The highlight of the evening is keynote speaker Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential candidate.

 Most of the time, Palin’s political views are quoted. However, she’s expected to share her faith testimony at tonight’s event. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Some people are concerned that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is being unfairly scrutinized by the media now that the presidential election is over.

Janice Shaw Crouse, director and senior fellow of Concerned Women for America’s Beverly LaHaye Institute, said Palin, who was Sen. John McCain’s running mate for the Republicans, is being targeted by the media because she is a conservative Christian woman.

“Some reporters are delving into media archives to find any instance of misspeaking or comments that can be misconstrued to show her supposed ‘ignorance,’ ‘inexperience,’ or ‘unsuitability for public office,’” Crouse said today in a statement released through Christian Newswire.

“It is amazing the lengths to which some people will go to destroy anyone who stands for moral principles, especially those who are pro-life or pro-marriage.  Sarah Palin was thrust into the media spotlight and into political stardom overnight.  She is a natural politician who exudes authenticity and a touch for the common person.  She is a role model for young women and an example of a wife and mother who chose the right priorities and excelled at politics as well.  Granted, she is not used to ‘gotcha journalism,’ and the rest of us are tired of ‘gotcha journalism.’”

Crouse said Palin is being targeted by the media because she is a  conservative Christian woman.

“It is entirely predictable, but unconscionable, that the media would consider her fair game for personal destruction,” Crouse said.

Crouse said the media destroyed their credibility during the presidential campaign and are “earning their own destruction.”

(AP PHOTO: Alaska Gov.  Sarah Palin greets supporters after returning to Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday. Palin returned after 70 days on the campaign trail as Sen. John McCain’s, R-Ariz., running-mate in the presidential election.)

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Folks who have already voted can go to Beliefnet.com and take the Web site’s exit poll.

Also, the Web site features an interesting quiz that allows you to test your knowledge of the presidential (and vice presidential) candidates’ faith beliefs and some of the news surrounding their religious views.

Take the quiz by clicking here: Quiz 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Here are Waldman’s Top Ten Faith Factors to be watching for on Tuesday.

For those of you who may be interested in what else he has to say, he will be blogging the election live at www.Beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman.

Ten Faith Factors for Election Night1.How Many Obamagelicals Are There? – It might seem farfetched that a socialist-terror-lovin’-pro-abortion candidate like Obama could win any evangelical Christians but he’s been courting them fervently since he began his presidential run. The key the 40% of evangelicals who call themselves “moderate” or “liberal.” Point of reference: John Kerry won 21% of white evangelicals, Gore 18%. Bill Clinton in 1996 won 26%.

2.  Will Palin Turn Out the “Religious Right”? — By picking Sarah Palin, John McCain gambled that she’d be able to rev up the evangelical “base.” Even as her popularity has fallen generally, evangelicals still love her (some even believing she was sent to battle the anti-Christ.) Assuming most conservative evangelicals vote for McCain, the second question is: how many will show up? Point of reference: white evangelicals accounted for 23% of the electorate in 2004.

3. Do Midwestern Evangelicals Split With Their Brethren? — Recent polls have showed Obama trailing badly among evangelicals in Florida and Colorado but doing quite well with them in Michigan, Ohio and

5. Can Obama Finally Bowl a Strike With Skeptical White Catholics? – During the primaries, Obama did poorly with white Catholics, often working class ethnics or their offspring. Remember his feeble attempt to curry favor through bowling? They tend to be culturally conservative and haven’t voted for a Democrat since 1996. On the other hand, they’re especially concerned about the economy this year, and Joe Biden has been trying to bond with them as a fellow “cultural Catholics.” Point of reference: In 2004, Bush won 56% of white Catholics, Kerry 43%.

6. Will Whitebread Protestants Back the Black Guy? – Recent polls show Democrats gaining with a group that had leaned Republican for most of the past few decades – Mainline Protestants. It appears that while Sarah Palin energized evangelicals, she may have alienated some Mainliners. In 2004, they went for President George W. Bush 54%-46%.

7. Will Latino Protestants Vote Their Values or the Pocketbook? – One positive trend for Obama will likely be the shift of Latinos from the Republican side, where they resided in 2004, to the Democrats. The hidden religious story: most of the shift is driven by Latino Protestants. Many are evangelical and liked Bush’s Christian faith and his conservative positions on social issues (gay marriage, abortion) but have shifted to Obama because of the economy and concerns about immigration.

8. How Will the Kinda-Sorta Religious Vote? – In recent elections, the most religious you were, the more likely you were to vote Republican. This is known as the God Gap, which will still certainly exist. But watch for two things: among weekly churchoers how big is McCain’s margin? Bush won that group 61%-39% Second, Kerry last time beat Bush among more occasional churchgoers 53%-47%. Will Obama increase that margin?

9. Will Jews Schlep to Republican Side? – This only really matters in

Carla Hinton

 Religion Editor

Bob Abernethy will moderate a discussion on the ethics of covering a candidate’s personal and religious life featuring PBS Ombudsman Michael Getler, Kelly McBride with the Poynter Institute and Tom Rosenstiel from the Project for Excellence in Journalism.

