Two possible contenders for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination –
Senator Ted Cruz and former Gov. Mike Huckabee
– are scheduled to be in Charlotte on Sept. 14 to headline “Star
Spangled Sunday,” a live national webcast from First Baptist Church of
Charlotte.
The Rev. Mark Harris, who pastors First Baptist, said the event celebrating the 200th anniversary of the National Anthem, a.k.a. “The Star Spangled Banner,” is also set to include some other speakers popular with conservative Christians.
Namely Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby, the national chain of craft stores, and the Benham brothers – David and Jason – of Concord.
Hobby Lobby’s lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act led to a narrow U.S. Supreme Court ruling this year saying corporations with religious owners cannot be required to pay for insurance coverage of contraceptives. And the twin Benham brothers made national headlines when HGTV canceled their house-flipping show before it aired because of David Benham’s past comments on gay marriage and abortion.
Harris said churches all over the country will simulcast the event, which he said will enlighten Americans about “how God used ordinary Christians in the War of 1812 to do extraordinary things.” Witnessing the bombarding of Fort McHenry during that war -- on the night of Sept. 13-14, 1814 -- lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key penned the lyrics of what became the National Anthem.
Sponsored by the Family Research Council, “Star Spangled Sunday” will start at 7 p.m. at the church, 301 S. Davidson St.
Asked whether the inclusion of Cruz of Texas and Huckabee of Fox News made the upcoming event look and sound a lot like a GOP rally, Harris said no way.
“The Family Research Council has spent a great deal of time reaching across party lines,” said Harris, who ran unsuccessfully this year for the Republican Senate nomination in North Carolina. “It’s less interested in party labels than it is in standing up for the principles we hold dear.”
-- Tim Funk
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28 comments:
I really find it disturbing that a tax-exempt church is producing this blatant campaign event for two hate-filled political hacks. So much for First Baptist paying much heed to the works and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps this "church" will consider giving up it's privileged tax-exempt status, registering as a PAC, and pulling its weight in terms of supporting the Charlotte and Mecklenburg County budgets while it serves as a mouthpiece for the Republican party's candidates.
Weez a gonna be a hollerin' and hatin on that day, fella christians! Yee haw!
I have been praying daily (and will continue to do so)that God would raise up Christian leaders for our local, state and national offices. I am so glad to see this! If Christians in our country don't stand up and be counted we are going to lose everything that our forefathers fought for and that would be so wrong!!
If they are supposedly reaching across party lines then why are all of the speakers right wing fanatics?? It's time to tax the churches!
"Asked whether the inclusion of Cruz of Texas and Huckabee of Fox News made the upcoming event look and sound a lot like a GOP rally, Harris said no way."
I wonder how much preacher Harris' nose grew after he made that statement?
Although it's pretty much a given that Cruz will try for the nomination, surely Huckabee isn't seriously considering getting into the race. Will he play his guitar for Jesus on Sunday?
And Cruz. He stands about as much chance of securing the nomination as I do. Do we really need another Joe McCarthy? Except Cruz sees Liberals under the bed instead of Communists. Cruz will be lucky to make it past the Iowa Caucases. He'll flame out like Bachmann and Cain did.
I grew up attending the old First Baptist Church on N. Tryon. It saddens me to see that it's been degraded and turned into a cheap political tool for a shameless local demagogue like Mark Harris.
The old First Baptist produced quite a few fine and well respected city and county leaders. Mark Harris is not one of them, and never will be.
It's a good thing previous First Baptist pastors Dr. C. C. Warren and Carl Bates are not here to see what their old church has become.
Big Christianity in this country has become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Republican Party. I suspect if President Obama were to show up and try to speak at one of these "non-partisan" events, he'd be hooted and jeered off the stage while being pelted by cabbages and tomatoes by these fine Christian folks.
Time to end the farce of these de-facto GOP recruiting stations enjoying tax exempt status.
Liberals and the liberal media want to define all issues in their terms. A church can cast social issues through the prism of their religious views. Glad to see tolerance of other opinions is on great display on this board...just keep the name-calling coming.
Liberals are the haven of the depraved and deviant and those who hate religion. Our country was founded on a belief in God and Judeo Christian values. Others seek to tear the church and these values down. This is today's Democratic party: unGodly folks who name-call and jeer believers and attempt to drown out anything related to morals, ethics and religion.
