A couple of weeks ago, the Rev. Billy Graham met with Mitt Romney. Afterward, the evangelist gave Romney his public support, saying he would do “all I can to help you.” His Billy Graham Evangelistic Association then began taking out pro-Romney newspaper ads that read in part: “I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel.”
Two points.
Rev. Graham is entitled to support the candidate of his choice. Of course he is. But it’s unfortunate, in a era of increasingly politicized sectarianism, that he can give cover and validation to–among others–divisive, fundamentalist yahoos.
Second, why would Rev. Graham’s support matter? This is the 93-year-old version of the man who went out of his way to back Richard Nixon. His isn’t a bully pulpit. It’s a bull pulpit.