From Reagan to Obama, a brief Political History

My Journey from being a Reagan Republican to an Obama Democrat

I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church along the Gulf Coast in Texas. It was a suburban church nowhere near a bus line, protected as it were from most demographics that didn’t have our common interests. Those interests were embodied in the Republican Party, then led by President Ronald Reagan. Reagan captured our attention with an anti-communist, anti-atheist message, that was easy to understand, emboldening the American people against a clear threat , that of nuclear war and a godless communist regime. Reagan rode that same horse his entire career, even as an actor while President of the Screen Actors Guild, taking stands against blacklisted actors and directors thought to be sympathizers with communist ideology. The Democrats, on the other hand, were squishy, hard to understand, and believed life was complicated. They sounded intellectual and suspicious.

We were told that if Democrats were given power we would certainly be destroyed by nuclear weaponry, indefensible by our weak military. We were told that, if a Democrat lived in the white house, we would become a socialist nation and you would not be able to choose your own profession, drive a car that you wanted or attend a school of your preference. The government would make those decisions for you, we were told. We were taught all sorts of terrible things about the Democrats. We were told if a Democrat ever came to power the government would launch legislation that would mandate ten-percent of all public-school teachers be homosexuals. But when a Democrat came to power, none of that happened. Instead, the average family’s base-earning went up by $7,500 per year and we operated under a balanced budget. And we didn’t go to war against an enemy we couldn’t exactly find and certainly didn’t understand.

Our theology insinuated that shortly after original sin, once Adam and Eve at the apple, they registered as Democrats and went on with their lives, trying to create large governments that would enable lazy people through expensive social programs. We believed we were right and they were wrong, our ideas were Biblical and their ideas were pagan. And we did not know, exactly, who “they” were. Our church wasn’t on a bus line, and our church programs catered to a slim demographic, and so “they” didn’t come to our church. We were all of the same race, the same theological disposition. Our conservative, moral ethos transcended politics. We looked down on Methodists and Catholics because they drank and danced. In fact, when one of the elders at our church visited a western bar with his wife and another couple, presumably to participate in a line-dancing event, our pastor had him paged at the dance hall and told him to meet him in his office, immediately at the church. He was forced to resign as an elder, scolded by the pastor and later committed suicide, leaving behind a wife and three children, along with a grieving, confused church.

My mother was active, politically. She would occasionally volunteer when her Christian beliefs were threatened by government legislation. I remember her coming home late one night, having worked on a campaign opposing equal rights for same-sex partnerships. She told a thrilling story about a fellow volunteer who had a bullet-hole through his license plate, presumably put there by a lone, homosexual gunmen. And when a law was proposed banning spanking in public schools, my mother put my sister and I into the car and drove to the capital, in Austin, where we visited our state legislator. We sat on a leather couch across from his desk and my mother wagged her finger at him and, in no uncertain terms, told the man exactly what the Bible said about sparing the wand. I sat breathless and quiet. I had seen that wagging finger before and I knew what came after. I breathed again only when we were leaving the man’s office and I was assured my mother would not be taking the legislator over her knee.

Like I said, I grew up in the Reagan years. My mother, single and struggling as a secretary at an oil company, afforded a house because of a special loan available, in part, due to legislation proposed by the Reagan administration. We loved that man. I remember being in algebra class, my junior year in high school, when the principle came over the speaker system to announce there had been an accident, that the space shuttle Challenger had exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Florida. All the astronauts were lost. Those astronauts were our men, you see. They were from Houston, and lived only twenty miles from my house. There was a gasp at first, then a long minute of silence, led by the principle himself. School was dismissed, after that. We all went home and watched the footage on television. We watched all afternoon as flowers were placed along the gates at NASA, and on the sidewalks of the Astronauts homes. That night Ronald Reagan was to address the nation in the State of the Union speech. Those plans were changed, of course, and he came to us live from the Oval Office, perfectly delivering comforting lines I now know to have been written by Peggy Noonan, who borrowed her lines from the poet John Magee:

“We will never forget them,” Reagan said, “nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved good-bye and “slipped the surly bonds of earth” to “touch the face of God.”

i don’t know of a political figure who could have more nobly delivered those lines. I have since longed for a statesman who understood and could employ words to unite our country during a difficult time.

This year’s Democratic National Convention was not the first political convention I attended. Sixteen years ago, then just a kid, I attended the Republican National Convention in Houston. I was not invited, but my mother found out that many of the local hotels hosted delegates, and if you went to the concierge and told them you’d like to go, many of the hotels had passes. Security was a bit different, then. And so my friend and I put on ties and carried clip boards and tried to look as professional as possible, and we made our way through security with false credentials, walked confidently through the press boxes and even sat behind the Bush family during the speeches. George W. was there, working on his fathers campaign. And Barbara in an elegant dress, and the girls, then just children. George H.W. Bush was running for reelection that year, against a governor from Arkansas who ran on the platform of change. Bush had promised the American people he would not raise taxes, but in the end had to break that promise, and that broken promise, along with an ailing economy, would cost him the election.

We didn’t like Bill Clinton. We listened to Rush Limbaugh, who told us not to think, that he would think for us, and so we bitterly groused against large government and our supposedly growing welfare state. He was a pro-choice candidate with a feminist wife who belittled women who only wanted to “stay home and make cookies.” Those were our women, we thought. And they made very good cookies.

I even attended a special camp in Colorado Springs in which we, as students (I thought we’d be campers, but we were in fact students) sat through eight to ten hours of lectures every day, covering why the Republicans were right, and why the democrats were wrong. We were taught George Guilder’s economic theory and that America’s drug problem was actually a communist infiltration. We learned there was no such thing as global warming, and the only way to build an economy was to deregulate the financial industry. (Total depravity, as a theological reality, did not apply to people in suits.) We were told a broader availability of healthcare was socialism, and we were shown images of poor communists (Rather than filthy rich and healthy Europeans) we were taught government programs would enable the lazy. We were taught to be angry, and to rise up against the secular humanist enemy that was trying to take away our way of life. And we were made to be afraid. They were out to get us. One night I had a long conversation with a young man in which I tried to convince him that bombing an abortion clinic would not be the best way to solve the problem. I went back to the camp, three-years running. The truth is I learned to think at the camp, to consider ideas to and defend positions. But my learning to think would ultimately be my demise. I wouldn’t just read conservative columnist and authors; I’d read the liberal ones too. And I’d read the British thinkers, too, in the Economist. And even more to my demise, I actually met the enemy, the students of Reed College, one of the more progressive campuses in the country. And I’d befriend Democrats, like my neighbor who is the former Governor of Oregon. I learned, then, that complicated problems could not be solved through simple solutions and emotional, even patriotic rhetoric. I also learned liberal, wishful thinking was fruitless. I learned to trust the value of numbers, hard data, and to realize nearly everybody has a motive, and power corrupts. I was shocked to find out abortion had decreased by 18% under President Clinton, and another 8% under George W. Bush (a significant slowing) and the pro-life lobby had largely ignored the economic factors that contribute to unwanted pregnancy. Bill Clinton won me over, in part for the unbelievably harsh things my Christian friends would say about him after the Monica Lewinsky scandal (and in part because the original investigation that unearthed the Lewinsky case found the President innocent of all white-water charges), but mostly because he spent the last year of his Presidency traveling to the most poor regions of America apologizing for his failure as President to help those he referred to as “the least of these.”

I didn’t realize the term “the least of these” was about to apply to my family. After more than 25 years working in the oil industry, my mother lost her entire retirement when Enron collapsed. Since then I’ve always thought we should have more regulation over companies that control enormous portions of America’s overall economy. My mother went back to school, having retired, and earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees and started teaching at the college level. She’s not teaching any longer, but still works today, though she should have retired years ago. She likes her job and her job likes her, and I’ve never heard her complain. Still, I wish Jeff Skilling would fork over the money he stole from her.

Having met the enemy, I discovered the enemy wasn’t who I thought they were. They were flawed, even as we were flawed, but they were no less patriotic, and no less good. And what’s more, they weren’t out to get us like my conservative friends had told me. I began to see, honestly, the far conservative right, the radical right (not the balanced, objective right) as being paranoid. The advertisements on conservative radio talk shows were about guns and alarm systems.

