Friends, this is Grant from the Matthew 25 Network.
Tomorrow will mark a turning point of the faith and politics dialogue in America as Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain come together to discuss faith at Saddleback Church. The Republican Party has nominated a man who has failed to ignite the GOP’s traditional Christian voting bloc. While, the Democrats have nominated Sen. Barack Obama who is unabashed in speaking about faith, and who is igniting the imaginations of Christians nation-wide.
The forum will also be the first time clergy have appeared in a commercial to speak out in support of a Democratic Presidential Candidate. Clergy are tasked with counseling families through health-care crisis and job-losses, with helping congregants inject a moral-mindset in world-affairs, comforting families of those lost at war, and continuously being the voice of ‘the least of these’ to those who often have the most. Thousands of Pastors, Priest, Sisters, and Brothers who have stood on the sidelines in the past are speaking out this year for one candidate – Barack Obama.
Here is our first ad – "Families"
The Ad Stars Brian McLaren – pastor and author – who is one of the biggest voices in the Church today. Brian is not only a best-selling author, but he is also one of the pioneers of the ‘emergent’ Church movement. Representing millions of Christians the ‘emergent’ Church is refocusing Christianity on community, environment, and caring for the ‘least of these.’ This year is the first time Brian has endorsed a candidate – and he is really going full in.
Kirbyjohn Caldwell and Suzette Caldwell – Pastor Caldwell officiated Jenna Bush’s wedding and spoke at GWB’s inauguration. This year he chose Barack.
And Lisa Sowle Cahill – who is one of the biggest names in Theology Today. Lisa Cahill is a major voice for Catholic Women, and will be a great voice for Barack in the coming month.
In the coming months you will see more ads spots in various formates on Torture, the Poverty, the AIDS crisis, and the Environment from us.
Sen. Barack Obama has called for health care for all, a middle-class economy, a foreign policy based on human rights, an end to rash wars, and a comprehensive war on poverty.
While Sen. McCain has called for more private health care firms, a top-1% economy, a brash and irresponsible foreign policy, unequivocal support for nearly every opportunity for armed conflict, and a ‘trickle-down’ solution to poverty.
The Matthew 25 Network is not going to hold back in letting Christians know there is only one candidate who truly cares for the ‘Least of These.’
This is the first ad, which is an introduction; it will run during the forum. But we need you help in getting it up. Please offer a contribution.
You all raised $4,000 in 24 hours for our radio responses to James Dobson earlier this summer – Can We Match It?
McCain’s Christian Gap
Three months after the general election campaign has started, the Obama Campaign and the Matthew 25 Network have already made significant inroads into the largest voting bloc in the nation – Christian voters.
Last week Christian research firm the Barna Group released a poll showing drastic movement amongst Christian voters when compared to 2000 and 2004. Sen. Obama holds a substantial lead amongst all Christians – 43% to 34%. While many Christians, of all groups, remain undecided.
It is worth noting that one should not be simply talking about ‘hard votes,’ but also the degree to which evangelical Christians were George Bush’s volunteer base in 2000 and 2004. This year most Christians who are getting involved are volunteering for Sen. Barack Obama.
Many Christians were already wondering what they had gotten in return for the ‘Christian Right’ movement from the GOP. What happened to ‘compassionate conservatism’? And, John McCain’s brand of 'compassionless conservatism’ is only serving to foster the gap. Why does John McCain has a Christian voter problem? The answer is simple. He is opposed, or offers no solution, to nearly every issue people of faith find important this year in poll after poll.
This year a few ‘wedge’ issues or ballot initiatives are not going to distract us from our common challenges. This moment is too trying - too important - and, Barack Obama is the only presidential candidate speaking about what concerns Christians.
But we need your help in spreading that message! We may not win evangelicals. We will be doing really well to hold a 5% lead amongst Christian voters. But, if we can increase our Evangelical and Catholic margins we’ll push back against the GOP in their most coveted regions.
Sen. McCain’s 'compassionless conservatism’ has guided him to be one of the most anti-family candidates this nation has ever seen. While Sen. Obama began his career in faith-based organization fighting for families on Chicago’s south-side. We have to spread that message. And, currently the Matthew 25 Network are the only people up on Christian radio or producing ads targeted at Christian Voters.
Please offer what you can to help this effort!
I’ll stick around for questions and comments!
Grant
Update Transcript!
TV Ad Script "Families" 30 sec.
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Brian McLaren: Senator Obama began his career working with churches to support families when they lost their jobs.
Pastor Caldwell: As a pastor, I know that you can learn a lot about a man's character based on how he treats his family.
Pastor Suzette Caldwell: Barack is a man of strong Christian faith who has been married to his wife Michelle for 16 years and is the proud father of two beautiful girls.
Lisa Cahill: He understands the pressures family are under and what it takes to help families thrive.
Pastor Caldwell: Senator Obama has stood by families his entire career--
Pastor Suzette Caldwell: including his own--
Brian McLaren: and as President he will stand by yours.
On Screen: We proudly support Senator Obama for President
Matthew 25 Network – Matthew25.org
Update: McCain Spokesman Brian Rogers responds to the ad and our surrogates' comments - "These people are Obama campaign surrogates. These kinds of personal attacks are disgraceful. This absolutely exposes the hypocrisy of Obama's claim to represent a 'new kind of politics." We are not "surrogates"... I for one am just and M.Div student trying to make a bit of change in this nation. Nobody in the ad is a 'surrogate' either.