I'll be surprised if the church doesn't explode from all the religious bigotry and moral demagoguery crammed into that building.
While I'm a Christian and would be somewhat uncomfortable with my church bringing in these political figures, I haven't seen any criticism of liberal or predominantly African American churches advocating for the Democratic party. Just saying if you're against it one way...
Why do Liberals get upset when presidential hopefuls visit conservative churches? This is no different from when politicians visit churches in the black community to advance left leaning causes. Let these people do what they do. They are not bothering you. For example, Gay Pride weekend was downtown. You know what I did? Stayed home. It didn't bother me one bit. This is a free country.
I reckon the Baptists didn't invite Rand Paul since his namesake is the Russian atheist, Ayn Rand.
Wow Tim... I thought the Observer's vaunted change over to Facebook comments - which doesn't seem to include your blog linked from their site - was going to "raise the level of discourse" around here. Or did I simply hear Rick's words wrong? You might want to pass along to him - I don't think this experiment is working all that well...
They should show a photo of Huckabee at his current weight.
Such a fetching pose shown by Senator Cruz!
It is sad and embarrassing to see Charlotte in the spotlight again for this kind of self-righteous buffoonery.
Anonymous said...
"Anonymous said...
Liberals are the haven of the depraved and deviant and those who hate religion...This is today's Democratic party: unGodly folks who name-call and jeer believers..."
So referring to people as "depraved" and "deviant", not to mention "Ungodly", isn't name-calling with a little "jeering" thrown in for good measure? You holier-than-thou people are so predictable.
Looks suspiciously like a Pot-Kettle scenario to me. What a good little Christian you are."
No worries, you'll have plenty of time to ponder on that in hell.
Political rally should not be held at a church!!!!!! If one is mentioned about the election then it becomes a rally.
Where is the list of who was actually invited? If was truly to celebrate the "Star Spangled Banner" I am sure more people from both party would be attending. BTW Francis Scott Key was Episcopal a free and open church, guess that will not be mentioned.
I agree. Let's keep the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton from speaking out on any political issue unless they give up their "cloak" and refrain from ever setting foot in a church. Either you are secular or religious. Can't have it both ways.
"Archigirl said...No worries, you'll have plenty of time to ponder on that in hell.
August 23, 2014"
See you there, then.
While I find it odd how so many of my friends on the left seem to be so outraged by this when Democratic politicians use the church pulpit every day in our inner cities to deliver their message.....pretty hypocritical. With that said, they DO have a legitimate question regarding tax exemptions when churches are being used for blatantly political purposes (for both D's & R's).
It's amazing how the Baptist Church ignores the liberal teachings of Jesus that are rampant through out the bible.
Big Christianity? I guess it is OK when Al Sharpton shows up on behalf of those on the left.
Those of you saying the church shouldn't be allowed to do this don't understand the rules. Huckabee can stand up there and say he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman only....as an example....and that doesn't make this a Republican rally. There are some Democrats who also believe marriage should be between a man and a woman only. So that position is not exclusive to any one party. Get it? Unless they endorse a candidate or a party or raise money for either then the church is within their rights to do this. It is perfectly legal.
It's very common for Democratic minority candidates to not only have access to african american pulpits, but to also give "donations" to have church members drive vans to pick members up to go vote "the right way." Minority churches are used (misused?) regularly to support Democrats with a strong undercurrent of racism (we must support the black candidate)...interesting black politicians must scream loudly about racism to distract voters or more blacks would "pull the curtain back" and see how totally devastating Democratic policies are in the black community.
Liberals are such hypocrites and haters when it comes to conservative events. You have your gay pride parades but condemn a church for their celebration of Star-Spangled Banner because of conservative political speakers. May I remind you that Huckabee is an ordained baptist minister. He was a preacher in Arkansas before his political career. He has just as much right to be at this event as Louis Farrakhan does at any black church in Charlotte. Give it a break! This is a FREE country!
Sad that my church, yellow creek baptist, was sucked into this shameless and misleading commercial for the GOP.
When so called historian says that Madison refrained from raising a strong military, similar to today; he blatantly misled all. How could any army be raised with a populous that was wary of a new king. The battles were fought by militias that were primarily farmers that distrusted a strong central government.
If you would lie about this...what else.
When will we get the Democratic Party response?
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