On the same program, Kim Lawton will take a look at the religious beliefs of John McCain, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor  

An earlier posting included information about Zondervan’s plans to publish a biography about GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin in October.

Well it seems there is a race between Zondervan and another evangelical publishing house, Tynedale House Publishers, to be the first to offer Palin’s bio.

Religion News Service recently reported that Tyndale House has begun distributing a paperback edition of a new book “Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned the Alaska Political Establishment Upside Down” by Alaska freelance writer Kaylene Johnson.

That book first came out in April as a release from Epicenter Press, according to the RNS, and Tyndale is now printing 250,000 copies.  

Meanwhile, Joe Hilley’s book “Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader,”  will be released Oct. 10 by Zondervan.

The RNS reports that both biographies highlight Palin’s Christian faith as a formative force.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Today the coalition, in a Christian Newswire statement, says that “faith moms” will play a key role in deciding who goes to the White House.

“Faith moms,” the coalition said, represent ”millions of women who attend weekly Bible studies; volunteer for and coordinate church activates and are the foundation of thousands of churches across America.”

These faith moms have been energized by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican John McCain’s running mate, ”like no other national candidate in history.”

The Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, the coalition’s director said Palin has energized faith moms just like Democrat Barack Obama has galvanized American blacks.  

“Governor Palin has motivated these ‘Faith Moms’ in a way that no politician has ever done before,” Mahoney said in his statement.

“In fact, many of the women that I have talked with over the past week have been disillusioned with the political process because they felt that their political leaders in Washington have been out of touch with their concerns and values. That has all changed now that ‘one of them’ has been nominated for Vice- President of the United States.”

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Zondervan, which describes itself as the world’s leading Christian publishers of books, said the new biography “Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader,” will be written by author Joe Hilley.

The book will explore themes from her career in politics, her life as a hockey mom, and her strongly held Christian faith, explaining how they influence her new style of leadership and align with our changing economy in the information age.

“Regardless of your political persuasion, it is clear that Sarah Palin has quickly electrified the 2008 election and sparked a nationwide dialogue and debate,” Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan, said in the publishing company’s statement.

“We are honored to publish this book that will provide readers with a comprehensive look into the life and rising political career of Sarah Palin.”

Hilley, of Alabama,  said he will explore the leadership principles that have jettisoned Alaska Gov. Palin into the national spotlight.

“We live in an age that values relationship over authority and instant information over accuracy, so breadth of knowledge and depth of conviction are the most prized commodities for our leaders,” Hilley said in Zondervan’s statement.

“Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin brings both of these qualities and more to her new role as John McCain’s running mate and I’m eager for readers to have the opportunity to know her and her brand of leadership more thoroughly.”

(AP Photo above: Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is joined by her daughter Piper as she waves to the crowed at the end of Sen. John McCain’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., on Thursday.)

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor
 

And unless you have not seen a television or newspaper in the last couple of days, you already know that Palin is the running mate  of Republican presumptive presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.  As such her life, for better or worse, is an open book, she and her family are finding out today.

Several leaders of national Christian groups have come out in support of Palin’s daughter, Bristol, and Palin’s family for the way they have dealt with this situation thus far. According to news reports the family is supportive of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and they have announced that she is to marry the child’s father.

Read on for excerpts of statements from some Christian leaders:

Melinda Delahoyde, Care Net president: “Every day, a parent learns the shocking news of a child’s unplanned pregnancy. Some, while disappointed, respond with unconditional love and offer their support and care. Others, for numerous reasons, often pressured by what others may think, encourage their child to choose abortion. Children, out of deference to a parent’s career and reputation – whether it’s as a pastor or as an elected official – may choose abortion. This decision brings grief to the entire family.

“The Palin family, however, has chosen a path not without difficulty, but one without the grief of abortion. They have showed to their daughter what so many children go without – unconditional love. Their example will pave the way for other parents, especially those in high profile careers, who are faced with the same circumstances.

“With the love and support of her family, Bristol has made a brave and difficult decision. She and her future husband will be in our prayers. Instead of choosing a quick escape, they have embraced the circumstances and chosen to have hope in what the unknown future may bring.”

Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee: “The surprise announcement that Gov. Sarah Palin’s daughter is pregnant provided another opportunity for the vice-presidential candidate to make a politically convenient choice or the right one. The family could have treated the innocent baby as a ‘punishment’ and secretly snuffed out the child’s life to avoid a high-profile embarrassment. Instead, they are embracing this unexpected baby as a child worthy of love, a human being who deserves respect, a weak member of their family who needs their care. The Palins have opened their family’s challenge for all the world to see, providing a beautiful example for other families, many who have faced the same predicament.”

Rev. Bob Schneck, National Clergy Council president: “This is a private family matter. The Palins, especially their teenage daughter, are entitled to privacy on this matter. Anyone who cares about young people will back off and give this young woman the space she needs. Anyone who exploits her for political or commercial gain is disgraceful.”

(AP Photo above right:  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin comes off the stage to greet the crowd after appearing with Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., not in photo, during the “Road to the Convention Rally,” in Dayton, Ohio on Aug. 29. With her are her children Bristol, left, holding Trig, and Willow, center.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor