The Political Power in Billy Graham's Blessing

Rob Christensen of the Raleigh News & Observer, argues that Sarah Palin's recent dinner with the Rev. Billy Graham -- whom the writer says is like the Southern equivalent of the "Protestant pope" -- was a more significant event, at least in North Carolina, than her book signing at Fort Bragg:

For decades, presidents and presidential wannabes have sought the blessing of the nation's best-known preacher.

The evangelist, 91, doesn't endorse any more, having been burned by his close relationship with President Richard Nixon, who was Graham's idea of a Christian statesman until Graham listened to the Watergate tapes.

Graham, a registered Democrat, has befriended presidents of both parties. In many ways, his role in American life has transcended politics.

Religion, says Christensen, remains a powerful force in American politics:

Sometimes people ask me to explain Palin's political appeal - she is among the leading candidates for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. It is not so much about issues and ideology. She was a fairly pragmatic governor of Alaska.

It is about going rogue, as her book title suggests, about class politics, and about the power of religion.

Which is why approving comments from Billy Graham are far more important to her supporters than questions pundits raise about her presidential credentials.

What Christensen and his McClatchy Newspaper colleagues fail to understand is that Sarah Palin's supporters are quite familiar with the former governor's presidential credentials. We compared them with those of Barack Obama over a year ago, noted his lack of executive experience and found hers to be the more impressive resume.

The full op-ed is here.

Anne Graham Lotz: Sarah Palin 'a pretty tough lady'

On Friday's "On The Record" on FNC, host Greta Van Susteren interviewed Billy Graham's daughter Anne Graham Lotz about Sarah Palin's recent visit with her father and her brother Franklin:

VAN SUSTEREN: Your father looks great in that picture.

LOTZ: I thought he looked great. Hard to believe he's 91. His mind is clear, and he was very intrigued with governor Palin. The thing that he said afterward that impressed him the most was he thought she would come in full of herself and just take over and just dominate the conversation.

And instead, she was very thoughtful, sensitive, very warm, and what he said, sweet. He used the word, she was very "sweet" towards him, almost like she coming to visit her grandfather, very gentle and kind of letting him talk.

And he was very impressed, and very -- I think he felt encouraged that she -- in fact, the next day, I was with him and he said he wanted to call her and thank her for coming. And I'm sure that she wanted to do the same thing. He called and just thanked her for being there.

VAN SUSTEREN: Had you ever met her before that night? She spoke in that a little piece of being out in the public eye essentially.

LOTZ: No, I had not, but I was interested to meet her, because as a woman, and I've done many things that are the first time things for a woman to do. And I just admire her courage and her boldness. And she's a pretty tough lady.

A transcript of the full interview can be found here. Freedom's lighthouse has the video here.

- JP

Palin: Nation should seek God's protection and blessings

Friday, BGEA released the final two video segments of Billy and Franklin Graham's exclusive interview with former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. On the videos, she talks about leadership and discusses Franklin Graham's work in Alaska with Samaritan's Purse.

A brief excerpt of Sarah Palin's comments:

"I believe our country has been touched by God," said Palin, "because when we formed our union, leaders back then dedicated our country to God and said that we would seek His will for our great nation.

"I think if we could get back to that humbleness," she added, "with that kind of contrite spirit, I think that we would be able to be provided more of the answers to so many of the great challenges that we’re facing."

Gov. Palin noted that it takes Godly counsel, prayer and "a collective humble heart of a nation seeking God’s hand of protection and His blessings and prosperity. I think if we could get back to that, our country will be a safer, more prosperous and healthier nation."

All five BGEA video clips of former Governor Palin's interview with the Graham's are here.

- JP

The Grahams' Interview With Sarah Palin

They called her every name in the book. They sent teams of opposition researchers and rabid media hounds to her state to dig for dirt on her. They smeared her, her husband and every one of her five children with vicious lies. They hacked into her private e-mail account and posted her messages on the Web. Their coordinated campaign of web and media attacks against her rage on 24/7. They even tried to burn down the church she attended, causing a million dollars in damage and threatening the lives of those were inside. Through it all, she has carried on with courage and optimism. How does Sarah Palin manage to do that in the face of such unprecedented and vicious hatred?

Her faith in God keeps her going. While she was a guest of the Graham family recently in their home in North Carolina, Billy and Franklin Graham interviewed Sarah Palin about her challenges and her faith. Read all about it and watch the videos the Grahams made of their interview with Sarah Palin here.

- JP

Billy Graham: "God is using Sarah Palin to wake America up"

Franklin Graham, the son of Rev. Billy Graham, is quoted in the Charlotte Observer as having said of Sarah Palin:

"He's followed her career and likes her strong stand on faith. Daddy feels God was using her to wake America up."

The Observer also reported:

The former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate told Billy Graham about how she came to faith in God as a girl in Bible camp.

She quizzed him on the presidents he's known and wanted his take on what the Bible says about Israel, Iran and Iraq, Franklin Graham reported.

h/t: HotAirPundit

- JP

Sarah Palin: "We can take our country back"

Sarah Palin posted a message of real hope on her Facebook Notes page Monday morning, telling more than a million of her supporters that "we can take our country back." The first woman ever to be the vice presidential candidate of the Republican Party will visit Fort Bragg on her Going Rogue Book Tour today and reminded her supporter that her book was dedicated to our troops who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. The former governor also posted twenty photos which were taken on the tour and her visit Sunday with Rev. Billy Graham.

