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Are evangelicals getting behind Governor Romney?

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    Marcia Segelstein and TJ McCormack on how their support is in key swing states

  • Duration 7:28
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Billy Graham is facing a backlash over removal of the reference to Mormon is -- as a -- fun.

His organization's web site and the removal came within just the day of the -- Angeles meeting with GOP presidential nominee and Mormon Mitt Romney.

Evangelicals have been one of the greatest challenges for Romney to -- -- his bid for the presidency.

And mainly because many evangelicals do -- view mormons as Christians.

And that's the first topic for the spirited debate panel and joining me on the show is Marcia -- Stein senior editor of -- magazine.

And TJ McCormack conservative radio talk show host welcome to you about.

All right so I've been reading the Blogosphere about Billy Graham and his decision to back Romney well actually not officially but he said.

I'll do what I can't help and then the ads so.

Is Billy Graham sort of selling out to that this idea that you know it's.

-- -- partisanship over piety.

I know I don't think so I don't think the president of the United States has to be a Christian for Christians to vote for him or her.

I think.

I don't what -- and taking down the eve reference to being a cult.

But I -- for him for a pretty happy he had to and if at that people think that he's supporting -- not saying that he's saying vote for biblical values that's a totally reasonable thing to do and I support that -- -- and and he also knows what Barack Obama is and what he stands for.

I know a man who.

That's going to be voted present.

For that that that -- as a state Senator McCain in Illinois Santana gave catered to -- are actually voted for a foreign reporter or president laid back.

That's what that is that is Barack Obama's values system and that is what Billy Graham knows he's -- had a message against -- -- And I'm grateful for that.

And if you don't wanna see -- that BG EA said.

In response to some of this is as we do not wish to participate in a theological debate about something that has become politicized during this campaign.

You know.

OK I couldn't believe all of that I can believe all of that what they're saying -- probably what you're saying about that it is not selling out but.

Why take the reference out only.

After you meet with Mitt Romney and not before no one -- that's coming down the pike.

I I guess I guess it you know it it had to be done and probably bedtime and you should have been a little bit of foresight we shouldn't have been on the website in the first place you know you can avoid the that the you know some some controversies aren't really that necessary things can I I I would -- can go unspoken but again it's it's it's it's ever gonna granderson and being a little bit above my pay grade there but you know I don't know I think it probably should -- -- that frank.

And where it was actually pulling shots here that's not Billy Graham who's ninety what was your vote yes I don't I believe and I Billy Graham has a pretty good.

Handle on things that not only that -- saying I think he has a he's been consistent.

About his views would.

About marriage about abortion there's no change in -- so you've got a choice between these two candidates.

Right it's it's pragmatism I mean that's for the but it comes down to if if he took it off because he wants people to vote for Romney if that's the case then that's just a pragmatic -- and you can.

-- -- -- Also -- to use of favorite term of the the -- left media it would be nice to maybe think that maybe somebody in this organization is maybe involving a bit on their position.

It of Mormon president and if the president has allowed to evolve over the course.

Avaya determined presidency -- perhaps the Gramm organizations -- Well mormons and there's a lot of heat coming out about this is is -- -- to win who's admired Billy Graham.

He says I will never again support anything by Billy Graham -- because association.

His supervision to the United Methodist Church district in Fayetteville.

That's one again so that some others here talking about.

That's.

They're basically.

Coming down on the side of against.

I guess Billy Graham Bill Keller is one of them we've got some others as it basically saying it had this event until locals do not view Mormon innocent.

As christianity.

And the reason why is because they equate the book of Mormon with the bottom -- part of the Bible and in Jimenez and -- say no.

But one of the main sticking points is that mormons do not view the trinity.

As.

One person with 303.

PU and one body right it's like three separate -- father some police.

-- that's really a departure from traditional christianity picture and it's Italy -- departure from being a bit.

I I think again -- whether or not suddenly Billy Graham is is can.

Don't even endorsing -- again I don't know if that's the point and he's certainly taken some some lumps over his decades and decades.

You know from from from he's used to -- he's used to taken taken analogy but also I don't think these are people that we're necessarily gonna be voting.

For.

Barack Obama anyway I guess it's sort of like the final count capital and a little bit as if it does one.

I'm a little one of these for -- -- maybe some evangelicals that would that would just looking for one more green light to know that they can do this yeah I -- It's an organization and I evangelicals for -- so there was some bombings and ground brown wrote grassroots level to support Mitt -- but I think.

If you haven't.

Strong views about abortion.

About same sex marriage.

A balance of euthanasia all of those things to your only choice only choice is on the Republican side -- and only because.

Those things exist on the democratic platform straighter and for this guy get past him to say that it seems like a pretty extreme reaction I think that's never going to -- -- -- grand.

Billy Graham has got record decades and decades -- line and has done so much good in the world.

I think that's a pretty dramatically extreme reaction to -- I'm second trust him anymore.

They're -- saying vote your conscience vote -- -- values that's okay.

You know what -- you mentioned was why don't they just respond -- own up to it.

I don't think they necessarily have to there but I think they have to what impelled them to do yet I mean -- -- religious organization.

They can't really come out and say that they are 41 political.

Party or another or candidate or another I think it's OK I think it's already a ticket you can be cynical about it average at the site I would be cynical about it don't.

What happen if they didn't -- that reference out.

And that Billy Graham still left with that.

I'll do what I can't help.

And then journals would go and say but yeah did you say that -- yeah called mormonism -- -- why you're supporting a guy.

Article because that would -- -- red meat for that for that left media day you know a couple of blocks away to don't have enough.

Field that it's one thing to have it there on the website to be able to go to a -- would go to it.

And that's another than to say it was there at least -- takes some of the bite out of out of right now that takes it pulls some of the punch back -- and this is one of these segments I think we should just start damned if you do you.

Has -- and you can take a lot of -- way no matter which way I -- I I said that on a religious show but I mean I think it really blow us up up in the point Daniel.

Cooked in a way to -- matter what you didn't you shouldn't criticize either way yes let me move on and an excellent topic -- -- things is -- I think it's gonna heat up.

And I don't think that.

Either side -- -- with democratic sites that let this -- --

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