Billy Graham buys election ads after Romney meeting

[MALiberal]

Source: CNN

By Eric Marrapodi CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor

Washington (CNN) - The most famous and revered pastor in America, Billy Graham, is calling on voters to cast a ballot for their faith in full-page ads in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and other newspapers.

Graham's picture appears prominently in the ads, next to copy that reads, "As I approach my 94th birthday, I realize this election could be my last."

It continues, "I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel. I urge you to vote for those who protect the sanctity of life and support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Vote for biblical values this November 6, and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God."

The ad hit the prominent papers Wednesday and Thursday, and could hit a dozen more newspapers, a week after the famed evangelist met with Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney at Graham's Montreat, North Carolina, home and less than a month after his son Franklin Graham issued a full-throated endorsement of Romney in a USA Today opinion piece.

Read more: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/18/billy-graham-buys-election-ads-after-romney-meeting/?hpt=hp_t2

[graham4anything]

1. Is he in good enough health to be doing this? I bet this is his son, or someone in their megabusines

His son is a teaparty type.

and his father was caught on tape making anti-semitic comments, if you remember back in Nixon's day.

[cyclezealot]

9. The son is more than just a tea bagger..

He's more prone to use hate speech against Muslims.. More likely like father , like son.. what need be checked out.. Their brain activity.

[yardwork]

27. Billy Graham also bought ads in favor of the anti-gay amendment in North Carolina

A lot of people who know him fairly well were surprised by that, and there is speculation in North Carolina that his son is controlling all this. The speculation is that Billy Graham himself has dementia and is not making these decisions himself. I don't know.

[oldhippydude]

2. and these folks are tax exempt..n/t

[Democratopia]

3. Of course Romney's policies of taking from the poor and giving to the rich are "biblical values."

Billy Graham seems to have contracted a serious case of Romnesia.

[LeftofObama]

4. I'll bet dollars against donuts that Billy Graham

did no such thing. It was his son and the tea baggers who did it and put his name on it.

Isn't it amazing how one can go from being anti Semitic and saying Mormonism is a cult, to all of a sudden endorsing a candidate who is Mormon and supports the nation of Israel?

Boggles the mind.

[2pooped2pop]

11. he did meet with him then his site was scrubbed of anti mormon

cult stuff.

[Ilsa]

12. That's what I'm thinking happened also.

Not only is he 94, but Billy Graham has Parkinson's Disease. The medication regimen for it can be brutal, causing fatigue, lots of sleep, and hallucinations.

My bet is that Franklin et al cooked up this endorsement, and to make themselves feel better, asked the elder Graham to approve by wiggling (pill-rolling) his hand or fingers (something he probably couldn't stop).

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

5. Shouldn't the media demand Franklin produce a video or interview of Billy?

to confirm it's really him doing this, and not just the work of his wingnutty birther son using his dad's name and face to further his own fringe-right politics?

A responsible media would question it, rather than blindly accepting Franklin's press releases.

Graham had repeatedly said he was out of the candidate-endorsing business after Nixon embarrassed him.

Isn't it funny how the complete 180 on this (as well as his past position on gay rights) only happened after he vanished from the public eye?

[Ilsa]

13. I was thinking the same thing.

"Prove it or shut up."

[NCarolinawoman]

58. Billy had become an environmentalist as well.

Back around 2002, 2003. I saw an interview with him where he said what concerned him the most was what "Man was doing to God's garden", How mankind was destroying it because of greed".

Then Billy became very ill after his wife died, and Franklin started encroaching on everything, taking advantage of what was going on with his father. Manipulating him.

Sad and horrendous situation.

[aandegoons]

6. Christians supporting money and hate

Who would have ever guessed.

[oswaldactedalone]

7. Billy Graham

is the devil. Burn in hell, you pos.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

57. Billy Graham has a response to this......

&t=1m26s

@1:26

[Island Deac]

8. Not anymore.....

20 Pieces of Silver......

Judas!!

[Kolesar]

10. Petro-evangelism

Did the ad money come from tithing and his profits on books, or did it come from the oil industry?

[byeya]

14. Billy Graham has his little Jesusville just to the west of Asheville, NC near I-40. The local

cellular phone company put up a large white tower with no dishes on it - just a very tall white spire.
People in the area were outraged because it spoiled the scenery - I agree it was instrusive.
The solution? The cell company added perpendicular pieces and painted them white making the cell tower into a christocross.
No more controversy.

[still_one]

15. Makes me laugh. He supports Israel. Why don't they play the nixon tapes which showed this bastards

true colors

Wonder if this means his "church" is no longer tax deductible since he is involving himself in who people should vote for

[progressivebydesign]

46. those christians only support Israel as a means to an end..

they're not about some benevolent feeling toward Jews, they need Israel to remain intact so that Jesus can come back and God can smite the non-believers. It's rather sick, actually.

[still_one]

48. Actually that makes romney even more dangerous if he is trying to fulfill some prophecy for the end

of days

[Ian David]

16. "As I approach my 94th birthday, I realize this election could be my last."

