"I think what disturbs me most about this accusation is that it shows that many Christians are more than happy to think the worst about someone and assume that everything they say is a lie."

I think it's incredibly naive to expect people to assume the best about a politician and assume that what they're saying is true because "we're christians so we should give them charity in judgment". That's a fine way to look at your average neighbor who largely has no impact on your life, but I would consider it woefully negligent to not view the claims of somebody seeking one of the most powerful political offices in the world with a good deal of skepticism.

We've reached a point in our culture where politicians lie routinely, and a large number of people have come to simply accept that this is just the way things work. Popular opinion is such that a candidate can be caught in a plain, deliberate, obvious, proveable lie- and it won't even impact their candidacy. People just accept it.

And repudiating politically inconvenient associations is better than not doing so, but it's also naive to think that we can take this as clear evidence of their true feelings without considering the political convenience of making such a repudiation.

Is that cynical? Obviously. But is it somehow un-christian to be cynical about the claims made by politicians? Sorry, but that's just ridiculous. I can't think of any group that has less credibility. Are christians supposed to believe everything that used car salesemen and late night TV ads tell them because to do otherwise would be un-christian? Politicians, as a class, have destroyed their credibility, and I cannot fathom any christian responsibility to be naively trusting of a group with such a poor track record of respecting the public's trust.

I struggled with this too... I come from a family full of ardent Christian conservatives, but I find myself disgusted with the unchristian behavior of so many "Christian" politicos/pundits/Dobsons, a growing concern with environmental issues, moral outrage over the current administration's rampant disregard for constitutional law... it is not an easy or painless decision. A friend gave me some excellent advice - go through the Gospels, note the teachings of Jesus, and then ask yourself which candidate is most likely to try and carry out those teachings.

That was enough to set me free from decades of my prior votes, and to let me vote to clean house: http://shouston.blogspot.com/2008/09/why-i-plan-on-voting-for-change.html

What about unborn children Will? Obama has gone on the record as saying that his "FIRST" priority is to get a system set up where abortions are more available regardless of the age of the child, etc. Do a you tube search on Obama and Planned Parenthood, and you'll see the tape pretty quickly. If that's his first priority, his priorities are way screwed up.

What good are supposed protections of liberty and property, if we can't protect life?

On his religion: I am far more concerned with the liberation theology that he espouses than anythng he doesn't acknowledge. It's basically socialism. I have friends that grew up in Nicauragua during it's recent revolution that will tell you that the same theology was the seed of socialism that caused so much pain there.

On his relationships: I don't know if he believes what all these people believe or not, but there are so many of them that the common thread has to cause concern. Ayers and his weathermen took the position that once their folks were in power the ardent capitalists should be exterminated and they expected that number would be about 25 million. That's craziness and I don't won't a guy like that within 100 miles of my president, much less sharing office space with him.

Obviously we don't have anything close to a perfect candidate. I wish I could be more excited about McCain but I will be voting for him if for no other reason than to give children the right to breath.

oh...come on Will - we all know you are voting for McCain. As much as you (and many other card-carrying evangelicals are saying) would like to say you voted Democrat this year (just to mix it up), Obama just isn't the guy you can see yourself taking the risk on is he?

Please forgive me, as I don't wish to be one of those Christians you seem to rail against, but I have to scratch my head at your criticisms. I mean I cannot even believe the joke that is called coverage on Obama. His name is mentioned, then we hear how "old and angry" McCain is, how terrible Sarah Palin is and on it goes. The so called coverage, or, lack thereof, is, I think, what is driving some people to the silly and extreme reactions you mention.

But the bottom line is we do not know enough about this man. He has purposely kept his views to himself by voting "present" and spending his short time in the senate running for president. Add that to the fact that the media and many others seem to think he is the Messiah and refuse to do an in-depth reporting of him, as well as his ties to people like Farakahn, Ayers, Khalidi, and you have the frustration and outrage that leads to the extremes you mention.

But really, it is amazing that you are more worked up about the silly claims than the fact that the media is covering for him and blasting any and all who dare to be NOT for Obama.

Sad.