Stand on abortion could cost Harper votes-evangelical leader

[pirapoi]

free_life2 wrote:

I disagree. Lets see how he fairs in this election, he won't be getting a majority by picking votes on the left and he keeps losing more and more votes from the right.

Well, he's picking up votes and seats from somewhere

2004 CPC 29.63% - 99 seats

2006 CPC 36.27% - 124 seats

2008 CPC 37.65% - 143 seats

[politics101]

It will earn him just as many, especially in places the CPC needs to make up ground in - urban centres.

[free_life2]

free_life2 wrote:

I disagree. Lets see how he fairs in this election, he won't be getting a majority by picking votes on the left and he keeps losing more and more votes from the right.

Well, he's picking up votes and seats from somewhere

2004 CPC 29.63% - 99 seats

2006 CPC 36.27% - 124 seats

2008 CPC 37.65% - 143 seats

As I said, lets see how he does this election. I know he lost son-con votes last election, but others held their nose and voted for what they thought was the lesser of the evils.

[BlawBlaw]

Abortion is a loser issue in urban ridings. He doesn't want to give the opposition something to smear him with that might turn off centrist voters, rather than lefties.

[pirapoi]

free_life2 wrote:

I know he lost son-con votes last election

Lost them to who?

CHP was down 1,677 from 06.

[Peter O'Donnell]

Does anyone here believe that large numbers of evangelicals vote Liberal or NDP? My thought on this -- either it's fiction, or they have counted some liberal protestants as "evangelicals" because they are active in outreach programs (but declared social liberals).

I spent four years in an evangelical congregation in Peterborough and doubt that there were even five per cent who would vote anything but CHP or (at that time) Reform.

[Connie Fournier]

Abortion is a loser issue in urban ridings. He doesn't want to give the opposition something to smear him with that might turn off centrist voters, rather than lefties.

He's an idiot. Instead of taking a neutral stand, he falls into the trap of making rash promises about shutting down democracy. The Liberals know that if they corner him with questions on this issue, he will overreact and say something stupid...and he always does. He's lost my vote because he isn't a leader. He's a coward.

[free_life2]

free_life2 wrote:

I know he lost son-con votes last election

Lost them to who?

CHP was down 1,677 from 06.

The CHP ran a small slate of candidates, there was no CHP candidate in my riding, many like myself spoiled their ballots last election or did not vote. Harper picked up all he is ever going to get from the center left and alienating more and more conservatives on lots of issues including so-cons like myself gets him where? A perpetual minority is where.

Even if he was pro life in policy I doubt I could vote for someone who wants to remove our right to internet privacy and has repeatedly enabled the commissions to come after conservatives and Christians over their freedom of speech.

Other than foreign policy he pretty stands for everything I am against including a smaller less intrusive government. This guy is not a conservative by any measure. But hey he runs under the "Conservative" banner so lets throw away any chance at conservatism in the future in Canada and vote for him because we must support the banner even though it values and policies are in opposition to ours as conservatives. NUTS!

[Hailey]

Pastors need to speak from the pulpit informing Christians where Harper stands on abortion.

Harper's own Pastor doesn't even care.

[free_life2]

Does anyone here believe that large numbers of evangelicals vote Liberal or NDP? My thought on this -- either it's fiction, or they have counted some liberal protestants as "evangelicals" because they are active in outreach programs (but declared social liberals).

I spent four years in an evangelical congregation in Peterborough and doubt that there were even five per cent who would vote anything but CHP or (at that time) Reform.

The number of young evangelicals who are for socialism is much much larger than most people realize. They want social justice as they state it and since there is not a viable party that supports their values on abortion and morals they feel quite comfortable voting for socialists. They see people like Harper as wanting to create a police state and reward their cronies on Bay St at the expense of the poor...and they are not so far off the mark.

I was at a BBQ last summer with a group of evangelical men and the conversation at one point turned to politics..... everyone one of them were socialists... I was very surprised not one person agreed with me on conservative thinking... and not one of them was under 40.

I work with a lot of evangelicals in their twenty's and early thirties, the vast majority of them lean left, "social Justice" is their focus in politics.

[free_life2]

Pastors need to speak from the pulpit informing Christians where Harper stands on abortion.

Harper's own Pastor doesn't even care.

I have seen more Pastors speak strongly lately regarding abortion and homosexuality, publicly. I think they are seeing the results of the doctrine of tolerance of things that God forbids within their congregations and it is awakening them to be more bold in what they preach. This is just a small sampling though, I don't have a handle on the pulpits across the country.

[Fairwarning]

Does anyone here believe that large numbers of evangelicals vote Liberal or NDP? My thought on this -- either it's fiction, or they have counted some liberal protestants as "evangelicals" because they are active in outreach programs (but declared social liberals).

I spent four years in an evangelical congregation in Peterborough and doubt that there were even five per cent who would vote anything but CHP or (at that time) Reform.

The number of young evangelicals who are for socialism is much much larger than most people realize. They want social justice as they state it and since there is not a viable party that supports their values on abortion and morals they feel quite comfortable voting for socialists. They see people like Harper as wanting to create a police state and reward their cronies on Bay St at the expense of the poor...and they are not so far off the mark.

I was at a BBQ last summer with a group of evangelical men and the conversation at one point turned to politics..... everyone one of them were socialists... I was very surprised not one person agreed with me on conservative thinking... and not one of them was under 40.

I work with a lot of evangelicals in their twenty's and early thirties, the vast majority of them lean left, "social Justice" is their focus in politics.

And some I know are not evangelicals in the 20s but older. I know of husband and wives being members of Baptist, Free Methodist, even Pentecostal churches who vote liberal both federally and provincially just about every election. I have a friend who is retired, a Baptist, who votes NDP...makes me want to

I know another man in his early 50s, works at a Christian rehab center near Ottawa ON, a real holy roller type, member of the Brethren Chruch(I'm not even sure of all their beliefs) and told me he votes liberal or NDP. This is a person who gives you the impression that God has placed a halo over his head but yet he is sympathetic towards islam, believes in pro-choice, hates Harper and his right wingers etc etc....confusing moron really to talk to in my opinion and in the end a person you want to walk away from or slap.

In my opinion, a lot of "Christians" have no social causes and have very weak political ideologies.

[TeamNeedles]

And some I know are not evangelicals in the 20s but older. I know of husband and wives being members of Baptist, Free Methodist, even Pentecostal churches who vote liberal both federally and provincially just about every election. I have a friend who is retired, a Baptist, who votes NDP...makes me want to

Maybe this New Democrat baptist has the same economic policies as that one guy from the bible.... what was his name... Jesus?

[Canadian Dad]

You're right Needles, Jesus was the original Peter Pan, stealing from the rich to give to the poor.

[politics101]

Perhaps these people have the maturity to be able to separate their own personal religious convictions with the realization that they are part of a great community. If they want to live by a certain code of ethics, power to them. When people attempt to force others into following their particular beliefs, thats where I have a problem. Nobody is forcing anyone into having an abortion, or marrying a person of the same-sex. On the other hand so-cons (not merely Christians) appear to want nothing more than to control the mind, body, and spirit of the "other." Worry about your own self. Let others decide how they want to live.