GOP Targeting New Voters at Conservative Churches

Recruiting voters at churches has been going on for a long time (every election cycle black churches across the country are full of Dem candidates passing the plate for their campaigns), but the LA Times is suddenly concerned that conservatives have decided to actively recruit voters at evangelical churches:

Worried that discontent among conservatives and the lack of a clear standard-bearer to follow President Bush might cost Republicans in November, top evangelical leaders pleaded with their followers Friday to put aside frustrations and turn out for GOP candidates.

The appeals, coming on the opening day of a weekend-long rally and strategy conference, included entreaties to pastors to use their pulpits on behalf of the social conservative agenda.

"There is no choice, because the alternative is terrible," said James C. Dobson, founder of the influential group Focus on the Family, referring to the potential for a Democratic takeover of the House and Senate in November.

Dobson's organization recently launched a major voter recruitment drive in eight battleground states that will include placing registration tables outside Sunday worship services at conservative churches.

Of course, the usual suspects are complaining:

One session today is to focus on the "role of churches in political issues." On Friday, Dobson and a representative from an evangelical-backed legal group told the crowd that churches were free to distribute fliers and other materials promoting stands on issues.

"You still can't endorse candidates, but you can do voter guides," Dobson said. "You can do all kinds of things."

Critics say Dobson and his allies are crossing the line and giving bad advice to churches. The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, mailed letters this week to 117,000 churches in 11 states warning them not to go along with voter registration drives and other activities.

"They are talking about a systematic effort to get churches involved in political activity," said Lynn, who attended the conference and met privately backstage with Dobson to debate the question. "They say this isn't partisan, but then they turn around and make it clear that their goal is to keep Republicans in power."

This really is nothing new in evangelical churches. I remember being handed a Moral Majority voter guide in 1980 that was clearly intended to encourage the support of Ronald Reagan and other conservatives.

As long as the church is not making a direct endorsement, but is simply providing voter guides which provide comparisons between candidates and parties on key issues, I don't think Barry Lynn and his media allies can do anything about it.