The Influence of Talk Radio and The Religious Right On The Election of 2008

Oct. 27, 2008 - PRLog -- Mike Furches is known for his online ministry The Virtual Pew. Furches, also the pastor of a small inner-city church in Wichita Kansas never knew he would receive the international attention he has during the presidential election for voicing his views, but he has. While he has an extensive background in music, mental health, and from his movie reviews for Hollywood Jesus, Mike never knew his views and opinions related to politics would draw so much attention and controversy.

Pastor Mike, as he prefers to be called was interviewed at a Barack Obama ralley by Salon dot Com during Obama's visit on a cold winter's day during a visit to Eldorado Kansas. Furches a former Democratic Candidate for a house seat in the late 1980's in Greenville South Carolina who had received an unusual endorsement by the NAACP as well as the South Carolina Right To Life Group had changed his party affiliation to the Republican Party after the election of Bill Clinton. Furches, like many other Republicans was considering voting for Barack Obama. The story drew national attention and Furches was singled out by many as an example of those Barack Obama was attempting to reach out to. The story in Salon dot Com led to a recent interview for a story by the National Post of Canada. The article will feature in part Furches position on the downfall of the Republican Party in the 2008 election. Furches says that part of the blame for the downfall of the Republican Party, "...falls on talk radio and the religious right." In the article, and a subsequent article published by Furches own web site, The Virtual Pew, and published at one of the top entertainment web sites in the world, Hollywood Jesus, Furches writes of how the religious right has been following the teachings of Talk Radio, as opposed to the teachings of the Bible. As a result, it may have had a likely influence on the outcome of the 2008 United States, Presidential Election. The outcome, while not recognized or accepted by many within the Religious Right or Talk Radio has likely come back to bite the extreme conservative groups.  

Furches is not new to confronting the religious community with their failures and weaknesses. Using his ministry as a online author and writer, as well as a community pastor Furches has firsthand experience reaching out to people who have been hurt by the Religious Right.  He sees this as a ministry with more than "enough abundant opportunity." Furches seems to live out his faith and actually receives very little monetary efforts for his work. From the abused to drug addicts, to some who feel abandoned by the church, Furches finds himself ministering to those he calls The Lost, The Last, and The Least. In the meantime, he makes a strict distinction between the differences of Jesus teachings, and the often times, unfortunate actions of the church.

Should you wish to interview Mike regarding the actual positions he has taken in this election, or his thoughts regarding the influence of the Religious Right and Talk Radio you may contact him at one of several sources, via phone at 620-545-7029, or via email at mike@thevirtualpew.com. You can also find out more about Mike Furches by visiting, www.furches.org www.thevirtualpew.com or www.myspace.com/mikefurches. See and hear for yourself how some in the religious community are starting to question the workings and influence of extremist on both the Republican and Democratic sides of the aisle.

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The Virtual Pew is an online ministry that has been reaching out to The Lost, The Last, and The Least for several years now. Mike Furches is the pastor of The Virtual Pew as well as a community church in Wichita Kansas. Furches a former candidate for a Democratic House Seat in South Carolina has a history of working with those often felt abandoned and neglected by the church. He has received international recognition for his work and has appeared on numerous television programs as well as radio and print media. He is a published author who has been outspoken about the need of the church to stay faithful to the teachings of Jesus as opposed to being driven by a political agenda. The Virtual Pew is an online ministry reaching out to persons who have felt abandoned by the church or left out by society. Many of those individuals have a strong faith but have felt that the established church has no place for them.