Quoting Bible, Kerry says Bush has words, not deeds

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | March 29, 2004 | James Kuhnhenn

[LadyShallott]

ST. LOUIS - It took John Kerry a moment before his hands picked up the rhythm of the Baptist choir, pausing in midclap to catch up to the beat. But by the time the former altar boy got his chance to speak, he had his own Amen corner in this presidential bellwether state.

In a short address at the New Northside Baptist Church filled with references to prayer and Scripture, Kerry quoted the Bible in a way that offended the Bush-Cheney campaign.

"'The Scriptures say, 'What does it profit, my brethen, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?' " Kerry said, quoting James 2:14. "We look at what is happening in America today and we say, 'Where are the works of compassion?'... We ask, 'Where are the deeds?' "

The Bush-Cheney campaign cited that quote as an improper use of the Christian Scriptures to take a veiled slap at President Bush and his claim to being a compassionate conservative.

"John Kerry's comment at New Northside Baptist Church was beyond the bounds of acceptable discourse, and a sad exploitation of Scripture for a political attack," Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said.

Kerry, a Roman Catholic, turned his stump speech into a call to the faithful to become "doers of the word, not hearers only," another biblical reference.

At the church, in a largely black suburb of St. Louis, he focused on the inequalities in the United States and pledged to close the gap between rich and poor, black and white.

Bush, who ran in 2000 as a compassionate conservative and "a uniter not a divider," has kept neither promise, Kerry said. "This is our time to reject the politics of falseness and fear that is calculated to divide black from white, rich from poor, neighborhood from neighborhood," he said.

Earlier yesterday, Kerry went looking for votes at a St. Louis diner.

"What brings you here?" asked Bert De Rousse, who was having breakfast at the diner.

"I want your vote," Kerry replied. "That's what brings me here. I want to help strengthen our economy and create jobs."

Kerry, who is about to undergo minor surgery for a shoulder injury, got an earful over his appearance.

Ceasar Valli was the first of three diners to tell Kerry he looks much better in person than on television. But, taking a measure of Kerry's slender, 6-foot-4 physique, he added: "You need a little flesh on."

Kerry said: "I'm working on it."

The shoulder surgery Wednesday, for which Kerry will likely undergo general anesthesia, is scheduled in the midst of a 20-city fund-raising tour. His campaign has set a goal of raising $80 million by the Democratic convention in late July, and Kerry starts the effort in San Diego today.

Late Saturday, Kerry held a reception for former backers of the presidential bid of Rep. Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri. With Kerry at his side, Gephardt said: "I know all of you dug deep, worked hard and gave lots of money to my campaign. What I ask you tonight is to do the same for him and more."

Kerry hinted that Gephardt could end up as his vice president or, perhaps, somewhere else in a Kerry administration. "If I have my way, I will be finding some way, somehow that this man continues in public service," Kerry said.

[LadyShallott]

Ping for Kerry pics. :)

[cyborg]

He should be talking!!

[lafroste]

Wow, what a hypocrite.

[BSunday]

Baptist choir

Isn't he a Catholic ? Religious pandering, eh ?

[reagan_fanatic]

Kerry should be reading the Bible. Every scripture, every verse. He may learn something important, like the sacredness of human life.

Maybe then he can better explain his party's position on abortion, and what the Creator thinks of killing unborn children.

[Diogenesis]

========= Kabul after President Bush and the USA LIBERATED Afghanistan =========

BREAKING: AFGHAN WOMEN FREED BY THE USA

In Kabul, Afghan girls, FREED BY THE CITIZENS OF THE USA,
practice tae kwon do at Kabul stadium on International Women's Day.

---

========= Kabul under Clinton and the Taliban =========

[craig_eddy]

pledged to close the gap between rich and poor, black and white.

The difference between Conservatives and Liberals is that Conservatives don't have an agenda that forces us to KEEP the "gap" going. The Libs do, for without it they have no power and no voters.

So Kerry is LYING when he says he's going to work to close the "gap."

Besides which, the "gap" doesn't really exist in the way that the Libs want us all to believe...it's not between black and white and rich and poor, it's a gap in mindset and motivation.

And no government program can force someone to change their mindset or motivation. The LACK of one WILL though: when your belly meets your backside, you'll probably find a job or, better still, start your own business.

[Fresh Wind]

The devil quoteth scripture...

[Desdemona]

Notice he didn't set foot in a Catholic church here.

[Centurion2000]

It was my understanding that churches were to stay OUT of politics .... sounds like a review of tax status is in order.

[BSunday]

'Where are the works of compassion?'... We ask, 'Where are the deeds?' "

[stainlessbanner]

Good post + pictures, B.

[dawn53]

'The Scriptures say, 'What does it profit, my brethen, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?'

This has to be the heighth of hypocrisy.

Kerry, a Catholic, supports abortion, and votes pro-choice everytime.

If that isn't faith without works, I don't know what is?

[Remole]

Man, that is very very funny stuff.

[The Brush]

Kerry separates his religion from politics when they convict him for his behavior.
He believes in "works".

Whatever works for him...

[mylife]

What a turd

[HenryLeeII]

Kerry has been in the Senate since 1985, and he is just now proposing a plan to save American jobs? And, he's claiming to abandon all previous tax beliefs held by him and his party with his new 5% corporate tax cuts after 18 years of voting to raise taxes.

President Bush, on the other hand, has prosecuted two wars which have liberated tens of millions from oppression during the long overdue war on terror that should have been launched during the Clinton regime. And, remember those middle-class tax cuts that Clinton promised back in '92? Well, President Bush has delivered on that as well. And you know that principle advanced in the Bible that life is sacred? Well, President Bush has helped advance a ban on partial birth abortion. What has Kerry done in his political life?

[Turbo Pig]

There is a gap between those that have, and those that have not. In order for there to be haves, there has to be have nots. That's not good or bad, it's just the nature of things.

Also, Kerry is not lying when he says he wishes to close the gap. What Kerry neglects to tell these people is that his plan is not to help them by enabling them to help themselves (The Lord helps those who help themselves), but rather to take from those who have helped themselves and give it to those who would want it. (Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house...)

A man, like Kerry, wishing to mix politics with religion really should know his stuff better. This will eventually come back and bite him...as will a great many things.

[anoldafvet]

I absolutely love that third picture.