[09.02.08] Sen. John McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate
has energized conservative Christian voters who see her as one of their own.
has energized conservative Christian voters who see her as one of their own.
“What I’m picking up on this end is so many people have been inspired to
vote and inspired to get out and get involved in the Republican cause right now
because of Sarah Palin’s faith, the values she holds,” said David Pepper, pastor
of Church on the Rock, a charismatic congregation in Wasilla, Alaska, that Palin
and her family attended before she was elected governor in 2006. “I don’t think
people realize the extent of what’s happening just by word of mouth. People are
wanting a high-integrity leader, someone with strong Christian values.”
vote and inspired to get out and get involved in the Republican cause right now
because of Sarah Palin’s faith, the values she holds,” said David Pepper, pastor
of Church on the Rock, a charismatic congregation in Wasilla, Alaska, that Palin
and her family attended before she was elected governor in 2006. “I don’t think
people realize the extent of what’s happening just by word of mouth. People are
wanting a high-integrity leader, someone with strong Christian values.”
A self-described hockey mom who says she is “as pro-life as any candidate
can be,” Palin, 44, is the first woman elected governor of Alaska. Running on a
clean-government platform, she has sometimes broken with the state Republican
establishment, and has opposed corruption and wasteful spending. A longtime
member of the National Rifle Association, Palin supports traditional marriage as
well as drilling for oil in her state as part of efforts to achieve energy
independence.
can be,” Palin, 44, is the first woman elected governor of Alaska. Running on a
clean-government platform, she has sometimes broken with the state Republican
establishment, and has opposed corruption and wasteful spending. A longtime
member of the National Rifle Association, Palin supports traditional marriage as
well as drilling for oil in her state as part of efforts to achieve energy
independence.
Married for 20 years, Palin is also a mother of five, the youngest of whom,
Trig, was born in April and has Down syndrome. Her oldest son, Track, enlisted
in the Army on Sept. 11, 2007, and is to be sent to Iraq this month.
Trig, was born in April and has Down syndrome. Her oldest son, Track, enlisted
in the Army on Sept. 11, 2007, and is to be sent to Iraq this month.
“John McCain is to be commended on his choice of Sarah Palin, a true
Christian for vice president,” said Gary Cass, chairman and chief executive
officer of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission (CADC). Last spring his
organization launched a campaign advocating that both presidential candidates
choose born-again running mates who are pro-life and pro-traditional marriage.
Christian for vice president,” said Gary Cass, chairman and chief executive
officer of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission (CADC). Last spring his
organization launched a campaign advocating that both presidential candidates
choose born-again running mates who are pro-life and pro-traditional marriage.
“Palin, an evangelical who is pro-life and pro-marriage, meets all the
criterion that CADC set forth for a VP pick,” Cass said. “Unfortunately, Obama
chose Joe Biden, a liberal Catholic, who is not in compliance with Christian
moral teaching on abortion or homosexuality.”
criterion that CADC set forth for a VP pick,” Cass said. “Unfortunately, Obama
chose Joe Biden, a liberal Catholic, who is not in compliance with Christian
moral teaching on abortion or homosexuality.”
Born into a Catholic family, Palin was baptized as a teen at Wasilla
Assembly of God (AG), which she and her family attended until 2002. During high
school she was president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “She’s always
portrayed great leadership qualities,” said Pepper, who attended high school
with Palin. “As long as I’ve known her she’s always been a very solid Christian
and great woman of faith. Solidly pro-life.”
Assembly of God (AG), which she and her family attended until 2002. During high
school she was president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “She’s always
portrayed great leadership qualities,” said Pepper, who attended high school
with Palin. “As long as I’ve known her she’s always been a very solid Christian
and great woman of faith. Solidly pro-life.”
In a statement posted on the church Web site, Wasilla AG leaders called
Palin “a woman of integrity,” a “servant of the people” and “a strong leader.”
Palin “a woman of integrity,” a “servant of the people” and “a strong leader.”
Former Wasilla youth minister Ted Boatsman, who until recently was the
district superintendent of the AG in Alaska, said Palin has taken on tough
issues during her tenure as governor. “She kind of bucked bureaucracy, you know
the way it was all established there,” he said. “She’s a gutsy lady, a strong
lady, believes in her faith, walks her faith out. … I think McCain showed great
wisdom. This lady is the genuine thing. She’s got a lot of courage; she’s
authentic.”
district superintendent of the AG in Alaska, said Palin has taken on tough
issues during her tenure as governor. “She kind of bucked bureaucracy, you know
the way it was all established there,” he said. “She’s a gutsy lady, a strong
lady, believes in her faith, walks her faith out. … I think McCain showed great
wisdom. This lady is the genuine thing. She’s got a lot of courage; she’s
authentic.”
Palin currently attends Wasilla Bible Church and visits Juneau Christian
Center (JCC), an AG congregation, during the legislative sessions. JCC pastor
Mike Rose described Palin as “a wonderful woman of God.” He said he has had a
“chance to watch her … improve our state. Her character is above
reproach.”
Center (JCC), an AG congregation, during the legislative sessions. JCC pastor
Mike Rose described Palin as “a wonderful woman of God.” He said he has had a
“chance to watch her … improve our state. Her character is above
reproach.”
Before McCain announced his running mate, many Christian conservatives were
fearful that he would choose a pro-choice vice president. But leaders such as
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson are calling Palin an “outstanding
choice,” pointing to her pro-life and pro-family positions as well as her
support for tax cuts and opposition to pork barrel spending.
fearful that he would choose a pro-choice vice president. But leaders such as
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson are calling Palin an “outstanding
choice,” pointing to her pro-life and pro-family positions as well as her
support for tax cuts and opposition to pork barrel spending.
