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The Changing Politics of Rick Warren and Randy Brinson
In 2004 Randy Brinson organized a voter registration campaign aimed at young people called Redeem the Vote. It seemed to me at the time that this looked more like a Vote for Bush the Redeemer effort. Right before the 2004 election, Rick Warren sent out a message to thousands of pastors in his network and basically gave an appeal for the Bush-Driven Life. For the 2006 election Randy Brinson is putting out an alternative voting guide in seeming competition with the Alabama organization that was earlier connected to the Christian Coalition. At the Redeem the Vote website, Brinson writes:
It is in that spirit that we began Redeem the Vote, to register people of faith regardless of party affiliation, or personal political beliefs, but as a matter of Christian principle, that people of faith must be engaged in the political debate and vote as a matter of moral imperative. Since then, we have continued to reach out to both parties to find the best in both, and find solutions to the debate, not trump or destroy one person or party. This is in stark contrast to many of those conservative Christian organizations that seek to develop a partisan mentality and approach to problems that have solutions beyond partisan rhetoric. In fact, some believe the development of working relationships between Democrats and Republicans may even be counterproductive in the sense that large sums of money would be difficult to raise if their was no battle to be fought, or political enemy to be slain. Our hope is that we can engage evangelicals to support a broad agenda that embraces the common good of all Americans. Rick Warren went from being politically concerned about abortion, stem cell research, gay marriage, human cloning and euthanasia to preaching about church leadership and helping the poor, the sick and the illiterate. Since 2004 Warren has also signed important statements on global warming and torture. I'm not sure how widespread this political change of heart is within conservative Christian circles, but it may help weaken the strong connection between the Christian Right and the republican party.
The Changing Politics of Rick Warren and Randy Brinson | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
The Changing Politics of Rick Warren and Randy Brinson | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
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