Founder of Relevant Magazine Cameron Strang has received more than 3,000 every day since he backed out of giving the benediction at the Democratic National Convention. He’s still standing, though, and gave a brief address at the faith caucus today.
Tell me about the reaction you’ve been getting.
Since your story got out, and I had to respond to your story on my blog, things hit the fan. You did a story and then the AP, CNN, Fox News and other places have inquired. The message that I’ve tried to explain is that there are areas of correctness and incorrectness with both parties.
My potential involvement with the DNC this week was simply as an opportunity to build bridges and emphasizes areas of agreement, build on common ground. I thought my involvement in praying would be perceived on national television as an unequivocal endorsement and it just gave me pause so I backed out.
Since then, the extreme right wing, the fact that I have the audacity of saying that some Democrats might have it right in some areas, or that I’m not sure who I’m going to vote for yet, that automatically means to the extreme right wing that I am going to hell. And they have no hesitation of telling me so, or sending me pictures of aborted babies.
The extreme left wing says I’m everything wrong with Christianity, that I’m a coward. Everybody’s entitled to their opinions. I’m just trying to navigate these waters, unchartered territories the best way I know how and that’s to talk about my convictions.
What about the reaction from the campaign, are they upset?
Their job is to promote that their candidate is the right candidate, so if somebody has hesitation in making the same declaration, … obviously, they’re not thrilled, nor would the RNC be thrilled about a similar declaration. I understand where they’re coming from, and that was not my intention to make them look bad. I’ve talked about the positive and proactive thing that the Obama campaign has done to emphasize agreement with young Christians. I think that that’s admirable.
I think it’s incredible that they gave Donald Miller the benediction in my place. They value our voice and our involvement, that’s huge credit to them. The same thing right now can’t be said about the McCain campaign or the RNC. They have not talked about things, they aren’t talking about the things that matter to us proactively. I’m sure they will. I think that that’s an absolute credit to the Democrats that they’ve seized this opportunity. I’m here today to continue the dialogue and show support for the areas where we agree. It’s not an all or nothing thing for me.
Are you going to the RNC?
It’s funny, the Obama campaign goes to us. Whenever the Obama campaign comes to us, I go to the McCain campaign so as not to be perceived as favoritism. I got the invitation to come to the DNC and I reached out to the RNC to say, ‘Are young Christians at the table?’ Not necessarily me, but are we involved? The only thing I’ve heard is, ‘We’ll get back to you.’
Am I going to be at the RNC? Not as of now. If they wake up to it eventually, better late than never I guess. Definitely, the Democrats are taking the lead in reaching out to the young, Christian vote.
