Evangelicals Hesitant About Thompson

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Eric Gorski wrote the following story today:

Prominent evangelical leaders who spent the summer hoping Fred Thompson would emerge as their favored Republican presidential contender are having doubts as he begins his long-teased campaign.

But Thompson's less-than-clear stance on a federal gay marriage amendment and his delay in entering the race are partly responsible for a sudden shyness among leading evangelicals.

"A month or two ago, I sensed there was some urgency for people to make a move and find a candidate," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a Washington-based conservative Christian group. "Right now, I think people are stepping back a little and watching. The field is still very fluid."

I didn't realize he was in much trouble over an amendment against gay "marriage". Here are some thoughts below:

One person in attendance — Mathew Staver of the Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based conservative legal group — said Thompson described going back and forth about the merits of an amendment prohibiting gay marriage nationwide.

"At one time, he said he was against it," Staver said. "Then he said in June he was for it. So if now he's saying he's against it, to me that's a double-minded person. And that would be a real concern for religious conservatives."

Messages left with Thompson campaign were not returned.

That sounds like flip-flopping to me. Let's call a spade a spade. Mitt's not the only person to ever change his mind. Depending on the circumstances, we don't always need to call the changed person an opportunist. In fact, Mitt's story is credible and he turned in the proper direction--to the right.

Yet, Fred has been "double-minded" about lots of things: campaign finance, abortion (or at least lobbying for the cause), announcing an announcement date and sticking to it, this topic of gay "marriage", among other things.

Another item that puzzles me is that many of these prominent evangelicals are opposed to Mitt's candidacy at least in part because of his faith. Yet, Fred gets a pass, though he hasn't attended church in 20 years, and is likely Christian in name only. Mitt's values are identical to evangelicals, but his particular religious affiliation is disqualifying to these same people.

They're even willing to look at unelectable, nice-talking-but-poor-executive-from-Arkansas Mike Huckabee before Mitt. It appears we'll just have to be patient with such evangelicals groups to cross all non-Mitts off their lists. Eventually, they'll return to Romney. They'll just look a little silly for taking so long to figure out who their best hope is.

I am grateful, however, for forward- and clear-thinking evangelicals such as those at Evangelicals for Mitt. They see the need for values, but don't disqualify based on theology.