Amen.

[proReality]

17. Is Billy still in there?

He has the same blank stare Alzheimer's patients get. My guess is that he didn't understand much of anything that was going on around him, he was just plunked in the chair for a photo op.

[John2]

18. I would challenge CNN and the Wall Street Journal

I would challenge CNN amd the Wall Street Journal to give Mr Graham an interview on CNN. Then it would be verified instead of influenced by his son. I would also question Mr Graham why he wants to intefere in this election after decades of Presidents, that support not using religion in politics.

[woodsprite]

19. Franky is cashing in on his daddy's name one last time. n/t

[JanMichael]

20. All that money, and not one damned person

involved could remember a freaking comma:

One nation COMMA under God.

It's not that damned hard.

[txwhitedove]

21. Misguided, hateful "Christians". I'll never forget his daughter saying "God turned his head" when

Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. That was because it was "sin city" you know. I was only 44-miles away in Bay St. Louis, MS, which was ground zero for the hit. So, God turned his head when we were hit too? The Grahams, using the cloak of Chrisitanity for their own ends.

P.S. it was after a Freeper co-worker passed around that clip of Anne Graham's hateful remark, that I found DU.

[toby jo]

51. It's always a chuckle when a million year old weather pattern has motives

on the sexual activities of some of earth's mammals

Boy, where can I go to get some of THAT spiritual wisdom?

[Bluenorthwest]

22. Billy Graham has long been known as a racist, anti semitic greed machine

Now that he's speaking out against the basic principles of Christianity, from serving the least among us to the Virgin Birth which Mormons deny, it becomes clear that he is devoid of actual faith and conviction and his worship of the Dollar and the Republican Party is full tilt and out of the closet.
A vain, ego soaked man who should have been rejected by this nation when his racist tapes with Nixon came out. He defines Evangelicals in the US, they don't really hold to their 'theology' at all, they are just racists and homophobes looking for excuses to hate.

[pangaia]

23. Silly Billy is a fake and always was..

The Elmer Gantry of the 20th/21st centuries..

[NeonDog]

24. So Graham is endorsing the non-christian, and possibly the anti-christ?

According to the The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry, Mormonism is not a christian religion.

Mormon theology teaches that God is only one of countless gods, that he used to be a man on another planet, that he became a god by following the laws and ordinances of that god on that world, and that he brought one of his wives to this world with whom he produces spirit children who then inhabit human bodies at birth. The first spirit child to be born was Jesus.

http://carm.org/is-mormonism-christian

[AspenRose]

63. Better a white non-Christian than a black Christian, I suppose in their minds

They'll just turn a blind eye to all that apologetics stuff they've been teaching for decades. *wink wink*

[RedstDem]

25. the faith is strong with this one obi-wan

lol
he backs the non christian over the true christian...religion cracks me up, but I feel sorry for truly religious people that just wish to do good in this world, getting railroaded into the abyss time and again by "false prophets".

[Bluenorthwest]

26. Graham to Nixon about Jewish people:

"They don't know how I really feel about what they're doing to this country."

He also expressed worries that was going to "expel all the Christians." While he and Nixon discussed what they felt was Jewish control of US media.
Some 'friend to Israel' he is!

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-06-24-graham-tapes_N.htm?csp=34

[jsr]

34. .

[progressivebydesign]

45. grotesque. Graham is a Jew-hater, just like Nixon. And people give him money. nt

[JI7]

62. he wants to send them all to Israel

[beac]

28. "The most famous and revered pastor in America"???

Maybe... among a group that was already likely in the bag for Mittens.

I don't think the ravings of a demented old man (and/or the ravings of his a-hole son that he's signing dad's name to) will make much difference.

That said, the Grahams are both despicable POS.

[tomm2thumbs]

29. Romney is now shaking down grandpa????

Wow, he must be really desperate. Glad to hear it.

[atreides1]

30. SO his true colors finally come out

Billy Graham is a traitor...who has no regard or respect for the US Constitution, and is nothing more then another religious fanatic!!!!

[still_one]

31. Actually the is is a good sign. This must mean the tide is turning. They are starting to get more

desperate but this garbage.

You see certain employers come out and threaten their employees if they vote Democratic

I see CEO's and ex CEO's being part of ads that call Obama a socialist or communist

All these things indicate to me that they have lost control, and we are going to win

This really is the most important election


VOTE

[sulphurdunn]

32. Any credibility

a religious leader has goes straight to hell the minute he or she endorses a political candidate.

[Odin2005]

33. I'm 99.9% sure that it's actually Franklin Graham doing this shit.

[olegramps]

36. Who gives a damn if it the son or the old fart. They aren't Christians, just two-bit Grifters.

I remember my parents tuning into to his Crusades. I wanted to vomit. Just money grubbing a-holes at best.

