Schwarzenegger campaign cuts ties to evangelicals

Let me know if this sounds familiar. Who are the folks that man the phone banks at election time, walk the precincts to get out the vote and write the checks to the GOP?
A lot of them are evangelical Christians. Does the Schwarzenegger campaign feel that they have the Christian vote all locked up? Maybe they have already tallied our votes and are going after the independents. I guess I know how the African American democrats feel, taken for granted and pushed to the side as the candidate romances a new group of voters. The Schwarzenegger campaign may have miscalculated, the church going soccer mom may just stay home this election cycle, with her checkbook and dayplanner.

The abrupt decision of the state Republican Party to cut ties with an evangelical advocate hired to reach out to voters on behalf of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's re-election has disappointed conservatives and fueled their concern about the governor's principles.

Ben Lopez, the chief lobbyist of the Traditional Values Coalition, a group founded by the Rev. Lou Sheldon, said he was surprised when his job as a GOP outreach worker to churches ended at the conclusion of last weekend's state Republican Party convention.

I also see this for what it is. Since the democrats can't hang the war in Iraq around the Governors neck, the next best thing is to trot out the evangelical bogeyman. We can't have those hate filled Christians just begging the Governor to reconvene the Salem witch trials right here at the capitol. If you re-elect the Governor, there will be Bibles in all the schools, internment camps for homosexuals and Jerry Falwell will be named to the California supreme court. The Schwarzenegger oligarchy must be stopped!

As ridiculous as these sound there are some in the democratic party who feel that evangelical Christians are larger threat to America that Al-Qaida. Just read some if the fever swamp blogs on the left, talk about hate, those folks are filled to overflowing with hatred for Christians.

So why has Schwarzenegger canned his evangelical ambassador? Look who is running his campaign, Democratic campaign strategists. They know the Democratic playbook, they wrote it. Close ties to any semi-controversial Christian group will be turned into the most outrageous attack adds.

I hope that Governor Schwarzenegger has the courage to stand up for his faith, and those in his base. What I need to hear and see is the Governor attending church and meeting with evangelical groups who do great work in their communities. Homeless outreach, food banks, battered women's centers and substance abuse recovery ministries are a fantastic ways to keep the connection to his base strong.

I don't need to have an evangelical ambassador, I need to have a candidate who is not ashamed of his supporters.