Kerry Seeks to Close Democrats' 'Religion Gap'

Reuters ^ | Sun Aug 8, 2004 | Rolando Garcia

[Lonely Bull]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry has begun speaking more openly about his faith, a move political experts say is crucial to chipping away at President Bush's advantage among churchgoers.

Kerry, a Roman Catholic, rarely addressed his faith during the primary season, but from his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention last month to regular visits to black and non-denominational churches, he is talking in more detail about God's role in his life.

At the Greater Grace Temple in Springfield, Ohio, last Sunday, Kerry told hundreds of worshipers he was running as a "lay leader" but added: "There isn't any way that you're not affected by your fundamental values, the faith that brings you to the table."

And he said his faith in God had helped him through personal tragedy.

"I was at war, lost some of my best friends, those I grew up with and those I fought with," the decorated Vietnam War veteran said. "And I sort of questioned, why does this happen, why did this happen, what's going on?

"We all question. And we learn that even though suffering, through loss, we get in touch with power, with the being, with the almighty."

[Brad’s Gramma]

Careful there sKerry....you're gonna offend Ron Reagan, the younger.

[Malesherbes]

Catholics who "struggle" with the issue of abortion are "moderate" according to Reuters. If that is "moderate" I'm trying to imagine a "liberal" or a "radical" Catholic.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"you're gonna offend Ron Reagan, the younger.

I thought the same thing.....and then when I read the article, I noticed Kerry just lifted his remarks.....

"I don't wear my own faith on my sleeve, but faith has given me values and hope to live by, from Vietnam to this day, from Sunday to Sunday,"

Does this guy have ONE original thought?

[highlander_UW]

The only role religion plays in Kerry's life is the discussions his strategy team has trying to figure out how to chip at Bush's connection with people of faith.

[PhilDragoo]

"I was at war, lost some of my best friends, those I grew up with and those I fought with," the decorated Vietnam War veteran said. "And I sort of questioned, why does this happen, why did this happen, what's going on?

Then I snapped: Hey, there is no God. We can't fight Communism all over the world. In fact, I went to Paris to negotiate with Communists.

I slandered those I fought with to secure victory for the godless Communists.

I've publicly doubted that God is on our side.

I voted against the ban on partial birth abortion--hey, it's just protoplasm, right, there's no soul or anything.

I'm John Kerry, and I can spin my position on this or any other issue faster than Linda Blair spun her head in The Exorcist.

[MJY1288]

John Kerry just had to fire his Faith Based adviser because she submitted an Amicus Brief on behalf of the well known Atheist who is trying to take "Under God" out of the National Anthem. Who will he hire now.... Jimmy Swaggert??

[Merry]

I find Kerry's religious remarks to be offensive. I'm a Catholic and his views are not the views of the Catholic Church that I belong to. If he was smart, he would stop pointing out his Viet Nam days.

[claudiustg]

---At the Greater Grace Temple in Springfield, Ohio, last Sunday, Kerry told hundreds of worshipers he was running as a "lay leader" but added: "There isn't any way that you're not affected by your fundamental values, the faith that brings you to the table."

And he said his faith in God had helped him through personal tragedy.

"I was at war, lost some of my best friends, those I grew up with and those I fought with," the decorated Vietnam War veteran said. "And I sort of questioned, why does this happen, why did this happen, what's going on?---

Yes, when you sort through all the inchoherent babble, it's all about Viet Nam, isn't it?

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Uhoh, sounds like someone is "wearing his religion on his sleeve."

[Plutarch]

Ron Reagan will have to disappear to that same remote African country Kerry's little honey got off to, lest someone asks him to comment.

[ApplegateRanch]

Q: How do you spell 'hypocrite'?

A: K*E*R*R*Y.

[Arthur McGowan]

Notice how Kerry skips Mass whenever his advance men can't find a pro-abortion priest to give him Communion, or when there's a politically-active pro-abortion Black church he can preach at.

[what's up]

David Dreier confronted Ron Reagan with this the other night.

Ron Reagan merely said sheepishly that Kerry must not have listened to his eulogy. LOL.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Ron Reagan merely said sheepishly that Kerry must not have listened to his eulogy.

For REAL???? You're not kidding? Good grief.

[AF68]

When are the feds going to enforce the laws which prohibit electioneering in places of worship?

[Ruth A.]

And I sort of questioned, why does this happen, why did this happen, what's going on?

"Sort of questioned"? That is a phrase that tells me he is making this up as he goes along.

"...we get in touch with power, with the being, with the almighty."

Isn't it interesting that the author uses all lower case instead of Power, Being, the Almighty. He knows that sKerry is just blathering and the words are not titles of reverence.

Couching issues like helping the poor in religious terms ...

This is a play right out of Dean's playbook.

[tallhappy]

Saturday, August 7, 2004
Pledge forces Democrat to resign

---

The Associated Press


LEXINGTON - A former Kentucky minister who signed a document supporting removal of the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance has resigned her new post as top religion adviser to the national Democratic Party.

The Catholic League had blasted the Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson for signing a friend of the court brief earlier this year urging the U.S. Supreme Court to remove the words from the patriotic oath.

Peterson's involvement in the controversial Supreme Court case was not well known when she joined the Democratic National Committee staff as senior adviser for religious outreach on July 22. But officials with the Catholic League repeatedly seized on the brief this week, saying it shows Peterson and the DNC are out-of-touch with America's religious majority.

"The whirlwind was more than I could just about stand. It was amazing," Peterson said Thursday.

Peterson, 56, is a Lexington Theological Seminary graduate and former pastor of Newtown Christian Church in Scott County. She is an ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister.

Her appointment had represented an effort by Democrats to bridge the so-called "God gap," or polls indicating that people who attend church more frequently tend to vote Republican.

The friend of the court brief, filed by 32 religious leaders and the Unitarian Universalist Association, argued that the pledge is an unconstitutional "religious creed" that only promotes "the God of the Christians."

The Catholic League portrayed Peterson as a "left-wing activist" who favored taxes and winked at gay marriage and abortion.

The Catholic League faxed anti)Peterson news releases to newsrooms around America on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Blaming "recent negative publicity," Peterson resigned Wednesday, saying, "I feel it is no longer possible for me to do my job effectively."

"I do not want my support of this case to serve as a distraction or ammunition for Republicans and their allies," Peterson said.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. how many flip-flop statements are available from Kerry about Bush "using his religion" and Kerry saying something about him "not wearing his religion on his sleeve". Guess he's decided a sleeve with religion on it is good for him. He has no idea how obviously PHONEY this idea is.

[MeekOneGOP]

I'm John Kerry, and I can spin my position on this or any other issue
faster than Linda Blair spun her head in The Exorcist.

ROFL! I almost spewed my coffee on that one, hahahaha!