I wondered how I could be made to feel so prejudiced against Democrats. And then I took a hard look at the culture I was raised in. I realized every church I’d ever attended had been an insular community. Every church had been far off in the suburbs, off a bus line, protected from the poor and marginalized and, quite honestly, racial minorities. It’s not that these churches did this intentionally. I don’t believe that. The decisions to reside in the suburbs had to do with property value and opportunity. But the end result was an insulated existence.

I heard a lecture once at a Christian conference by a man who had moved he and his family into the hardest neighborhood in Fresno, California. He told us that he had never really cared about the problem of police apathy until one night when a bullet went through his daughter’s window and he called the police and they never came. His point was that, until we understand firsthand the urgency of a problem, we simply don’t believe it is important. Solidarity matters. And what’s more, when we live insular lives, when everybody around us believes the same things we do, has our same color skin, shares our political interests, we are easily made to believe absurdities about everybody else.

A few days ago I did an interview with a writer for The Today Show, and after the interview she asked how it was evangelicals could come to believe the many lies being spread about Barack Obama. In answer I came back to the insular nature of the suburban church. “When we’ve never met people,” I said, “we are easily manipulated into demonizing them. We are easily made to fear.” And I’ll add there has been a great deal of fear in this campaign. I just received a letter, yesterday, from a prominent church leader in Georgia that accused Michelle Obama, who I have met and found to be a lovely and humble woman, of being be a racist. This was not a small-town backwards preacher, this was a best-selling Christian author, who, honestly, should be ashamed of himself.

Last year I vowed I wouldn’t make decisions out of fear. And because of that I’ve had one of the greatest years of my life. I went to Uganda and got to meet with the man who helped write their constitution. I wrapped up an evangelism project I believe will introduce more than a million people to the gospel. I rode my bike across America. All of this stuff took some degree of risk. But when calculating those risks, I realized the only reason not to try was fear. What if I was wrong, what if I couldn’t make it, what if the project didn’t work? But none of my heroes are controlled by fear. The commandment most often repeated in scripture, in fact, is “do not fear.” Fear is often something unrighteous trying to keep you from doing something good.

They will never write stories about people controlled by fear. Stories are written (and for that matter lived) by people willing to take stands against bullies and think for themselves. A month after returning home from Washington D.C., where the bike tour ended, I got a call and was asked to deliver a closing prayer at the DNC. Many of my friends told me not to go, that it would hurt my career. I was afraid, for a second, but then knew when you were asked to go somewhere and pray, you should. Fear is always a sign that a great story is about to be written (or not, depending on how you respond.) People live the most boring lives because they stand down when they encounter fear. And so I said yes.

While in Denver I met people from the Obama Campaign. I met Joshua Dubois and Paul Monteiro, Obama’s faith-policy advisors. Paul, like me, had been a Republican until recently. He is a staunch pro-lifer who got tired of Republicans not making enough strides on the issue and was won over by the dramatic effect economic policy has on unwanted pregnancy and the bottom-up effects of economic stimulation as opposed to the conservative, supply-side policy. And Joshua spoke to me about Senator Obama’s personal faith, his commitment to close his events in prayer, his daily morning devotions and his twenty-year history of talking openly about Jesus. I didn’t need to be won over. I’d started a mentoring foundation in Portland two years before and was attracted to Obama’s message on responsible fatherhood (along with his backing of The Responsible Fatherhood Act.)

I told Joshua and Paul I had been supporting the Senator since well before he decided to run, and told them I’d help in any way during the closing months of the campaign. Since then, I’ve received more than my share of e-mails containing the most absurd lies. Barack Obama is a Marxist, a terrorist who trained with Al-Qaida, that he has a pet dragon he flies on nights when there is a full moon and that if we vote for him all the computers will stop working at midnight on new years eve. I wondered how simple a person would have to be to believe such lies.

I voted for Barack Obama (we vote early in Oregon) because I think he is right on healthcare (his plan will allow 27 million more Americans, including young, pregnant mothers to be cared for) and he is right on responsible fatherhood. I voted for Barack Obama because he will keep George W. Bush’ Faith-based Partnerships Program in play, only increasing it’s funding. I voted for Barack Obama because he has the respect of world leaders, which will be necessary to deliberate an American agenda around the world, and I voted for Barack Obama because he had the judgment to oppose the war in Iraq. I’ve taken some blows from the conservative right on my stance, but, even in public debate against McCain representatives, have not been deterred. I will not be guilted, shamed or controlled. I am not going to vote for one candidate because I have been made to fear the other. I support Barack Obama because he has beat back the dark hour of cynicism and irrational fear, and provided hope to a country closing in on itself. I believe there are great days ahead.

I will be glad tomorrow, when all this campaigning is done. Regardless of whether you agree with me or not, please vote. And thank you for considering these thoughts.

Sincerely,

Donald Miller

Find Our Where to Vote!

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149 Comments »

  1. Donny Pauling said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 3:32 am

    What a great post, Don! I’ve been taking quite a bit of heat on my own blog over my stated support of Barack Obama. The latest “attack” is an email from a woman who attends the same church I attend. She wrote, “I will be so bold as to say that anyone who calls themself a Christian should not be ABLE to cast a vote for a baby killer.” I responded to her this afternoon after church, publicly on the blog.

    It’s very rare for an evangelical to support any candidate outside the Republican Party. I find that to be quite frustrating.

    It’s encouraging that you publicly support Barack Obama. Thank you.

  2. Jeff said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 3:45 am

    Thanks for this piece! I think many of the things you set forth may help unify a country split by such a divisive campaign. Signed a conservative evangelical in Oregon …

  3. kristie vosper said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 4:18 am

    Beautiful brilliant post. Quite a contrast, a refreshing one, to the emails I just deleted from friends and church members forwarding me ridiculous rhetoric. The Dobson letter was pretty unbelievable.

    You know what I love? The humility and understanding that you approach this all with. I think to create change in evangelical circles we have to be willing to engage and not alienate.

    I understand too…how much more comfortable it can be to immerse and agree with the christian right. It’s uncomfortable to live in the christian community and want to engage in subversive dialogue. I remember being in Jr. High up at summer camp…questioning some of the really black and white theology with my youth pastor…who said “Kristie, welcome to the middle…it’s lonely and uncomfortable at times.”

    All this to say…I’m grateful for your voice into this season…which is redemptive to the way the world has not been able to see Jesus by the way we’ve behaved as the christian culture for so long.

    I have had the beautiful opportunity in the last months to watch how Obama is evangelizing some of my most liberal, angry, democrat friends who now believe that I’m not the only christian they like…but that maybe there are others…and maybe this Jesus is worth looking into.

    KV

  4. Paul Bowman said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 5:11 am

    Superb, honest, insightful and inspiring post Donald!
    We’re watching all these election happenings with much interest here across the big pond. My student intern just voted long distance (she voted for Obama) Talking to her and many other young Americans there is a real longing for change. The truth is an American President and his/her policies effects us all in todays world. (I’ve seen that first hand with the tremendous work President Clinton did for the peace process here in Ireland). So come on America… give us a president we can all live with. Vote and vote well!

  5. Matt said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 8:43 am

    Hey Don,

    Thanks for a great post about this challenging issue!

    Matt

  6. Larry Shallenberger said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 8:46 am

    Thanks for this post, Don.

    I too attended a camp. It actually was a camp, but a theologically dualistic camp. We counselors supplied the politics that matched the camp theology. We drove into town on the weekend and bought our “Ollie North for President” T-Shirts.

    Rush came next.

    And then I took a job in children’s mental health as a case manager. And I discovered the messiness that you described.

    I’m a registered Republican out of habit. I think I will stay with the party as a from of dissent. But I’m not sure. I believe that I’ve moved to the center and that my party is racing more to the right.

    Anyhow thanks for this post. As a pastor, I spend too much of my time tossing elbows to create space for people of all political stripes to feel safe at church.

  7. Mark said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 8:58 am

    I have long appreciated your writing and thoughtful observations. Your insight into Romeo and Juliet is powerful. I wish you’d write a book on that topic.

