tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post2560116386359918470..comments2023-09-03T09:41:19.680-04:00Comments on Humble Beginnings: I Will Vote For Obamablbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-46330379690860847782008-09-04T21:53:00.000-04:002008-09-04T21:53:00.000-04:00Ben, Luis just pointed me to your blog. I see you...Ben, <BR/>Luis just pointed me to your blog. I see you wrote it in Feb. I'm curious, now that much more has developed, if you hold the same views, and conclusions.<BR/>-Brian HossinkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-6175804953668144102008-03-12T20:28:00.000-04:002008-03-12T20:28:00.000-04:00Thanks Ben, I appreciate your thoughts. I also wa...Thanks Ben, I appreciate your thoughts. I also wanted to let you know that I check up on your blog when I get chance. Sorry I've been lurking and not leaving comments. I hope you and Sam are doing well. Just heard your dad preach last week. Miss you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-87118950207646287812008-03-05T22:14:00.000-05:002008-03-05T22:14:00.000-05:00How about the judges issue? At least there's some...How about the judges issue? At least there's some chance that McCain will appoint conservative, pro-life judges. I doubt that Obama will.<BR/><BR/>BTW, feel free to check out my blog. I wrote a recent post on my vote on October 4 and offered some thoughts on Obama.James Patehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14247799389009268470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-25341385675938101932008-02-28T22:06:00.000-05:002008-02-28T22:06:00.000-05:00You're probably harsher with McCain than I would b...You're probably harsher with McCain than I would be (and I'm neither a Democrat nor a Republican) but I find your post refreshing. It gives me hope that there are Christians who are willing to examine all the issues that are relevant to a cmpaign, and not be swayed by just one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-45788670521780055032008-02-28T17:52:00.000-05:002008-02-28T17:52:00.000-05:00Hi, Hillary.(@7.16pm)Hi, Hillary.<BR/><BR/><BR/>(@7.16pm)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-77024832284931154132008-02-27T19:16:00.000-05:002008-02-27T19:16:00.000-05:00Bad choice.Bad choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-72914332775558460582008-02-26T22:18:00.000-05:002008-02-26T22:18:00.000-05:00ben this may be the only thing we ever agree about...ben this may be the only thing we ever agree about. i love barack obamaaaaa. i think he's an immature politican with so much God-given potential to reach new heights.<BR/><BR/>I believe he's the more pragmatic of the two democratic candidates. I am a democrat. McCain is a moderate moron. Clinton's failed health care plan is showing her lack of intelligence as she is biting at something that's already been done with. Obama plans to pay for his child health care plan the same way but clearly his plan is going to be more effective. <BR/><BR/>I completely agree about connecting with society. He worked for the worst neighborhoods of Chicago and fought against gerrymandering and other social issues. As he grew up in a variety of places, Indonesia and Hawaii namely, he experienced different lifestyles and I really think that has shaped him into who he is. His brief drug battles have helped mold him into who he is. I find no use at picking at his past. He's not perfect.<BR/><BR/>I truly do believe his maturity level has a long way to go. Of all the candidates, he may be one of the less experienced candidates, however he has proven that he has the ability to give America the change it needs. He has the experience of being the first as he was the first African American president of the harvard law review. He has the iron clad determination to make the most of what he has.<BR/><BR/>On another note to the above about pro-life. I honestly do not believe that America can ever be pro-life. America is country where on in seven girls lose their virginity BEFORE they turn 15. stupidity, immorality and corruption are part of America and no matter how much Christians argue that America needs to turn around, it's not going to. America isn't going to go back to women that lived in the house till they were married and never got an education. We are moving forward and with that comes the negatives and we have to accept those. They are wrong but they come with the package deal of progressivism. Abortion is wrong but I am pro-choice. I believe that it is not my business nor yours to make a decision for an independent female.<BR/><BR/>I really think Obama is the best candidate because he is level-headed, reasonable, and connected.gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05058565966853377344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-86881879829398951092008-02-26T21:55:00.000-05:002008-02-26T21:55:00.000-05:00Good post,I have felt the same way, I am a pastor ...Good post,<BR/><BR/>I have felt the same way, I am a pastor of an evangelical church and yet I am mostly likely going to vote for Obama. I think your inclination to vote for a Democrat is becoming more common for evangelicals. I even posted on the trend of evangelicals not a reliable Republican voting block anymore.<BR/><BR/>http://www.provocativechurch.com/2008/02/god-is-not-republicanor-democrat.html<BR/><BR/>billBill Reicharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15760818211029009936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-87344121435948581712008-02-26T20:12:00.000-05:002008-02-26T20:12:00.000-05:00Ben! I can't - well, actually, I can - believe wha...Ben! I can't - well, actually, I can - believe what I'm reading! You, a hopemongerer? There is joy in heaven! <BR/><BR/>Seriously, though, I think it is a wise choice. If I may speak for myself and other non-American evangelicals (and I know quite a few), the unquestioning support given by American Christians to the Republican party is tremendously, utterly puzzling to many (probably most) of us. <BR/><BR/>Not that there aren't some understandable reasons why this has been so in the past. But what you say about Republicans being able to enlist evangelicals for almost any cause, however unchristian, as long as the party paid lip service to the cause of outlawing abortion, has been evident to me since I came to the US a few years ago. <BR/><BR/>It would be wonderful if this changed, especially given the political unfeasibility of banning abortion outright, and how much can be done to prevent it by other means. Why don't Christians lobby for giving better opportunities to low income teenage girls, improving adoption programs, giving support to single mothers in the form of education, training, access to decent health care for them and their children, and so on? (I won't mention sex education that leads to less unwanted pregnancies, because I see reasons why Christians could disagree, but mostly because then your suspicions that I must be the most liberal of your friends would be confirmed, and I would have to beg for your compassionate understanding...)