Here & Now

The Rev. Franklin Graham Led Rally At Capitol

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

IN THE MIDST OF POLITICAL AND CULTURAL CLASHES OVER LGBT RIGHTS AND JUST DAYS AFTER THE ORLANDO MASS SHOOTING THAT TARGETED A GAY BAR, AN EVANGELICAL MINISTER BROUGHT HIS POLITICAL MESSAGE TO MADISON THIS WEEK AS PART OF A NATIONWIDE TOUR. THE RALLY BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO THE CAPITOL. REPORTER TREVOR KELLER WAS THERE.

TREVOR KELLER:

REVEREND FRANKLIN GRAHAM, SON OF EVANGELIST BILLY GRAHAM, STOPPED IN MADISON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ON HIS “DECISION AMERICA” TOUR.

FRANKLIN GRAHAM:

I HAVE NO HOPE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. ZERO. OKAY. AND BEFORE YOU REPUBLICANS START HIGH-FIVING EACH OTHER, I HAVE ZERO HOPE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THE ONLY HOPE, THE ONLY HOPE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS ALL MIGHTY GOD.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

TREVOR KELLER:

GRAHAM IS VISITING ALL 50 STATE CAPITOLS TO ENCOURAGE CHRISTIANS TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN POLITICS. THOUSANDS CAME TO HEAR GRAHAM’S SPEECH, INCLUDING TOM HARRISON FROM FENCE IN NORTHEAST WISCONSIN.

TOM HARRISON:

OUR HISTORY WOULD GIVE EVIDENCE TO THAT A LOT OF THE LEADERS IN THE PAST WERE CHRISTIANS OR LOOKED TO THE BIBLE FOR ANSWERS OF LIFE. THAT’S WHERE WE NEED TO LOOK.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

GRAHAM HAS DENOUNCED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND CALLED FOR A BAN ON MUSLIM IMMIGRATION TO THE U.S.

FRANKLIN GRAHAM:

LET US PRAY.

TREVOR KELLER:

GRAHAM BEGAN THE RALLY WITH A PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS, BUT OTHERWISE AVOIDED THE TOPIC FOCUSING ON THE FALL ELECTION.

FRANKLIN GRAHAM:

WE CAN GO BACK TO WASHINGTON AND GET THAT BACK. AND IT CAN HAPPEN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I’M TALKING ABOUT A REVOLUTION FOR GOD FROM ONE END OF THIS COUNTRY TO THE OTHER.

TREVOR KELLER:

AT THE EDGE OF THE RALLY, HUNDREDS PROTESTED GRAHAM’S SPEECH, SAYING HIS BELIEFS ARE DIVISIVE.

KAREN QUINLAN:

I THINK HIS MESSAGE IS EXCLUSIVE. I THINK HE HAS SOME GOOD POINTS THAT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND PRAY FOR HEALING OF OUR NATION, BUT I THINK OUR NATION INCLUDES ALL OF US AND NOT JUST THE FOLKS THAT HE BELIEVES ARE FORGIVEN.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THAT WAS TREVOR KELLER REPORTING.