    I voted for McCain/Palin. I carefully researched my position, too.

    Let’s agree to disagree with one caveat: one of us is mostly right about Senator Obama. I promise that if I am mostly wrong I will admit so and repent for interpreting my research in the way that I did. I’ll repent of trying to convince others of those thoughts.

    And, I hope if you’re mostly wrong about Senator Obama and are surprised by policies and decisions, that you will publicly say so.

    This has been a devisive campaign. May we be united moving forward.

  8. Julie Gates said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 8:58 am

    Don, I had read your book several years ago and never had seen a picture of you until recently. When I saw your face on a friend’s blog, I pulled out some old pictures & realized that I had worked with you in the summer of 1994 in Colorado. When you mentioned your time there I know exactly what you mean and I actually could picture you talking down that student with the ideas about the abortion clinic.
    That was an interesting period of my life as well and I too have voted for Obama and am now living in Europe doing non-profit Christian community development.

  9. Patsy Clairmont said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 9:13 am

    Thanks Don. “God has not given us a spirit of fear” and I pray we will each approach the polls and vote according to the light and conviction of our hearts.

    I rest in confidence when all is said and done Jesus is still Lord…and He will have the last word.

  10. peter said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 9:16 am

    fantastic

  11. Brian Murphy said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 10:00 am

    Mr. Miller,

    Excellent post, I will be voting for John McCain tomorrow, but I will be very supportive and respectful of President Obama if the apparently obvious happens and he is elected President. I too am tired of the under-thinking fear tactics of conservatives and Christians alike who are slandering a family because they do not share their political views.

    I believe, however, that the nations political mood has shifted to a dangerous moderate position. Don’t get me wrong — I don’t mean dangerous in the sense of Democrats are evil and Obama is the anti-christ. I mean dangerous in the sense that statesmen are gone and politicians have taken their place. Dangerous in the way that everyone is encouraged to take a middle ground and reach across the isle. Dangerous in the sense that issues are no longer different enough to be discussed, debates are just long campaign speeches, and platforms use words like change, hope, and fear rather than economy, security, and abortion.

    I long for the days when men like Lyndon Johnson, a liberal, stood up to his own party and some southern evangelicals who opposed civil rights and ushered in legislation to change a culture of racism. The days when Ronald Regan, a conservative, had the guts to stand a few feet from the Berlin Wall and order Gorbachev to “tear down this wall”. I long for the day when true statesman reemerge and moderation is achieved by thought and compromise rather than political positioning and the fear to stand for anything real.

    I long for these days, but somewhere down deep in my soul I’m scared that they will never return.

  12. Julianne said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 10:33 am

    Fantastic post. Thank you. I’m off to send it to everyone I know…

  13. adam said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 10:40 am

    thank you for this post. this story represents my life up until seminary when i began to think for myself. your story, outside of my parents being fired, sounds much like mine…growing up in an insulated, suburban christian culture, attending a large southern baptist church, and being told by my parents, rush limbaugh, and everyone i knew that democrats wanted to turn our country into the western russia. much like you, the irony of my epiphany on thinking for myself occurred while in a most conservative environment…a southern baptist seminary. i was being taught to think about why our views were correct but instead i began using this education on critical thinking to question what i had always been taught much to the chagrin of most of my friends and family. also, during this time, i worked for a nonprofit refugee resettlement organization in which post-9/11 immigration policies (i worked there beginning spring of 2001) greatly affected our work by limiting financial aid, complicating processes, and almost ending our ministry through aid cuts. through working with and seeing these experiences my political ideals changed.

    thank you for your courage and boldness to stand without fear of condemnation or consequence.

  14. Joe said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 10:55 am

    Well said, Don (if I can call you Don)! I’ve watched your thoughts with great interest in this campaign. As a Christian Democrat, it means a lot to me to see you speak out honestly, whether it alienates the traditionally conservative Christian base or not. If you sell a book less because of it, I might have to buy an extra copy myself to make up the difference.

    Joe

  15. Deidra Romero said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 10:56 am

    Dear Don,

    I just read your blog and I can’t quite explain what it made me feel. I live in a very conservative part of the country, and I feel that my journey has been so similar to yours. Lately, I have been fearful to speak about what I beleive about Barak Obama and the leader I know he is. After reading your blog, you helped give me a voice to speak to others about my personal journey. I’m so grateful for your words and that you took the time to write them down so eloquently and carefully. Never before have I seen my thoughts and feelings scripted out so clearly for others to read. So this is my sincere thank you.

  16. Drew said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 10:58 am

    Don, thanks for your humble attitude and sincerity in this post. It’s hard to talk Christianity and politics without getting worked up, and I think you’ve set a great example in this regard. Thanks for your willingness to put yourself on the line for the sake of this needed conversation. I think your efforts have gone a long way, not only in getting Christians to see politics from both sides, but in keeping a Christlike attitude in doing so.

    - A pro-life evangelical Obama supporter in MD.

  17. shawn said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:07 am

    Don-
    Thanks for your post. As with all things in life, i do not agree with everything you wrote, but you were brave to take a stand for your thoughts. It is a rare thing to do without first hiring a polling company. (I assume you did not hire a polling company.)

    I hope your mom gives you one more spanking for leaving the right wing conspiracy. :) (kidding, of course)

  18. Debbie Barnett said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:13 am

    thanks Don… as an Obama supporter, I, too, have been taking quite a bit of heat from my fellow Repubs… and I needed to hear this encouragement today.

    Looking forward to celebrating tomorrow night - champagne’s chilling in good faith. ;o)

    debbie

  19. Joel said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:22 am

    Thank you for promoting a paradigm of hope instead of a paradigm of fear. The difference this makes in how we act in the world is profound.

  20. Carrie K. said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:23 am

    Thank you so much for your honesty. These past few weeks of the campaign season have been very hard for me. I’m a registered Republican, a Christian homeschooling mom, and I have blogged about my decision to vote for Obama. The vitriol and hatred I have seen on other blogs, in comments left on my blog, and in e-mails I have received even from relatives have truly astounded me. I, too, will be glad when the election is over. I pray that the next time we have to make a decision as a nation, that cooler heads and grace and love will prevail.

  21. Makeesha said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:35 am

    there are many of us “Reagan Republicans” who are now “Obama Democrats” who share many pieces of your story and your feelings - thank you for articulating it so eloquently and so publicly. Your comments on fear specifically really resonated with a HUGE concern I’ve had throughout this campaign - the large role fear plays in the decisions made by so many of my evangelical republican brothers and sisters (also my whole family by the by)

  22. Bryan Zug said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:41 am

    go, don, go — bz

  23. Rob in Gallup said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:46 am

    This sounds very enlightened and intelligent, but I’m still not convinced.

    Rather, this is how I think it goes down: Many of us from similar backgrounds are raised from early childhood to be Good Republicans™. We eventually grow up to discover the world isn’t what we thought it was, and in our disillusionment, we find ourselves becoming quickly disenfranchised with the political party we synonymized with being the “correct” party throughout our childhood. We ask ourselves, “What if the OTHER side was the right side?” And the allure of that possibility is just so tempting that we convert.

    It’s kind of like having a crisis of faith, but in a way that feels safer and has less far-reaching implications. It seems like a really big, complicated deal to ditch Christianity and become an atheist. Not quite such a big deal to switch from being a Christian Republican to being a Christian Democrat. It’s a safer rebellion. Not that we’re rebels without a cause; we’re just lashing out over the realization as adults that the world is bent and broken, and the political party we grew up supporting (because we were told it was the “Christian” party) failed us, so it becomes an easy scapegoat.

    I strongly dislike both parties. I grew up Republican, had my Democratic phase a few years ago, and then realized that the Democrats weren’t any more correct than the Republicans, AND much of what they supported ran contrary to my faith, more so than that of the almost-equally-corrupt Republican party.

    As much as the Obama camp has tried to paint McCain as another George W. Bush, I don’t see that when I look at what he proposes and what he stands for. I see someone who admittedly voted in alignment with Bush much of the time, likely because he thought what Bush proposed was “more correct” than the alternatives, but who would do things quite differently if he were not just one voice among many and had the ability to fix what’s broken.

