Black pastors wary of Obama
4 Jul 2008, 1858 Hrs

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Washington, July 4 (ANI): Democratic Party presidential nominee Barack Obama is apparently losing the support of black pastors, most of whom are of the view that black Christians are voting for him on emotional grounds, rather than on his stand on issues affecting American life in the short and long term.

Ben Kinchlow, a former co-host for the Christian Broadcasting Network and author of the new book "Black Yellowdogs," said many black churchgoers unthinkingly support the Democratic Party.

"Many black Christians voting for Obama are doing so for emotional reasons and not because they've studied the issues. They think Barack Obama is the shining city on the hill; that now is the chance to move into the 21st century without what regarding what the real issues are," the Washington Times quoted Kinchlow, as saying.

Bishop Gilbert Coleman, pastor of the 1,000-member Freedom Christian Fellowship in Philadelphia, said black believers are not knowledgeable about Obama's beliefs.

"People blindly go to the polls and blindly pull the lever for 'Democrat. We are not that divided as a congregation right now, but there are others in Philadelphia that are split over this," he said.

Bishop Coleman further said that: "there are a lot of things Obama is saying that are very uncomfortable to Christian evangelicals.

All the pastors interviewed said they are hammering home to their congregations the consequences of their votes. (ANI)