- 31
- Oct
Who would have thought that asking candidates simple straight forward questions about a variety of important issues would cause some folks to decide they need to blast the inquirer for daring to ask such meaningful and probing questions?
Is it asking too much of a candidate to clarify how he or she feels about abortion? Is needing clarity regarding a politician’s beliefs on stem cell research a partisan question? Is it not fair for home school parents to know where someone running for office stands on school vouchers? Isn’t the death penalty an important issue to voters?
It amazes me that people want to “shoot the messenger” for exposing how candidates feel about real issues that are important to Christians. Are candidates so busy they don’t have time to answer a brief questionnaire from the third-largest news publication in Oklahoma? Is it wrong for the Baptist Messenger to publish a candidate’s response, even if it differs from the opinion of a reader? Is it the Baptist Messenger’s fault that a Southern Baptist Governor supports the expansion of gambling in our state? Is it the Baptist Messenger’s fault that a former Congressman running for Governor is against gambling, but is a Mormon? Apparently so, based on some of the reactions I have received.
Here is the bottom line. The Baptist Messenger, the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Family Policy Council don’t endorse or support political candidates or parties. What should matter to Oklahoma Baptists is where the candidates stand on the issues. I don’t care whether you support a donkey or an elephant or whether your blood bleeds blue or red. It concerns me little if you live in little Dixie or a high-rise apartment. What concerns me is whether your party affiliation will get in the way of how your conscience tells you to vote regarding the issues and how the candidates you elect represent your values.
The issues are what matter. Know where your candidate stands on the issues, then get out and vote your God given conscience. And if you have to, be a party pooper!
Ray E. Sanders is executive editor of the Baptist Messenger.
November 2nd, 2006 at 2:44 pm
Thanks for your courage in speaking up for Christian social values that all Christians should be voting for at a higher priority than anything else. These values should certainly have a much higher priority than party affiliation. God is our only protection and our only provider and we abandon His laws at our own peril. Each Christian voter should answer the following question with his vote: Do we worship God or do we worship the dollar, (which includes our economic philosophy)? Not voting is almost as bad as voting for someone who does not represent our social Christian values.
November 7th, 2006 at 11:32 am
The questions asked by the survey were apparently softball questions supplied by the Republican party. There weren’t any questions about political corruption, corporate scandals, taking our country to war under false pretences, or homosexual affairs by those who oppose such things by their votes in congress or in their sermons. Where does the right wing stand on truth and honesty in government?
It’s fine for the Baptist Messenger to speak through editorials. Please leave the “unbiased” surveys to the special interest groups that produce them and don’t use our Cooperative Progarm funds to print and mail them out.
November 10th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
Joe,
The Voters Guide is without question nonpartisan. Questions were asked from a faith a family perspective. The questions that were asked were done so because they relate to issues that are of concern to many Christians of both parties.
Our hope was to encourage discussion regarding these issues and to provide insight as to how candidates feel regarding these issues. And by the way, not that it would have been wrong to do so, but no Cooperative Program dollars were used to print the Voters Guide.
Knowing how candidates respond to such questions will hopefully help voters determine which candidates are closest to their own convictions.
Like you there are many issues that we would have liked to have included. Our criteria had nothing to do with party platform but issues important to many Christians.
I hope this is a perspective you would expect from the Messenger. Thanks for taking the time to express your concerns. I hope this response clarifies our intentions. If family values are to ever penetrate our culture it will no doubt take government officials and members from both sides of the aisle and political spectrums.
November 15th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
ray -
i know i speak for many when i say ‘thank you’ for all the work on the voter guide…joe the liberal baptist can spout the liberal talking points - toeing the donkey line - but it was far more telling to many of us that the vast majority of dems chose not to respond…i wonder if they would’ve chosen to respond had the survey come from a more liberal friendly media source? i won’t name names but we all know which outlets i’m refering to
shame on us though collectively for not using the excellent tool you gave us to our advantage on election day…i have to remember that god is sovereign and place my trust in him when events turn like they did last tuesday
keep up the good work
SMG