    I tried, I really tried, to become an Obama fan. And I don’t think he’s the Antichrist that the radical right has painted him to be. But I think that, if I’m honest with myself, my wanting to support him has to do more with my wanting to rebel against the upbringing that I felt failed me later in life than it does with truly believing that Obama is what’s best for America. I suspect that’s true of many of my fellow brothers and sisters in the church as well.

    At the end of the day, I have to go with my gut, my heart. And that tells me that though he’s far from ideal, John McCain is a better choice than Barack Obama.

  24. Eric S. Mueller said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:46 am

    Thank you for sharing your perspective. I have followed a similar journey, although I went from being a “Reagan Republican” to “none of the above”- my tribute to Brewster’s Millions. My dad was in the Air Force, and from 1980-1985 we were stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. We were told that if the Soviet block launched a strike, we’d be dead before the air raid sirens could be set off. Reagan’s strong “anti-communist” stance inspired us. I too remember the day of the Challenger explosion. We weren’t let out of school, but I got home just in time for President Reagan’s address and I can remember being comforted by such a strong leader. Since Reagan, I really don’t bother paying attention to Presidential speeches. I figure the next several weeks after the speech, everything said will be picked apart and criticized on blogs and in the press.

    I chose a “none of the above” position for reasons similar to yours. I’m not convinced that either of the two major parties represents my interests, and neither of the candidates seems to have a clue as to what the President is supposed to do according to the Constitution. To put things in perspective, we’re not electing a Messiah (already got one anyway), we’re electing a President. The man we’re electing is supposed to lead the Executive branch of our government, not personally solve all of our problems. I agree with you that we shouldn’t make decisions based on fear. The in past elections, I voted for one candidate because of a fear of the other. I’ve decided that I’m tired of the mentality of being forced intellectually to make a choice between two sides that I find unacceptable. I don’t like being bullied by the “well, if you don’t vote for McCain, you may as well be voting for Obama” line. I’m going to vote, as that is my civic duty, but I won’t subject myself to that kind of bullying any longer.

    I appreciate you posting your story and your journey here. I don’t agree with all of your conclusions, but in my own journey I have come to realize that it is OK to disagree. Grace, mercy, and peace be with you.

  25. William J. Swaney said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:51 am

    Don,

    Great post. Now to be honest with you I believe that the right vote is for McCain. But I do also applaud you for sticking to what you believe and know and not be feared into choosing the other side. I am a Christian also and most around here are campaigning for McCain’s ticket. I am an independent who is voting for a republican and proud of it. I am so sad to see that so so many people confuse republicans and Christians as the same people or that they have to be the other if they are one. It is simple minded naivety. GREAT POST! Love the work, keep it coming!

    William Swaney

  26. michael baysinger said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:55 am

    Best entry yet! thanks for the insight!

  27. dewde said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:55 am

    Don:

    Thanks for writing this. I do not intend on voting for Obama tomorrow, however I can appreciate why you did.

    I defend Obama in conversations when he is attacked unfairly, which is quite often because of my peer group. I speak out against conservatives when they are given a free pass, instead of being held accountable for word and deed, which again is quite often due to my peer group.

    You and I may share fundamental differences in opinion on many things political, but I will read what you have to say with care and consideration because of the careful and considerate manner in which you conduct yourself.

    Thank you.

    peace|dewde
    http://dewde.com

  28. Lori said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 12:04 pm

    I went to that kind of church when I first moved to San Antonio because my sister went there and had a lot of friends in the singles group. I constantly had the feeling that if I stood up and said I was a Democrat, I’d either be kicked out or earnestly prayed for, concerning the destination of my immortal soul. I volunteered with the youth and couldn’t get over how angry they were. Instead of being excited and hopeful about their future, they were getting ready to go to war with the culture. I stayed on as a youth leader longer than I would have liked to stay in the church because I thought the kids needed to hear a different perspective. I was there for the 2004 election and one of my girls said that Kerry should stop saying “God Bless America” because he obviously wasn’t a Christian. I pointed out that she wasn’t in a position to judge that and was kind of surprised that I didn’t get any pushback from parents afterward.

    I moved here from DC and was shocked at how the compassion I saw in my liberal friends in DC was so missing from these Evangelicals. The end of that church for me was when the pastor went to some convention about homosexuality and gay marriage and came back spouting all kinds of bigotry and fear-mongering from the pulpit. I hadn’t ever been a part of a church where this kind of stuff happened and found Christian culture putting me off Christianity. Fortunately, I found a kooky little church that truly is loving and accepting and, despite its small size, doing real good work in the community.

    I’ve appreciated your unabashed support for Obama this election season. It’s nice to have someone who my Evangelical friends respect to point to and say “It’s not just me and my East Coast liberal elitism. There is a solid Christian argument to be made for voting this way.” So thanks.

  29. Friar_Tuck said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 12:22 pm

    Good stuff. Thanks.

  30. Laura Lyn Donahue said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 12:24 pm

    Don,

    My husband, Don, sent me the link to your blog. Thank you for what you have posted today. I grew up in Nashville, conservative Church of Christ and Republican to the death; however, I did not grow up with as many “political experiences” as you.

    My grandfather loved President Reagan. I remembering our family traveling to Mississippi to visit my grandparents, and Gran always wanted to talk about religion and politics. I recall sitting in the other room listening to the adults talk and thinking, “isn’t there anything else to talk about?” As I grew a little older, though, I found myself sitting much closer to the table and listening much more intently. My grandaddy was very smart, and I believed that everything he said was right. I also watched my mother follow in the footsteps of this man, her hero, her father. Out of her love and respect for her father grew my love and respect for my mother — my mentor and my best friend today.

    I have watched my mom and dad, though, grow into something more than mild conservative Republicans. I have seen them move to the other side — to dare cross the line and to stand with confidence and conviction in their support of Barak Obama.

    As a matter of fact, I have NEVER seen my parents work so hard for a political candidate. Having grown up in the era of JFK and MLK, my parents have previous experience with inspiration and have been inspired by Obama in a way that has overtaken them. They sport a different Obama button everyday. Their pricey vehicles don Obama bumper stickers. Their beautiful home tucked in the woods with no public access to speak of, offers up Obama yard signs for any who may stop by. My mother worked to help register voters, and my dad has been using my gas-sucking SUV for the last three weeks to drive as many early voters as possible to the poll — no agenda and no tie to Acorn :>)

    I have watched my parents for the last year grow in their support, commitment and passion for this man. Yesterday I walked with Mom thru the trendy Green Hills mall and was in awe of all of the folks who stopped to comment on her Barak button. There is an uncanny comradery among Obama supporters. I like it. It’s not just inspiring, but it’s cohesive - a “bringing together” if you will — young, old, rich, poor.

    I am so proud of my parents. Through watching them, I have become more inspired by Barak Obama. I have educated myself more thoroughly, and I have stood up against the threat of fear tactics from my Republican friends. I, like you, decided not to live in fear. I have told my four children that we do not make decisions out of fear. We have been called by Jesus to “take heart” for He has overcome the world. “What can man do to me?” Ultimately: nothing…Nothing when my faith rests in Him and not in a man or a woman.

    I am annoyed by the barrage of ugly emails and fear tactics that get sent to me or posted on my FaceBook site. I am angered by the innocent children who come to school with their parents political views stinging the faces of my own who have determined to “vote” for Barak Obama. We live in a conservative, predominately white, Republican community. Fine. I love it here. It’s a wonderful place for my children to grow up, but that doesn’t make it okay for children to tell my kids that Barak Obama is a baby killer, and if you vote for him, you’re voting to kill babies yourself. UGGGH!

    As a result of these fear tactics and ugly comments, though, it has given my husband and me the opportunity to communicate on a new level with our children (13, 10, 10, 8). We have been able to tell them that voting is a freedom in our country, and being able to vote for whomever we choose is our right. As recently as last night, we have continued to instill in our children that they get to vote for the candidate that they choose — not the one that Mom and Dad choose. We told them to be respectful of everyone’s choice and to ask their peers to be respectful of their own choice as well. We are trying to steer them away from fear and away from combativeness in this hot election climate.I am already proud of some of the responses that they’ve shared with us.