[Odin2005]

38. No true Scotsman.

[nc4bo]

35. I posted about some "interesting" comments on WRALtv's (NC) website...see what you think.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021585631

Some typical anti-Obama Fundies are not happy. If you cruise around some of the other political coverage, especially having to do with Dems or Obama, you'll see how they usually behave, like freeperville.

Some of the more interesting comments I listed in my post.

[DhhD]

37. Is there an ad that says the Jesus Christ already returned to Missouri in the 1820s,

according to Joseph Smith? No Republican President has ever stopped abortion. If the GOP stopped abortion, they would lose many religious dummies. Senator Ryan, of the Ryan Plan, the true Romney Plan, said last week that abortion would only be allowed in the case of rape, incest or the life of the Mother.

[DhhD]

39. Deception and lying are the mark of Satan. The Holy Bible says that in the end times many will

be deceived. Who is in the party of lies? Those who associate themselves with Satan.

[Faryn Balyncd]

40. Did the Koch brothers just give Franklin Graham a cash infusion?

[SHRED]

41. Tax exempt?

[ejbr]

42. + 1 n/t

[kimbutgar]

43. What if rmoney gave a big donation to Graham's church to pay for these ads?

If would not surprise me if rmoney paid for the endorsement. Graham took blood money.

[progressivebydesign]

44. Where is the IRS lately??? Graham buying political ads??? wth??

And so many churches are now openly advocating for Romney, with signs and emails. AND the Koch Brothers Americans for Prosperity is a "non profit social welfare organization" Which means TAX FREE???

What the hell happened? Why do the little guys have to toe the line and be careful to do everything just right on their taxes, and these people are flouting the laws so blatantly????

[GoCubsGo]

47. Excellent question!

I always suspected that this guy was scummy. Looks like my suspicions were spot-on. I hope the IRS slaps him with a nice, fat tax bill.

[Zen Democrat]

49. Billy Graham has ALWAYS been a far right Republican and a Jew hater. It's all in the Nixon Tapes

and in his own voice. He went on and on in 2000 about what great and inspiring Christians are the Bush Family. I doubt he's doing any of this on his own at 94, but it's not like Franklin is much different from the old man. He's just come out as a bigot, and Billy kept it on the QT.

[SoapBox]

56. Ditto to your post.

[joanbarnes]

50. Is his little club tax exempt?

[Arugula Latte]

52. Here's hoping this election IS his last. Gaaaaawd 'n' Jeeeeeezus need to call him hoooome!

[toby jo]

53. By just telling people to vote for 'biblical' values,

he's no doubt circumnavigating the IRS problem.

To me biblical means theocratic, misogynist, middle eastern bs. To him, it means theocratic, misogynist wonderlust.

[jtuck004]

54. Holy shit. (that's an adjective and a noun, btw) n/t

Last edited Sat Oct 20, 2012, 03:16 PM - Edit history (1)

[tarheelsunc]

55. I SO wish a Democratic PAC would run an ad with the statements from his website.

If a man calls a religion a cult, and then endorses a candidate of that religion, then he has NO credibility.

[Barbara2423]

59. Sad Last Statement

This maybe (I hope not) his last message left to the world and they will remember he supported a liar and a cheat who has no respect for leadership. Don't understand people with religious values who think it is okay to lie, cheat and manipulate the uniformed but will not respect the right to choose.

[mzteris]

60. Billy Graham did jack sh*t -

his worthless scamming son did that. Billy Graham is so old and out of it he can barely stand up to make appearances.

His son took over his operation years ago and has used it shamelessly to line his pockets. His "Samaritans purse" - a total scam.

That theme park or mansion or whatever you want to call it they were working on? A complete boondoggle designed to make the "prodigal son" richer than he already was. The son believes in one thing and one thing only. Himself. Okay two things - himself and MONEY.

[mojo2012]

61. No Shame

Once again, Mitt Romney said exactly what Billy Graham wanted to hear. It's pretty sad that Mitt Romney would "scam" a 94 year old man to get what he wanted...

[Zoeisright]

64. Billy Graham is a douchebag.

Biblical principles my ass. He wouldn't know biblical principles if they bit him in his pale white wrinkled ass.

[PrBelvr]

65. This shameful!

I remember my grandparents supporting Billy Graham every time he came into the Sf Bay Area. My grandfather was a minister of a small church in Oakland, CA. They really looked up to Billy Graham and his ministry. If they were alive today they would be heartbroken to see how Billy Graham has compromised his beliefs about the Mormon faith being taught as a cult.
Romney is shameless. He does not deserve the presidency.

[blackspade]

66. Will the IRS, PLEASE, revoke this asshat's tax exempt status.....

Pretty please!?

[StarryNite]

67. Billy Graham

what a piece of shit. Always was, always will be.

[Megahurtz]

68. I Hate When These People

take a side in politics. They have no business, OR proper ethics, endorsing one side or the other.

[nakocal]

69. Take away there non-except status

Billy Graham and his ministries are in the God business to make money. They do not give a fuck about the most vulnerable in society. They are definitely not Christian.