<BR/><BR/>Friend, I still owe you an email, which will be coming soon, once I'm done with some school work that has been consuming my time.<BR/><BR/>In Christ,<BR/><BR/>LuisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-4268941732336241582008-02-26T19:53:00.000-05:002008-02-26T19:53:00.000-05:00Ben,A Brit here who has an interest in American po...Ben,<BR/><BR/>A Brit here who has an interest in American politics and an understanding that America currently pwns the UK so the next President will affect us.<BR/><BR/>Me and my wife are Christians, born again, charismatic, pentecostal, whatever label you want to use we're in that sphere.<BR/><BR/>We're also totally for Obama. Clinton has shown herself to sell out to the highest bidder, McCain is just a flip-flopper and will say whatever his audience (whoever they are) want to hear.<BR/><BR/>Many Brits are also apathetic to politics seeing the whole political process through a cynical eye. However I would say they are wrong and I would say that it's a shame Matt feels the same way they do.<BR/><BR/>You are right to assert that none of the previous Republican candidates have done sod all about it, and that evangelicals have been duped (it's worth reading God's Politics by Jim Wallis for a good insight on this).<BR/><BR/>What is it about the abortion issue anyway? Don't get me wrong, check out my previous posts on abortion on my blog to see where I stand. I see the battle over abortion being won on a personal level rather than a political one (which will never succeed).<BR/><BR/>We are so concerned about the first 9 months of a persons life, but what happens when they've left the womb?<BR/><BR/>The church should be offering the answer through adoption and education, not campaigning and expecting a politician to solve what is a moral, spiritual and social issue.<BR/><BR/>Here's a question. How many "pro-lifers" favour the death penalty?<BR/><BR/>I don't see many verses in the bible that reference abortion but there are plenty about the poor and forgiveness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-1626460488216114052008-02-24T20:38:00.000-05:002008-02-24T20:38:00.000-05:00Thanks for this Ben, I've been wrestling with whet...Thanks for this Ben, I've been wrestling with whether or not to vote for Obama myself, and I've still got a lot of research to do. <BR/><BR/>As for as not being a "one-issue" voter, I'm with you. The only thing that really concerns me is who he might appoint as a Supreme Court Justice. Although the past few presidents did little-to-nothing on the issue of abortion, new Supreme Court Justices could impact that issue, and many others, for decades to come. What are your thoughts on new judges?noneuclideanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00401446537047753731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-78260835243471713452008-02-24T00:45:00.000-05:002008-02-24T00:45:00.000-05:00Ben, Have you read Joe Carter's thoughts recently ...Ben, Have you read Joe Carter's thoughts recently on why it is important to have a pro-life president? I read your post some time ago re: not being a 'one-issue' voter, but I am not convinced of your position. I am sympathetic to it, but not convinced. Convince me.<BR/><BR/>Here is the link to Carter's post: http://www.evangelicaloutpost.com/archives/004245.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-78897183405274916732008-02-22T18:04:00.000-05:002008-02-22T18:04:00.000-05:00Hey Matt,Thanks for your thoughts. I do see the v...Hey Matt,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your thoughts. I do see the value in what you are saying. However, I would ask this... why is it necessary for a Christian to demand smaller government? As far as I can tell, there is no guidance on that specific aspect of political philosophy in the Bible. <BR/><BR/>Although I agree that generally a conservative is for smaller government, I don't think a person who is a little further to the left (and on the grand political scale, it really isn't that significant a difference) will be able to make overly harmful changes in that area in the course of 4-8 years... at least, not much worse than what conservative leaders have done in the past 8!<BR/><BR/>I guess my big thing in this election has been trying to reject all the normal things that I vote for simply because, "it's what conservatives do" and tried to make decisions based on how I best understand my role as a Christian in a, "foreign land." To say that a certain category is a "Christian" voting category merely because it is, "conservative," is to me both false and dangerous.<BR/><BR/>If your intent is to merely interact with me as a conservative (rather than as Christians) then you make an excellent point, but I think my arguments in the blog answer that question.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by!blbartletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-19895480536642698292008-02-22T14:41:00.000-05:002008-02-22T14:41:00.000-05:00If you want to make a statement that evangelicals ...If you want to make a statement that evangelicals are not a monolithic voting bloc for the Republican Party, voting for the Democrats is not the answer.<BR/><BR/>I'm not voting for any of the major party candidates, McCain included, and since been told that I'm essentially voting for killing babies. That logical fallacy notwithstanding, I would say that any claim of conservatism you may make is betrayed by a willingness to vote for perhaps the most liberal senator in our Congress. <BR/><BR/>You have obviously taken the time to listen to Sen. Obama, so you have no doubt realized that his answer for everything is government, certainly not what I or any conservative or Christian would consider a hopeful vision. He's got a government answer for every demographic you can think of, and that is his message of hope. That's not "change we can believe in," but the same thing every liberal politician has been saying for at least 66 years now.<BR/><BR/>If he is a believer (an issue about which I personally am very skeptical) I would hope his "Call for Renewal" would have more to do with faith than political answers.<BR/><BR/>Brother, I'm with you on McCain. Everything you wrote about him I agree with. I'm with you on not voting for the GOP candidate this year. They have squandered their opportunity and do not deserve our votes (in my opinion). However, I humbly submit to you that voting the other way is not the answer.<BR/><BR/>Just my two cents.Matt Privetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11681870687357651659noreply@blogger.com