    Several weeks ago I attended a fundraiser where a very conservative FOX personality was the guest speaker. The event was not a political one; however, it turned into that in the end. I left sick to my stomach. There was so much ugliness and venom spewed throughout that room from this man about Obama and so much positive response from the crowd, that I was stunned into silence. I could not believe that this room held so many people that I love and yet so much backwardness at the same time. When the event was over, I got into my car and my internal switch flipped. I knew at that moment that I would, indeed, vote for Barak Obama.

    After that event, I spent a lot of time researching Barak, gathering opinions from others, including my parents, about him and reading what I could. Perhaps Colin Powell’s interview was the most poignant expression that came across my screen. He, in a very commanding and calm presence, gave me clarity. He did not attack McCain. In fact, he did the opposite and expressed his admiration for him. I don’t see these tactics being used, though, by the McCain supporters.

    Again, it goes back to fear: Can you vote for a baby killer, a communist, a terrorist, a man with questionable friends? No, I can’t vote for a man like this, but that is not Barak Obama that they describe. Instead, the conservative Republican (not all) has created a demon that is not there, a false image, a poor reflection of who we should be as a Christian called to love one another as Jesus has loved us. That’s sad to me, and I believe it’s wrong — no matter what side you’re on.

    Two weeks ago, I went to an early voting station. I stood with people that I didn’t know and voted for a democratic president for the first time in my life. Amazingly, I felt a sense of relief - like someone had loosed the chains that I had been dragging around for too long. In that moment, I was proud not only to be an American but an American Christian living with heart and with a sense of fearlessness…Abandoned to the ability of my Father to take care of my future despite the next leader of the free world. Thankfully, He has a future for me and a plan not to harm me. Ultimately, my place is not here. There is no man, Republican or Democrat, who is going to save us. Jesus already did that.

  31. Debbie said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 12:31 pm

    Another, awesome, articulate post Don. Thanks.

  32. Georgetta said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 12:40 pm

    Thank you, Don, for your thought-provoking post. I am not voting for Obama, but I am very thankful that both parties contain thoughtful rational people like you. We’ve certainly heard scary stuff about both candidates, and I too will be glad when the election is done. I praise God that He is still in charge no matter who’s in the White House!

  33. Ploum said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 12:52 pm

    You seem to find Obama’s faith very important in your choice. That’s how I understand the last few paragraph of your brilliant text.

    But I don’t understand why. If he was from another religion or completely atheist, would that have change anything ?

    He’s brilliant and I hope he will make good decisions for your country if he’s elected. But do you really need to be sure that he prays Jesus, that he’s a straight heterosexual or that his sofa is decorated with blue flowers ?

    I really don’t understand what religion has to do with politics.

  34. CindiPete said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 1:09 pm

    Thank you. I have been badgered by well-intentioned Christian Republican friends and it has been exhausting. You articulated my heart and helped me stand.

  35. Roland said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 1:16 pm

    I was not raised to hate or fear. But over the years I have learned to fear the self-righteous, religious, typical persons who are My Fellow Americans. Their support for wars in Iraq, on Drugs, and on the Constitution mean they, in their self-righteousness, would lock me up and take all I have for things like gardening, or free speech, or refusing to aid/abet killing. This society has done exactly that to friends of mine. The right wing’s fear has begotten my fear OF THEM. This society is now broken.

  36. Megan said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 1:18 pm

    Very interesting post. It is always interesting reading other people’s viewpoints. (I think that is part of how we grow and expand our own) I’m honestly not thrilled with either candidate, but will be voting for Mr. McCain tomorrow.

    I echo your closing thoughts - I am so ready for the campaigning to be OVER!

    By the way (here is the tangent, fan portion of this comment), I LOVED Blue Like Jazz. My husband read it too and I believe it is the only book he has actually finished in the past 10 years!

  37. Polly said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 1:42 pm

    I’m tired of people making excuses for these “well-intentioned” Christians. They have defined “Christianity” and, quite frankly, given us all a bad name for too long now. The news of these camps where they indoctrinate children in this way is appalliing. By the grace of God, you, Don, and others were able to find your way out of this religious mess.

    I have a friend who said she was intimidated by a man who said she would have to answer to God for her vote - That is the point where we need to tell that guy to stick it in his self-righteous ear.

    The antidote to all this is education - teaching our children how to think for themselves - and I’ll guarantee you that Obama has a better plan for strengthening our schools.

  38. John Melick said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 1:44 pm

    Thank you for that. My political journey is very similar to yours. I love your idea of not making decisions based on fear….I think I’ll do that too.

  39. Leigh said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 1:44 pm

    I am almost finished reading your book and my curiosity about you led me to your blog. I am an artist living in a small town in Texas….don’t really fit in. One of my friends in my Bible study just admitted that she voted for Obama. She thought we were all going to stone her or something! Of course we didn’t! So sad. She and her husband feel very ostracized here. I’ll send her a link to this post. Thanks for being a Jesus lover who is so real and open!

  40. jolie said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 1:45 pm

    Don, amidst a sea of people who have refused consideration for or understanding of my decision to vote for Barack, you are a continual encouragement to me. I hope that amidst the tension felt between those in the Church voting right and those in the Church voting left, we can still unite in purpose and trust that we are all doing the best we can, and prayerfully doing so, at that. It has been a struggle to be told (more than once) that I am either not praying hard enough, not a Christian, or not talking to the right god if I am voting for Obama, and not want to lash out in response. I have been remembering your words– there is NEVER a reason to be unkind.

  41. Daniel Vaccaro said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 1:53 pm

    Went with my family the other day to early vote, and I pretty much knew how I wanted to vote, but when we got there I told them I was gonna wait til tuesday, because I was very fearful of how they would react after I told them I voted for Obama. My entire family are huge McCain supporters, (including my wife, who has constantly begged me not to vote for Obama–) in fact, because I didn’t want to cause any blowups, I even went along with them to a Sarah Palin rally, in which, when everyone was applauding, I just kind of sat there. Talk about awkward. I have been a republican my entire life, and before I could vote, I always went along with the republican thing because my parents did and, well, they must know best, right? For some reason their was this almost unspoken thing that democrats are bad and republicans are always good and right. now, growing up, I have no allegiance to either party I don’t think, (though I am a registered republican and def pro-life) I really want to vote for Obama. McCain just seems to be about putting others down in order to lift himself up, and to be quite honest, the policies and issues Obama is for just makes sense. I wish I could talk with my family about all of this, but they just get so angry and hateful–wouldn’t it be amazing to show the world how united the church is despite its disagreements, and divisions. That’d be a great example to show–our un-ending unity and love, despite our divisions.
    In closing, I absolutely love Jesus, and seek for my entire life to be oriented towards and around my King, who’s Kingdom is my first allegiance. (Derek Webb-A King and a Kingdom). I just want to live out the love of Christ.
    Thanks Don, for your post.

  42. Travis said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 1:56 pm

    Don,

    I am a big fan and glad you started a blog because waiting for your next book to come out has only further illuminated my diagnosis of suffering from an acute impatience illness. I have sort of latched onto the part above where you address the turning point in your life of realizing Democrat does not equal some sort of demon possessed supernatural individual. As much as I try to shelter myself from politics, I have to admit I recently heard reference to Barak as the Antichrist (which I actually laughed out loud to the person who was in all seriousness trying to explain this to me… I think I offended him). I have long since been convicted of what you have addressed above and believe I would like to vote for the best candidate but I probably won’t ever be famous enough to be invited to meet a senator and his wife (or the other way around) let alone one that is running for president.

    I read in your earlier posts about what happens when we try to email them and I don’t expect a phone call to work with much a better success rate. So how can I weed through all the poo the media feeds us continually (which is why, as I alluded to previously, I try to keep myself away from politics) to understand what the candidates really believe and who to vote for?

    I too have already cast my ballot, but in Washington State, so I no longer need to be convinced who is the better candidate. Lucky for me, I was able to relay that I already voted to all the candidates that called my house yesterday asking for my vote. I am still slightly disgruntled as I was trying very hard to watch the Seahawks lose in peace and I kept getting interrupted. The idea just came to me, maybe I will have my three year old start answering the phone for the next couple of days, while my bad attitude disolves?

