WashPost Says Evangelicals Turning Against the War --- Offers NO Proof

By Warner Todd Huston (Bio | Archive)
March 26, 2007 - 04:54 ET

It is always interesting to me how a story can be published as if it is serious work, a story that almost seems plausible until you step back from it to realize that not a shred of proof to support the supposition was ever offered. After you're done reading it you realize that all you ended up with were empty phrases like "some say" or "many are" instead of any statistics, studies or other proof. Such is the case with the Washington Post's story titled, "War Causing Split Among Evangelicals". In fact, writer Julie Sullivan flat out admits that there is no proof for her supposition that “many” evangelical Christians are turning away from the war... but she postulates the premise any way.

No polling data show conclusively that opinion has shifted among conservative evangelicals.

This is only the fourth paragraph (the previous three being one sentence affairs) so you'd think she could just retire the piece right there. But, no we have to start right up with the "some say" routine.

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But some national evangelical leaders say debate about -- and, in some cases, opposition to -- the war is breaking out among Christian conservatives whose support was key to President Bush's election victories.

Yes and SOME Christians say that the earth is only 6,000 years old and that the end times are here right now. But that doesn't mean either of those ideas are prevailing sentiments among Christians. Next Sullivan gives what she imagines are the "reasons" all these evangelicals are suddenly turning against the GOP.

Frustration with Republicans' failure to overturn abortion rights is said to have fueled skepticism among some evangelicals. Others decry the war's human toll and financial cost and are concerned about any use of torture.

Yes, Julie, and "other evangelicals" support Bush as much as they ever did. Sullivan then offers statements against torture by the NAE as more "proof" that Christians are turning against the GOP.

The National Association of Evangelicals, which says it represents 45,000 churches, recently endorsed an anti-torture statement that says the United States has crossed "boundaries of what is legally and morally permissible" in its treatment of detainees and war prisoners in the fight against terror.

Sullivan fails to mention that the NAE has been focusing on left leaning causes for several years, however. She also fails to convince... or even attempt to convince... that the NAE is turning away from the GOP because of Bush. After all, it could be because the NAE is being led by Liberals who wouldn't end up in support of Bush anyway. Sullivan also doesn't mention that the NAE has been under increasing condemnation by most Christian organizations because of their leftward tilt. Amusingly, after spending her entire article lauding the anti-war efforts of a Christian couple named the Brownlows and after using her "many are saying" and "some are" conventions, even the Brownlows come to doubt her theory that "many" Christians are against the war and the GOP.

Although many churchgoers are active against the war, the Brownlows said they still feel self-conscious sharing their views with their Christian friends. People have told them that freedom isn't free or that they must support the troops. "We really don't fit anywhere," Suzanne Brownlow said. "All our friends are pro-war and think we are heretics for talking against the president."

Even her spotlighted anti-war Christian couple shoots her theory down in flames. Must be hard to be a writer of fiction when confronted with so many doubters.


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Well, you know, as Liberals

March 26, 2007 - 05:27 ET by motherbelt

Well, you know, as Liberals like to say when they have a Republican on the hook: it's not the nature of the evidence, it's the "seriousness of the charges" that is important.

Sounds like the National Association of Evangelicals is the Protestant version of Catholics for a Free Choice, that favorite anti-Church teaching Catholic group that the media love to quote as an example of what "some" Catholics believe.

Reasons?

March 26, 2007 - 05:58 ET by Mr. Terry

She's grasping at straws.  Thinking that "failure to overturn abortion rights..." is a reason for turning against the war is ludicriss.  The two things are wholly unrelated.

Nobody wants war, except a few crazies in a recon unit maybe, but hey, that's what they were trained for, right? 

The pattern that is emerging

March 26, 2007 - 06:05 ET by old cro

The pattern that is emerging from the democrat/pundit/media conglomerate is to "divide" the Republican party to "conquer". Nowhere will the left wing media point out the significant problems in the democrat party, but will always trash the Republicans/conservatives, no matter that they allow dissent in ideology because discourse over policy is healthy and constructive, one of the main conservative tenants.

Reputation is what people think you are. Character is who you really are. Take care of your character and your reputation will take care of itself.
- (On an American plaque)

Let me amend that to "honest"

March 26, 2007 - 06:41 ET by old cro

Let me amend that to "honest" discourse.

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."
- Tim Notke

Good Monday to you all my TRU

March 26, 2007 - 06:40 ET by Senior Chief

Good Monday to you all my TRUE Christian bloggers! After the bogus confessions these "evangilical christians" did yesterday, they're there to smear the rest of us TRUE Christians. Well maybe, just maybe they weren't at church yesterday to sat down at the Sunday school hour, to hear the preaching in the morning and the evening Church services. I am also wondering, who are these Christians Sullivan quoted. No names, hmmm. Maybe Sullivan wants us Christians, fighting one another.

Again, another example of bogus and biased reporting. Typical leftoids. Losers.