US Troops Must be Second to None

Can’t wait to meet our troops – and all those who love the U.S. Armed Forces – today at Ft. Bragg. Read my book’s dedication page. The book is for these Patriots who fight for freedom. They deserve our support and our government’s unwavering commitment to equipping them for victory.

The book tour is beyond all expectations. This feels like the time when a team comes together, gearing up before a major competition to show unity and supply strength and encouragement to each team member equally, regardless of the team member’s role or title.

On this tour I hear the grave concerns Americans have for our children’s future. I also feel the hope so many of you want to cling to – hope for those on Capitol Hill to see the light, hope for politicians to be humble enough to acknowledge that growing the federal government isn’t the answer to our economic challenges, hope that it won’t take another terrorist strike to wake us up to continued threats by those who hate America and our allies.

At every stop on this tour I see Americans coming together to say, “Enough. We love our country too much to just sit down and shut up while politicians take us for a ride. We shall be heard.”

We see a united team.

Now, I want to give you more hope: We are Americans. Anything is possible in America. Anyone can make a positive difference. You don’t need a title or a political position or a pedigree. We can take our country back from those who think growing national debt will grow prosperity for us, the little guys. We can take it back from those who think shrinking military power will make the homeland safer for us, the little guys.

We can take it back because we’re fired up, and we’re all about telling our government to listen to us, trust us, get back on our side… or politicians: you’re fired.

Plunging our country deeper and deeper in debt; borrowing billions from foreign countries; relying on foreign nations to supply us with energy; talking about sanctions against dangerous regimes but not following through; hesitating to surge aggressively to stop terrorist strongholds from growing; allowing government to take over health care, banks, the auto industry, and who knows what else they’ve got up their sleeves... it’s all too much and we’ve had enough.

Ronald Reagan knew it took a united team to right the wrongs of Washington. He told his team in essence, “Gentlemen and Ladies, I hate inflation; I hate taxes; I hate terrorists. Do something about it.”

America, you’re doing something about it! Thank you for standing up and speaking out. Thank you for holding on to hope, for loving America so passionately and supporting our troops who fight for freedom. Keep the faith!

- Sarah Palin

PS: Please continue to follow the tour’s progress by following me on Twitter at SarahPalinUSA. Enjoy the photos [here]!

Mutual Admiration: Rev. Billy Graham and Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin was a dinner guest in the home of the Rev. Billy Graham Sunday, as she met with the world renown evangelist and missionary and his son Franklin in North Carolina.

Former Gov. Palin said she wanted to express her appreciation to the elder Graham and seek his guidance on how to spread a positive message, The Asheville Citizen-Times reported:

Palin, the former GOP vice presidential candidate, said she wanted to discuss at dinner with the Montreat-based evangelists how she can contribute to messages that “can be sent to give some hope and some opportunity to people who may be hurting right now.”

“It's a once in a lifetime honor to meet Rev. Billy Graham, who has contributed so much to our world,” she said at the Asheville Regional Airport.

Palin made the surprise stop in Asheville while on her tour promoting her new book, “Going Rogue: An American Life.” She greeted a few fans and supporters with a handshake and smile before making brief remarks with the Rev. Franklin Graham. He greeted her and some family members when her private jet landed.

“I, like many people, have been impressed with her strong commitment to her faith, to family and love of country,” the Rev. Billy Graham said in a statement released after dinner. “We had an opportunity to pray together. Life in the spotlight is not easy and I pray that whatever lies ahead for this family that their faith in God and his son, Jesus Christ, would remain strong and that God would put a hedge of protection around her and all those she holds dear.”

- JP

Sarah Palin's arrival in Asheville NC for Dinner with the Grahams

Sarah Palin arrived at the airport at 3:10pm and was warmly welcomed by Franklin Graham and some local supporters who turned out on very short short notice. The former governor then took some time to answer a few questions. 

Rchard Bernier of Asheville is a co-founder of Draft Palin for President.

h/t: Buncombe County GOP

Update: Associated Press: Palin dines, prays with Rev. Billy Graham in NC

- JP

Sarah Palin Will Meet Billy Graham Tonight

Sarah Palin is taking a few hours' break from her Going Rogue book tour tonight for dinner with world renown evangelist Billy Graham and his son Franklin. McClatchy Newspapers' Charlotte Observer reports:

Sarah Palin, who will sign books Monday at Fort Bragg, plans a stopover in Montreat today to have dinner with 91-year-old Billy Graham and his son, Franklin Graham, who issued the invitation.

"He just saw that she was going to be in the area and he said to come by," said Jeremy Blume, a spokesman for Franklin Graham. Former Alaska Gov. Palin, who was the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008, will fly into Asheville this afternoon, Blume said, and then go to Billy Graham's mountaintop home in Montreat for dinner.

Although Sarah Palin has never met the elder Graham, she and Franklin Graham teamed up on a relief mission to some Alaskan communities which were hit hard last winter by the combination of a lean salmon fishing season and a spike in prices for diesel fuel and gasoline. The two delivered food to Russian Village and other communities as part of an aid effort that flew more than 40,000 pounds of donated food and supplies to to villages along the Yukon River.

- JP