    But seriously Don, how do you get around it? I can’t go some place where they decide to not talk about the issue because then I am avoiding things again and that doesn’t help. If I stay in my church I will be subjecting myself to the generations of right wingedisms telling me who to vote for. If I watch the media I will be subjecting myself to the variety of left wingedisms telling me who to vote for. Maybe if I decide to vote based on how SNL interprets the candidates? That seems as unbiased as everything else?

    I guess I am just at a loss. For each election that passes my vote seems to be losing value at the same rate as my investments in the stock market. Then there is the whole issue of this exorbitant amount of money that gets spent on these campaigns. I mean, we have people with real problems that could use just a fraction of that money to really make a difference and I could go as far as saying it could probably save people’s lives. It just leaves me at an even deeper loss of what to do.

    Thanks again for the post Don!
    Travis

  43. Carl McLendon said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 2:05 pm

    Thanks for all you do, for standing up to fear that is perpetuated in the guise of bad political involvement. I posted on this very issue yesterday http://simplegestures.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/church-politics/ and how our church refuses to give into fear and greed.

    shalom

  44. Gary said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 2:08 pm

    Don,

    It sounds like you and I went to very similiar churches. I too was raised in a church that used fear as a way of teaching. This goes against the very reason came Christ came to earth. He came to save the world and while he was hear he didn’t use fear to convert people. He showed love to those that were struggling. It was the pharisees that used the law and fear as their cause. I have been a republican all of my life and have voted republican in the past few elections. This was the first time I have voted for a democrat because I truly believe that Barack does want to bring the type of change we as Americans need. I appreciate you taking a stand for what you believe. I can tell you that your stand doesn’t make me want to stop supporting you as an author/speaker but only makes me want to support you more. You are a good man and I will pray that God will continue to bless your work.

  45. Irk said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 2:16 pm

    I am almost ashamed to be a follower of Christ in these dark days. Those on the far right who bear false witness to those around them willfully are destroying the good name of CHristianity.

  46. Cash said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 2:16 pm

    Speaking of indoctrination, the media has performed a horrible deed with how biased their reporting is. Despite who you support, reporting and journalism should be unbiased and it most certainly has not been that way over the course of this election.

  47. Dean Gadda said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 2:22 pm

    Don,

    Well written essay. My wife works at Reed, my son is a graduate. I would find it more difficult to maintain my Atheist philosophy, if more religious writers displayed your sense of tolerance. Let’s have a cup of coffee…

    dean

  48. Polly said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 2:22 pm

    I was so angry when I wrote my earlier post that I forgot to say…

    Don - this piece of writing beautifully weaves your own personal story with the broader story of politics and religion in this country.

    thank you

  49. Diana said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 2:28 pm

    Hi Don,

    I appreciate your blogs so much. My husband and I currently work in a fairly conservative church with youth, and we haven’t found anyone willing to discuss the possibility of voting anything other than republican in our christian community. Hearing your thoughts has been refreshing! I’ve been frustrated and discouraged by the responses of many christians toward Obama. Hateful responses only further confirm the stereotypes of christians and even worse, alienate people from the idea of Jesus.

    For me, this is the first election that I’ve actually considered both parties. I grew up in a fundamentalist community, very similar to the one you described, and was always taught to reject anything that comes from the democratic party. Regarding abortion, I agree with you that saying your pro-life doesn’t really mean a lot when abortion numbers don’t go down. We do need a leader who is going to do more about it. However, I was hoping you, or anyone else posting on here, could give me some insight on a couple issues. As some of the others have mentioned, I too have been getting a lot of emails lately, primarily dealing with Obama’s support of the Freedom of Choice Act and his ability to appoint judges. I really haven’t been able to get a balanced opinion on either subject and was wondering if you, or any of the others who are posting comments, could give me some insight? I’ve received some flack for even considering a candidate who supposedly supports this act; does anyone have any thoughts on this?

    Don, thanks for not only your books and blogs, but also your example. Please be encouraged; you are definitely impacting lives for the kingdom.

  50. Dan said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 2:29 pm

    Thanks for the post Don. One thought to add to the mix:

    Your story is incredible. I will, say, though, that your upbringing represents one slice of the Christian right. You have written and spoken about asking non-believers to do an intellectually challenging thing - ignore the offensive and disturbing actions/attitudes of many Christians in order to see the real Christ. I’d appeal to everyone to do the same about politics and the offensive actions/attitudes on both sides. Try to see past all of that to vote for the issues and the cause behind it all…

    Regards,
    Dan

  51. Beth said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 2:43 pm

    Thank you, Don, for succinctly articulating all I’ve been trying to say in one tidy, comprehensive blog entry. I’ve posted it to my Facebook page in hopes that others will see the sense in your (and my) logic. Blessings, Beth

  52. Imabeliever said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 3:34 pm

    Thank you! I know this was probably not a very easy piece for you to write! As a Jesus loving, Bible believing Christian and Democrat…I feel your pain! I find myself morally agreeing more with my conservative friends, but politically agreeing more with my liberal friends. I’ve been called a bleeding heart most of my life, and my response is thank you. I’d rather be a bleeding heart Jesus follower, than someone who is solely self obsessed.

    I too have crossed party lines to vote with the truth of my spirit. I heard the call and heeded, regardless of what my friends and colleagues might say. The thing that continues to leave me dumbstruck: Why do people think our prayerful considerations are wrong? I don’t question a McCain supporters Christianity, so why are our beliefs questioned? I have an ever-evolving personal relationship with Jesus Christ and I’m voting for Barack Obama tomorrow. What part of this action is unchristian? Is it my personal relationship with Christ or my prayerful voting choice?

    I love this country! I love Democrats, Republicans and Independents; we are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of our creator. BUT, I love the Lord Jesus Christ most of all and I’m voting tomorrow based on this relationship, not party lines. Tomorrow, regardless of the outcome, I will celebrate my fellow Americans for voting in this great country of ours. I will not think, say or act, as if their prayerful choice was any less Christian (or important) than mine. After all, if we are “all” genuinely living our beliefs, what is there to criticize?

  53. M. Hinkle said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 3:47 pm

    amen.

    Thank you for your thoughts on fear. So often as christian we are paralyzed to not move in the direction God is asking of us because we are so afraid we will not be liked or we will let people down, or we will down right fail.

    Cheers,

    Mike

  54. Hale-Yeah! said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 3:48 pm

    That guy from Fresno with the gun shot through the daughters window…I’m friends with the daughter. Crazy connection

  55. matt said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 3:58 pm

    That lecture you heard in Fresno…I’m guessing Randy White, right? One of my favorite guys on the planet. I did his FUMP (Fresno Urban Mission Project) and my brother lived in the Pink House in Fresno for a year doing ministry with the urban poor. Randy White is rad.

  56. Andy said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 3:59 pm

    In this election I’ve seen so many people act a fool regarding both candidates. I will vote tomorrow, but in the past months I’ve been reminded the most of these words:

    “Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don’t pretend to understand. ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 9, spoken by the character Atticus

  57. Lindsy said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 4:44 pm

    I currently attend a liberal church in Washington state but I’ll get to that later. I grew up conservative. Not Bible-belt conservative but conservative none-the-less. I have never understood how Christians can back a party and not a person. I understand the conservative Republicans wanting the moral majority. Their main agenda is to keep our country’s morals as strong as they were when our ancestors started this “Christian” nation. I see where they’re coming from but the reality is, we’re not a Christian nation. Have you turned on a TV lately? Have you listened to your neighbors idea of God or heaven? Have you heard a teenagers view of Truth? We are definitely not a Christian nation anymore and therefore, I don’t think we can push our morals on others. That is not love. So, I think conservatives are very idealistic. And that’s not a bad thing to be.

    On to my current understanding of politics… I go to church with a lot of loud liberals. And I don’t get it. They’re every bit as narrow-minded as the Bible-belt conservatives that Democrats generally hate. (Hate’s a strong word but I’m not feeling creative today). I strongly and greatly appreciate the Democrats care for people. But I do not think, as Christians, that we can support them 100%.