Although at one time he said he would not vote for McCain, Dobson told the
Washington Times that McCain’s selection of Palin has won his full
support for the Republican ticket. “If flip-flopping is a sin, I'm a sinner,”
Dobson told the Times. In a subsequent statement, Dobson said Palin gives
conservative voters “confidence [McCain] will keep his pledges to voters
regarding the kinds of justices he would nominate to the Supreme Court.”
Washington Times that McCain’s selection of Palin has won his full
support for the Republican ticket. “If flip-flopping is a sin, I'm a sinner,”
Dobson told the Times. In a subsequent statement, Dobson said Palin gives
conservative voters “confidence [McCain] will keep his pledges to voters
regarding the kinds of justices he would nominate to the Supreme Court.”
Mathew Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University
School of Law, said Palin is an “absolutely brilliant” choice who has
“electrified conservatives.”
School of Law, said Palin is an “absolutely brilliant” choice who has
“electrified conservatives.”
“Gov. Palin can work with both parties and has shown she can clean up
government corruption,” said Staver, who endorsed McCain in July. “She has not
merely talked about the energy crisis, she has actively worked to create
solutions. … Personnel is policy. With the selection of Gov. Palin, Sen. John
McCain has proven that he can exercise sound judgment.”
government corruption,” said Staver, who endorsed McCain in July. “She has not
merely talked about the energy crisis, she has actively worked to create
solutions. … Personnel is policy. With the selection of Gov. Palin, Sen. John
McCain has proven that he can exercise sound judgment.”
Even Palin’s announcement Saturday that her 17-year-old daughter, Bristol,
is five months pregnant did not curb evangelical enthusiasm for the presumptive
vice presidential nominee. “This is the pro-life choice,” Richard Land,
president of Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty
Commission, said in a statement. “The fact that people will criticize her for
this shows the astounding extent to which the secular critics of the pro-life
movement just don't get it.
is five months pregnant did not curb evangelical enthusiasm for the presumptive
vice presidential nominee. “This is the pro-life choice,” Richard Land,
president of Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty
Commission, said in a statement. “The fact that people will criticize her for
this shows the astounding extent to which the secular critics of the pro-life
movement just don't get it.
“Those who criticize the Palin family don't understand that we don't see
babies as a punishment but as a blessing. Barack Obama said that if one of his
daughters made a mistake and got pregnant out of wedlock, he wouldn't want her
to be punished with a child. Pro-lifers don't see a child as punishment.”
babies as a punishment but as a blessing. Barack Obama said that if one of his
daughters made a mistake and got pregnant out of wedlock, he wouldn't want her
to be punished with a child. Pro-lifers don't see a child as punishment.”
Conservative supporters also reject the idea that Palin is too
inexperienced to be vice president. Although Palin has been governor of Alaska
for less than two years, they argue that her state’s budget is larger than
Arkansas’ was when Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992.
inexperienced to be vice president. Although Palin has been governor of Alaska
for less than two years, they argue that her state’s budget is larger than
Arkansas’ was when Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992.
“It is interesting to hear all of these liberals whine about foreign policy
experience,” said Andrea Lafferty, executive director of the Traditional Values
Coalition “Where were they when the Democrats were nominating Bill Clinton, a
governor of Arkansas, to be president? How about Jimmy Carter, a peanut farmer
from rural Georgia? The audacity of their hypocrisy is galling.
experience,” said Andrea Lafferty, executive director of the Traditional Values
Coalition “Where were they when the Democrats were nominating Bill Clinton, a
governor of Arkansas, to be president? How about Jimmy Carter, a peanut farmer
from rural Georgia? The audacity of their hypocrisy is galling.
“This was a very wise move by Sen. McCain. He has done what Sen. Obama
refused to do—pick a qualified woman to be his running mate. Instead, Obama
picked a Washington insider who has been part of the old guard of radical
liberals who are still trying to raise taxes, protect the abortion industry and
pack our federal courts with activist judges.”
refused to do—pick a qualified woman to be his running mate. Instead, Obama
picked a Washington insider who has been part of the old guard of radical
liberals who are still trying to raise taxes, protect the abortion industry and
pack our federal courts with activist judges.”
Phil Burress president of Cincinnati-based Citizens for Community Values
Action, expects Palin’s selection to generate significant grass-roots support
for the Republican ticket in the swing state of Ohio. “The choice of Alaska Gov.
Sarah Palin as vice-presidential running mate has just converted thousands of
McCain voters in Ohio to McCain-Palin volunteers and workers,” Burress
said in a statement.
Action, expects Palin’s selection to generate significant grass-roots support
for the Republican ticket in the swing state of Ohio. “The choice of Alaska Gov.
Sarah Palin as vice-presidential running mate has just converted thousands of
McCain voters in Ohio to McCain-Palin volunteers and workers,” Burress
said in a statement.
“Sarah Palin is a working mom; a woman who is unabashedly and personally
pro-life; a lifetime member of the NRA; a true frontierswoman who, while
challenging the influence of big oil companies and while being environmentally
conscientious, is in favor of oil drilling in her own state as part of a program
to achieve energy independence. And, like McCain, she’s a maverick—a woman who
is in no way attached to the Washington bureaucracy. What more could
conservative voters ask for? … The selection of Sarah Palin is exactly what they
were waiting for.” — Adrienne Gaines
pro-life; a lifetime member of the NRA; a true frontierswoman who, while
challenging the influence of big oil companies and while being environmentally
conscientious, is in favor of oil drilling in her own state as part of a program
to achieve energy independence. And, like McCain, she’s a maverick—a woman who
is in no way attached to the Washington bureaucracy. What more could
conservative voters ask for? … The selection of Sarah Palin is exactly what they
were waiting for.” — Adrienne Gaines
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