Quietly, unobtrusively, with no announcement to the media, our hopefully next President met with Evangelicals in Chicago yesterday.
A story in NPR this afternoon discussed Senator Obama's "surprise" conference with Evangelicals in Chicago yesterday. He met with Evangelicals of all persuasions from liberals to moderates to hard core conservatives. He was grilled on his stance on abortion of course. It was mentioned that Franklin Graham asked him about his "Muslim background." (Does this guy live in a hole in the ground?) I'm not a believer myself, but I respect people who honestly believe and act on those beliefs. What excites me is first of all that Senator Obama did this, and that he did it without fanfare. He didn't tell anyone he was going to do it. He just did it. If Hilary Clinton had done this, you know it would have been all over the news. The NPR reporter asked the editor of a Christian newspaper what he thought. He said that while he may not have converted many voters, he at least opened a dialogue. The Republicans have been really great at making religious people think that it's an "us vs. them" world. I doubt the hard core religious right who base all their votes on abortion and gay marriage will change their minds. However if Sen Obama can convince moderates to support him, it could be the latest poll saying that 54% of people think he will win, will come true. When Senator Obama graciously complimented Sen. Clinton, my husband said in admiration, "He's really a class act." Let's hope more of the electorate realize this. After 8 years of Bush/Cheney, we could use some class bck in the White House!