    I love Socialism. I’ve lived in two Socialist countries. But it won’t work for us. We are too greedy and not patriotic enough. In France, they pay about 20% in taxes to pay for their “free” healthcare and equal costs of living. Everyone’s middle class. And in Canada, it can take months, even years, to get medical help like surgeries and cancer treatments. I don’t know much but I think we’re too late in the game to try Socialism. It seems like the squeaky wheel of a man trying everything to get people to like him.

    I’m about as non-partisan as it gets. I think both candidates have good ideas, one with lots of ideas and one with lots of experience. So, tomorrow, please think globally. Think about the person you’re electing. Forget where you’re from. Forget what the media says. Forget what party you registered with. And most importantly, PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY.

  58. Steve said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 4:47 pm

    If we elect someone (or don’t elect someone) based on rumors, Youtube videos, hearsay, or what our pastor says, then we are truly a nation of morons and deserve whatever we get.

  59. Kristen said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 5:06 pm

    I went to that same camp in Colorado, and oddly, the intensity of the fear rhetoric (or perhaps, indoctrination) also led me to question the validity of the far right’s logic. I agree that it taught me a lot about critical thinking, but that ultimately, having read and understood both sides, I turned away from many of those staunchly held beliefs.

    Like several other posters, I appreciate knowing that there are other serious, thinking Christian Democrats in the world. Cheers.

  60. James said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 5:18 pm

    Don, your socio-political journey is very similar to mine. I can really relate.

    I think we Christians maybe have gotten too caught up in the election. God will still be God on Nov. 5th. People lived in North America long before there was a United States, and most likely will still live in North America long after the American Empire has faded from memory into forgotten history. Cesar will still be Caesar, and God will still be God.

  61. Brian Jones said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 6:34 pm

    Here is an article from Newsweek that I found interesting. It discusses Reganomics, and a bit of your post made me think of it:

    “Prior to the 1980s, conservatives were fiscally conservative— that is, they were unwilling to spend more than they took in in taxes. But Reaganomics introduced the idea that virtually any tax cut would so stimulate growth that the government would end up taking in more revenue in the end (the so-called Laffer curve). In fact, the traditional view was correct: if you cut taxes without cutting spending, you end up with a damaging deficit. Thus the Reagan tax cuts of the 1980s produced a big deficit; the Clinton tax increases of the 1990s produced a surplus; and the Bush tax cuts of the early 21st century produced an even larger deficit. The fact that the American economy grew just as fast in the Clinton years as in the Reagan ones somehow didn’t shake the conservative faith in tax cuts as the surefire key to growth.”

  62. John Wallace said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 6:51 pm

    Don, thank you for your post. I have looked over the issues and made the tough choice to vote for John McCain. I believe that both candidates have been unfairly attacked and slandered. I will pray for and respect the one who is elected. I don’t know if our decision to go to war in Iraq was correct or not; I have my doubts. I believe that an Iraqi life is just as valuable as an American life and is worth protecting even at cost. Whether our presence is helping or hurting the Iraqis, I do not know. I has spoken personally to troops on both sides of the issue. This has been a tough one for me. I am passionately pro life and believe in constitutionally restrained government. No institution, not corporate nor government, is immune to the effects of human depravity. Thy Kingdom come!

  63. Eric said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 7:26 pm

    Growing up in the same church with you, I don’t remember anti-Democrat rhetoric coming from the pulpit, but you probably listened closer than I did (plus, as you know, I left that church immediately after high school, a year before you did, and I know things changed there). But yes, I hear the fear mongering coming from people on the extreme right, even from some of my family members (a few that were Democrats up until the early 90’s).

    I’m not happy with either candidate. They both have stances on issues that I greatly disagree with. I’ll be the first to admit that I am a Reagan fiscal-conservative, but I’m a social moderate.

    I have never voted straight ticket, and never will. It concerns me that so many people do, and that so many people put such trust in any politician. I believe that this country is moving farther away from its purpose, and more and more people are willing to give up personal responsibility for a government that will take care of them. That does scare me.

    With all of that being said, I’m still not endorsing a candidate. I will choose one in the voting booth, but it will be a private decision.

    Two last fiscal points I need to make:

    1) I wish everyone would study basic economics. I’m flabbergasted at the lack of knowledge about what drives and improves economies by so-called educated people (sure, they’re mostly former liberal arts students - ha!)

    2) The economy was very good during the Clinton years — after the 1994 Republican majority was voted into congress. The key? Gridlock. You need one party in the White House and the other in Congress. If both parties control it all (which is about to happen), there’s no check and balances — that’s what scares me.

    Peace,

    Eric
    Houston, TX

  64. Nicole said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 8:36 pm

    Thank you for this post! I work at a private Christian School and man do I hear the same ole song and dance that if you’re a Christian you have to be a Republican. This year for the first time we have a significant amount of Obama supporters on our campus. Fear and conformity are not ruling this election and for that I am glad.

  65. gwen said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 8:57 pm

    Don Miller: I am so extremely grateful for every comment I have read. I am an African American who got saved out of the black baptist tradition of the South. I got saved and was launched into a white conservative evangelical setting. I was a reporter at a Christian Radio Station on the campus of a conservative college. I was appalled by the slaps at my inability to be born-again unless I was a republican. I was trying to figure out where that verse and scripture. I am not sure whether Obama is a believer, but I am willing to take my chances this year after all I have seen and heard in the republican camp. It has been so hurtful what the Christian Right has done in this campaign to endanger his life and the lives of other African Americans. My mother was bi-racial like Barack. The racial degenerating was the most painful aspect for me as a believer by people who consider themselves Christians. I have voted republican before. But I am not and ideoligical voter. I try to look at the candidates, the issues, and the track record. I really respect Lindsey Graham my senator from SC who is a white conservative. But these are not the reasons that I like and respect him. When my veteran father was in a nursing home and they were trying to force him out, his office did everything to assist me. I will never forget their faithful assistant in calls, letters, and correspondence. I thought of creating a t-shirt that reads “God loves democrats republicans, independensts, liberals and conservatives, but more importantly– PEOPLE!” These blogs bought some healing to my angered and grieved heart– something that I have had to wrestle with on many occasions. Thank you all for letting the Lord work in your lives to be a Bridge of Hope for a needed ministry of healing and reconciliation within the Body of Chirst.

  66. Angela said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 9:24 pm

    Don - I have a similar background as you; although with a Pentecostal twist. I have much of the same journey out of the lies and the fear, and have ended up with Quakers. Imagine my amazement when these Godless liberals treasured truth and justice, mercy and righteousness. Thank you for speaking to this issue.

  67. Deb Miller said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:10 pm

    Thank you for elegantly articulating many of the things I’ve been thinking. We are forwarding this to our friends and family (many voting out of fear).

    Deb & Nathan Miller, Portland residents

  68. Jessica said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:33 pm

    I attended that camp as well! You have so well articulated here the journey from conservative Right to a more thoughtful left that many Christians in our generation are on. Thank-you for being an important voice for the new thing God is doing in His Church today. Your books were a ray of light for me through some heavy, ultra-conservative church days.

  69. Tonyalynne Wildhaber said,

    November 3, 2008 @ 11:45 pm

    thank you for putting these words together…they string together many of the random thoughts stirring within my mind these days.

    i appreciate your perspective…

  70. Anita Del Aguila said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 12:08 am

    Don,
    Just want to say thanks for having the boldness to step out. Your public announcement helps those of us less visible to know we are not crazy for supporting Barack.

    As missionaries, we have now lost ministry ties because of our vote for Barack, amidst accusations that we are in direct rebellion against Scripture because of our “failure” to make a stand against same-sex marriage and abortion. I am not grieving these losses, however. I am hopeful for tomorrow and refuse to be ashamed of or bullied into my vote.

    Fighting for the least of these.
    Anita Marie

  71. Audrey said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 12:18 am

    Don - thank you for this brilliant and insightful piece. I grew up in a small, north/west Texas town with two large churches — Southern Baptist and Church of Christ — and many smaller ones of every Protestant denomination. There was absolutely no ethnic or religious diversity. We too, drank whatever cup of Sunday School Kool Aid was handed us regarding the threats that lay beyond the barb-wire fences and grain silos. When my high school boyfriend left SMU to go to Berkely for his M.Div. he wrote me a letter than began, “You will never believe what is going on out here”. 30 years later I voted for Obama. My journey began with that letter.