Senior Chief. To the MSM way

March 26, 2007 - 12:02 ET by bassndude

Senior Chief. To the MSM way of thinking, America is a Christian Nation, therefore, anyone they speak with must be a Christian. Dosent matter if they go to church or not. They are Americans. Christians by birth. Ya gotta love these guys....:-)

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

There must be something amiss

March 26, 2007 - 06:59 ET by rimsky

There must be something amiss with the WaPo server..  I can't get linked to the story.  I'm just wondering, where was this story?  On the editiorial page?  Or was it in a section where one might look for factual NEWS?  If the latter, I can't understand how an editor could allow something like this to be printed.  It says a lot about the editors at the WaPo.   

rimsky

March 26, 2007 - 07:08 ET by SportPolitics

Loaded fine here rimsky.

Definitely not worth the front page of any section

March 26, 2007 - 14:10 ET by Wonder95

I can't speak for the Post, but when this column was published in The Oregonian (aka the Daily Dead Fish Wrapper), it was on the front page of the Metro section.

Richard Cizik policy director for the National Association of Ev

March 26, 2007 - 11:50 ET by BlameTheMedia

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9131231

It may be NPR, but it's him. Interesting. And the web page shows many interviews with the evangelicals. It's short.

Anti-War Protests Causing Split Among Anti-Americans

March 26, 2007 - 12:14 ET by coffee260

Some say that the anti-war, anti-American protesters who infamously burned
soldiers in effigy in Portland on March 13th's anti-war protest are turning
towards supporting the war in Iraq and intend on supporting a Republican in
2008.<br><br>While I don't have any polling data showing this shift, many are saying a
"riff" has developed in the anti--American, anti-war ranks. In fact, an
anonymous source closely involved with a prominent anti-war group, whose name I
can't mention due to the danger it may put them in, say that many in the
anti-war, anti-American ranks are becoming evangelical Christians with there
number one stated goal being to offset the defections by those mentioned in the
above article.<br><br>Although I have absolutely no proof what so ever that what I just
wrote is in fact true, some say this trend is worrisome to many Marxist,
Leninist, Stalinist, Maoist, Socialist organizations who make up the bulk of the
anti-war, anti-American protests.

Another similar take on this article

March 26, 2007 - 14:06 ET by Wonder95

Wow, this is interesting. I wrote a post on my site about this exact article when it was published in the Daily Dead Fish Wrapper (aka The Oregonian) last week, and I came to basically the same conclusions.  I guess great minds think alike!

I work at a Christian radio

March 26, 2007 - 20:31 ET by radiofitz34

I work at a Christian radio station (WAVA) and I've heard a lot of our programing. Never heard any radio ministry "turning against the war". Even some of my co-workers talk about it. We've expressed frustration of course and most I've talked to want us to win in Iraq and come home.

The author of the article did a lot more wishful thinking then any actual reporting.

The Brownlows speak out

April 15, 2007 - 22:18 ET by Wonder95

This gets even better. The both of the Brownlows (the subjects of my article) posted long comments on my site. They're real winners, too.

Here's an example:

Quite interesting to read your scrutiny of Julie Sullivan's article. Your purpose and supposed benefit was just as unclear as your understanding of the article. Let me help you out:
1. There are more evangelical Christians turning away from their original support of the war;
2. The Brownlows aren't the only ones (see the Constitution Party); and
3. We anti-war evangelical Christians are disappointed in the rest of our brothers and sisters in the Lord who are still supporting this unconstitutional, unbiblical war.

This week, the 31st soldier (just since their October deployment) was killed from our son's unit. If you don't have a loved-one, you cannot understand how nerve-wracking that news can be for a parent! But, even more to a parent who sees this war as ill-conceived and unprovoked! You just don't know what parents like us is going through. So, don't waste your time trying to pick out errors in an article of some reporter (who really cares about our troops. You need to spend time researching the facts yourself and see why you are believing lies from an adminstration whose president (and father) is a member of the "brother of death" (Skull & Bones Society).

You need to begin with what the Bible says about how we should live: "Pursue things which make for peace." Romans 14:1; "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever." Isaiah 32:17; "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14; and "Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace" Psalm 37:37.

And it gets even better when the male Brownlow chimes in:

I did support the invasion of Afghanistan - until the stench of the 9/11 lies became too obvious to ignore. Clearly, knowing what we know now, that too was an illegal invasion/occupation.

The reason there are so many of God's people supporting imperialism and warfare is that most have forsaken the gospel of Christ and turned their hearts toward the corrupted teachings of men. Political allegiances have been bought in exchange for the love of sound doctrine.

The government incorporated, 501c bribed church has turned away from the Saviour and has bowed to Caesar - headed up by George Bush, a liar and a murderer like his father the devil. I often wonder if it will be God's own people who will be the most enthusiastic supporters of the antichrist if he will only toss out enough godblessameircas!

Another correction: You said that since our soldiers "volunteered," that they have become defacto slaves. Nothing could be further from the truth. The oath they swore was to defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic - not to become members of an imperial fighting force at the beck and call of the madmen who have seized control of our government. Which means our troops should be pointing their guns toward Washington DC, which is where our real enemies have set up camp.

They definitely come across as loving people, don't they?