one.
When Billy Graham met with G.W., he shared the gospel and our current Pres. was saved. That's what he says, and I have no reason to doubt that.
In my opinion (speaking personally as an individual) I am not happy with any of the candidates. I still am scratching my head trying to figure out how McCain became the Republican nominee.
I've never been one to vote party lines "just because" -- and this time will be no different. Obama is the antithesis of everything I believe in. However, McCain is no saint and has never been a friend to Evangelicals -- and obviously, nothing has changed.
Miss Christine, what shall we do?? I pray the Lord does NOT give this country what we deserve. Tragically though, based upon the two current candidates, that looks exactly like what is happening.
I pray for the Lord to supernaturally intervene and change the entire political landscape of the Presidential race. He can. Until then, we'll just continue to pray for wisdom.
Blessings to you and your family.
Steve
Update: McCain Says He Wants to Meet with Graham.
ReplyDeleteWell that was a quick change of heart!
Excerpt:
Monday, June 9, 2008 1:56 PM
By: Newsmax Staff Article Font Size
After a report on Newsmax.com indicated Sen. John McCain had rebuffed an offer to meet with the Rev. Billy Graham, the McCain campaign sought to clarify the matter.
Christian Ferry, McCain’s deputy campaign manager, tells Newsmax the campaign has been in the process of setting up a meeting between McCain and Graham.
Ferry said a misunderstanding of McCain’s intentions apparently arose because on June 3, 2008, the campaign sent what Ferry said was a routine letter declining an offer by Brian Jacobs, a Fort Worth, Texas, minister to broker a meeting between McCain and the evangelist.
Newsmax noted in its report that Jacobs had identified himself as a consultant to the Graham organization who had arranged a similar meeting between Graham and George W. Bush during the 2000 election.
In the June 3 McCain campaign letter, Amber Johnson, director of scheduling for the McCain campaign, wrote to Jacobs, “Thank you for your kind letter offering to set up a personal meeting between Senator McCain and Dr. Billy Graham.
"Senator McCain appreciates your invitation and the valuable opportunity it represents [italics added by McCain campaign]. Unfortunately, I must pass along our regrets and do not foresee an opportunity to add this event to the calendar.”
Ferry said that despite the suggestion that the McCain letter makes regarding no interest in such a meeting, the McCain campaign in fact had already been working with Graham’s son, Franklin Graham, to set up such a meeting.
Graham's spokesman also noted that Jacobs' offer for a meeting was made independent of Graham, as the initial Newsmax report made clear.
"Upon further inquiry I understand that two people unaffiliated with either Billy or Franklin Graham apparently independently, without any knowledge by the [Billy Graham Evangelistic Association], tried to broker a meeting between Mr. McCain and the evangelist. Apparently it was their indirect and unofficial involvement that was declined.">
Ahh! So it was just a misunderstanding and miscommunication after all?
Steve -
ReplyDeleteI hear ya! However, when it comes to today's political landscape (and how Bush is so negatively perceived), I doubt that a solid, biblically-based conservative would have had the chance to beat either Hillary or Obama.
I now see McCain as the only possible candidate that could beat Obama. Perhaps God, in His Divine plan, had good reason to keep McCain alive all those years that he suffered as a POW, for such a time as this...
I know that a lot of my Christian friends disagree (and some have said that they refuse to vote for McCain), but he's 99% better than Obama!
God bless...hope the heat back east ends soon!