  72. Robin Sparks said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 12:53 am

    Can we remind everyone to say a special prayer for those “manning the polls” tomorrow? They are predicting that people could be in line until the early early hours of Wednesday morning…. and as long as those lines are, I have friends who have to be there at 5:30am and not expecting to leave until 2:00am Wednesday. Be patient, take a book, I-Pod, whatever and please know that these people WANT everyone to have their chance to vote!!! Please keep in mind: 1- This is not their regular job. 2- Some are VOLUNTEERS. 3- Thank them for going above and beyond… I guarantee they will appreciate it. 4- Be thankful that you have that FREEDOM to vote! Ok, down off my soapbox. To all the Volunteers tomorrow thank you:)

  73. Melanie said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 12:57 am

    Thank you for all you have done this election and for breaking free and stepping out with a voice that has made a difference and I know will continue to do more of the same. Your perspective and observations are right on. Thank you for the great work!

  74. Joe Donaldson said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 1:56 am

    I voted Obama, partially because of you and other evangelical Christians support of Obama. I believe most of what you believe, but I am taking a lot of crap because my McCain crazy Southern Baptist friends feel Obama can’t pray because he’s an atheist. And God does not hear his prayers. Secondly, now they jokingly call me baby killer.

  75. David Crisp said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 10:10 am

    For above all else beyond imagination and skill what the world asks of you is courage.

    Robert Mckee

  76. Kimberly said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 10:22 am

    Fascinating…once again, your storytelling has communicated in a way that has affected my viewpoint. It’s saying a lot for me to admit that you’ve almost persuaded me - a non-resistant/pacifist/conscientious objector - to quit hiding behind my ideology and step out to get involved. Almost.
    Eh…
    It’s all a journey, though, so thank you for contributing to my learning along the way.

    My thoughts followed Ms. Patsy Clairmont’s:
    “…[He's given us] a spirit of
    power
    love
    and a strong mind.”

  77. Brandon Scott Thomas said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 11:57 am

    Thanks, Don! This was awesome! I was the music pastor at Otter Creek Church in Nashville. You came and spoke there 4-5 years ago. I have since moved out of full-time church work and into a culture that I feel needs hope and light. Come to find out, there’s already a LOT out there. (I am in the entertainment industry now)

    Thanks for who you are and always standing up–but with the spirit of Christ!

  78. John said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 12:27 pm

    Wonderful post. I too look forward to this campaign season being over. I do hope if Obama wins that the rhetoric among Christians and conservatives in general will be a lot more civil than they were during the Clinton years.

    Don, you’ve gone a long way to break through the fear. Thank you.

  79. Bryce said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 12:46 pm

    Thanks, Don. Reading about your evolution as a thinker and your political stance was insightful. Thanks for being honest, brave and trying to live without fear.

    BP

  80. therealnickjones said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 12:47 pm

    Don, our stories are very much the same. Thank you for taking the time to write this. You put into words many of the things I’ve been thinking recently.

  81. kirsten said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 12:54 pm

    thank you, don.

    sigh (relief).

    while increasing numbers of evangelicals are supporting obama this year (i’m proud to be one of them, for the reasons you listed), it is sad to me to see so many swept up in the fear that i’ve see rampant in so many political ads. i’ve gotten some flack for how i’ve chosen to vote (i know i’m not alone in this!!) and am relieved to see such an intelligent, compassionate, and well-articulated piece about why you support obama. it helps me feel a tad more sane. ;o)

    thanks for stepping out on this, for taking the risk that you did by being public in your support. i believe obama to me the man you’ve described and i look forward (hopefully, Lord-willing) to seeing how an Obama presidency cleans things up around here.

    peace.
    -k

  82. Jennifer T. said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 1:03 pm

    Not surprisingly, your argument for Obama has been the first rational one I’ve heard from a faith-based standpoint. Most of the other thoughts I’ve heard have been pretty stupid and extremely argumentative, using scripture as a weapon…and not as the sword of the spirit. I still have a hard time getting past the moral issues of Obama’s campaign, but I know there are plenty of issues in McCain’s that are immoral as well- just not at the surface. I know that at this point in time, we have to vote for who we believe is the better of the two candidates. My hope for the future, though, is that believers will step up and that we can perhaps find a balance between the republican and democratic agendas.

  83. Paul said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 1:29 pm

    You, sir, are a bright beacon — an example to others that they should not be bound by the ideology and theology thrust upon them. People should not be told what to think and what to believe. They should quest for their own understanding, stand by it when it is attacked, but not be afraid to have their minds changed when evidence is convincing.

    I scoff at labels. I’m not much of a scoffer. But, where labels are concerned, I scoff.

  84. Elisabeth said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 2:07 pm

    Thanks for your thoughts and perspectives.

  85. Jen said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 2:25 pm

    Thank you for this post! When I read it last night it resonated with me in many ways. I cast my vote for Obama last week and have been taking much criticism from many I know because of it. Thankfully, although I grew up in a very conservative way as well, I was blessed with parents who taught us always to think for ourselves and to examine the issues and make our own decisions. It has led to an interesting journey for me in terms of my political leanings. It was wonderful to be reminded by your post that we are not to fear and that command should apply to all of life, including elections.

    Thanks again for your willingness to share your journey with us and for the encouragement that your post brings!

  86. natalie said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 3:02 pm

    Don, your ability to capture with words what has been building and stirring within me for years, is impeccably and beautifully accurate.
    I sincerely believe you have created an empathetic dialogue for many of the unvoiced yet compassionate thinkers of Generation X-Y.
    Thank you for your time and love.
    God Bless.

    D.M. 2012 perhaps ?

    take care.

  87. Rosa Culp said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 3:09 pm

    Thank you, Don for standing toe to toe and being firm. I do so appreciate your courage. Obama/Biden is, I think, a winning ticket.

  88. Rebecca said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 3:15 pm

    Thanks for this post. I have quite a similar background and have been so disheartened by the mudslinging and fear campaigns from BOTH sides. Your posts give me hope that there are others out there interested in dialogue (irony: the spell check on here doesn’t even recognize the word dialogue!) and seeking facts over finger pointing. Thanks for taking the risk and speaking up and being a voice of reason.

  89. Tim said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 4:02 pm

    Don,

    I grew up in south Texas too…in a small, Southern Baptist Church. And I too voted for Barack Obama–for many of the same reasons you did.

    I grew up believing those things too and sadly, it has taken me 30+ years to have the guts to investigate them myself. As you, I have found that most of those lies are empty and foundationless.

    Thanks for sharing. I’m glad to have voted for hope instead of fear.

    Tim Glenn

  90. Jason said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 4:47 pm

    Don ~

    Thanks for taking the time to write this. You made some excellent points. While I will not be voting for Obama, I think it’s important that body of Christ finds common-ground in supporting & praying for tonight’s winner, whoever that ends up being.

    I have posted a response to your blog here, for anybody that’s interested.

    ~J-Ri

  91. Jeff Goins said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 4:52 pm

    Fascinating read, Don. No one tells a story like you do. More than anything, I appreciate your resolution to not make any decisions this year out of fear. What a bold move. I’m encouraged.

  92. Andy Herndon said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 5:10 pm

    Thank you Don!

    Your story has spoken to me over the past few years! Thank you ! I know I may never actually met you in person ( though I am moving to Portland in 2 months so who know I may run into you on the MAX and be able to thank you in person)so this i smy chance to thank you! Your books have been a tool used by God to change the way I think and how I treat other people! Thank you for standing up for the whole Gospel! Thank you for standing against the fear mongering the GOP has engaged in, swaying many of my brothers and sisters. Thank you for caring about the least of these! Thank you for not being a trendy Christian writer! Thank you for witting a book that fell into my hands during a time in my life when I was struggling with the fact that ,according to my friends , my political beliefs didn’t match my faith in Christ and I was feeling isolated because of that! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! God has used your words to speak to so many! Thank you!

    In His Grip!

    Andy Herndon

  93. Stephen said,

    November 4, 2008 @ 5:32 pm

    Don,
    Great post.
    -stephen

  94. Ryan