Christian conservatives who not too long ago were ecstatic that Donald Trump set in motion the gutting of Roe v. Wade with his Supreme Court appointments are expressing dismay that he has dropped them like a bad habit as he makes his third bid for the Oval Office.
According to a report from the New York Times, Trump's waffling on abortion has hardcore anti-choice Christians feeling abandoned and betrayed.
The Times reported there is a feeling of "whiplash" as Christians ponder the November election in which they will likely still vote for the former president over his Democratic opponent — but they are not happy about the turn of events.
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As the report noted, "For years, many evangelical Christians and Catholics operated with the sense that they were a silent majority. If they could simply motivate enough of their fellow Christians to vote, they believed they could win, and often they did.
"But now, they are facing the reality that many of their views are not widely held, and that to advance their goals nationally they need power at the highest levels — power that Mr. Trump suddenly seems less inclined to give."
That has disappointed some Christian activists and made them angry.
Speaking with the Times, Bunni Pounds, of the Christians Engaged advocacy organization, said, "The Trump campaign has made it harder for people like me who are trying to galvanize the Christian vote."
According to the Times, after a recent conclave in Texas, Christian Post reporter Ian Giatti wrote, "The mood this year in his circle is a more extreme version of the 'Hold your nose and vote' atmosphere of 2016. That year, eight in 10 white evangelicals voted for Mr. Trump, but there was a vocal current of dissent and disappointment. In 2020 the share was similar, but with more enthusiasm given all Mr. Trump had accomplished for them."
Giatti also complained, "There was this real sense that the Republican Party no longer is the home for conservative Christians. There’s a sea change, and it definitely feels deliberate.”
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