War Elicits Spiritual Response: Louisville Legislator Calls for Prayer, Fasting

Lexington, KY, Herald-Leader ^ | 03-22-03 | Brammer, Jack

[Theodore R.]

Lawmaker calls for prayer and fasting NATIONAL UPHEAVAL ELICITS SPIRITUAL RESPONSE By Jack Brammer HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU

FRANKFORT - A state lawmaker has started "Operation Prayer and Fasting," a campaign waged through newspaper ads to encourage Kentuckians "to fast and pray for our nation."

State Rep. Tom Riner, D-Louisville, said the operation is modeled after an 1863 U.S. Senate resolution that called on citizens to pray and fast during the Civil War.

He said it is for both supporters and opponents of President Bush's actions in Iraq. "Prayer and fasting are tools to draw all people closer to God."

Riner is running the classified ads at his own expense in the Lexington Herald-Leader, The Courier-Journal in Louisville and possibly several other newspapers.

"The threat of terrorism should motivate all of us to fast and pray for our nation," the ads say. "Throughout history, the threats have changed, but the name of our Deliverer has never changed."

Riner is minister of Christ Is King Baptist Church in downtown Louisville. It caters mostly to homeless people, and it has about 25 members. Riner has been at the forefront in Kentucky's General Assembly on several religious initiatives, including public posting of the Ten Commandments.

His ads ask people who are willing to participate "in a long-term effort to undergird our leaders with sustained prayer" to write to him at the state Capitol or leave a message for him on the legislature's toll-free line at 1-800-372-7181.

No one who participates will be solicited for any cause or receive any political materials, Riner said.

The ads say House Speaker Jody Richards and other legislators will display maps in their Capitol offices to indicate the "number (not names) of believers in each county who have indicated their willingness to fast and pray each week for our nation and its leaders."

Richards, a Democratic candidate for governor, could not be reached for comment. An aide said Richards understood that the map would be in Riner's legislative office.

Riner said he hopes to discuss the ads in a speech when legislators return to Frankfort Monday and Tuesday.

[Theodore R.]

The house speaker is a Democrat candidate for governor against the secretary of state, Ben Chandler. Incumbent Democrat Paul Patton, saddled with personal scandal, is ineligible to seek a third term.

[BlueCat]

What are the odds that Ben Chandler will take the whole game? I'm hearing that he's got a great shot...though I'm going to send Fletcher some $$$$ nonetheless.

[Theodore R.]

Probably the Democrat liberals know that Patton has so disgraced them that they must accept a less-than-liberal choice to hold the state house. So Chandler is the favorite. Republicans have been unable to win the governorship since 1967, and things don't look any better for them in 2003. This seems to be a governorship perpetually out of reach for the GOP, often plagued by intraparty disputes. Also, thousands of KY Republicans do not vote in general elections when nominees are presented that they oppose.

I understand Senator McConnell is ill. What is the problem there? Congressman Fletcher is supposedly McConnell's choice, but I do not know if he has formally endorsed him. Louie Nunn's less-than-conservative son is running. Ironically, "Happy" Chandler, Ben's grandfather who was eliminated in a Democrat primary by Henry Ward, endorsed Louie Nunn for governor in 1967. It could be that "Happy" lost the 1963 primary to Edward Breathitt and then endorsed Nunn, for Louie Nunn was also the 1963 (and 1979 for that matter) failed Republican gubernatorial candidate. At any rate, in one election Chandler endorsed Nunn. So who knows, could another Nunn endorse another Chandler in 2003 once the primaries have ended?

[Quix]

Still would like to see the President do so, too.

[BlueCat]

All I've heard about McConnell is that he is on the mend from open-heart surgery. I don't know any more than that. Have you heard more? If so, what?

As for Chandler, I'm inclined to agree with you. He has been running for governor for at least 10 years, and by golly looks just like his grandaddy. On the other hand, I understand from my Western Kentucky friends that Fletcher actually does have a fighting chance. As you probably know, Western Kentucky is usually a rich source of votes for any democrat, so their opinion actually has some weight.

[Theodore R.]

I just now learned that it was open-heart surgery that McConnell had. I know that he has been absent from the Senate for weeks. At one time Governor Patton was eyeing the other Senate seat held by Jim Bunning and up in 2004.

[Theodore R.]

I understand that there is a strong conservative running in the GOP primary in KY, but he is not well known and is overshadowed by Fletcher, who has a conservative voting record in Congress, and Nunn II. Kentucky people won't vote for unknown candidates.

[BlueCat]

Of course now Patton will have to hope for a different source of income than that derived as a Senator. He's history, and not a moment too soon. He is an embarrassment to the state.

Sadly, Patton would have won that race, since Bunning is a dolt. But while Bunning may be a dolt, he's our dolt.

[BlueCat]

As for the primary conservative, I don't know who that is. All I know is that Fletcher is the early favorite, and probably has the best shot at beating Chandler, if that's possible.

[Theodore R.]

Chandler is well-positioned: he can attract "cultural" conservatives, dyed-hard Democrats, and those whose parents once voted for his grandfather. He will get black support by default. But most of the blacks are in Louisville and a few small towns in the western part of the state, right?

[Theodore R.]

I think it is someone named "Moore." Is there a "Virgil Moore," but I may have the wrong name. He is a state senator from the west central part of the state, a traditional Democrat stronghold.

[BlueCat]

I'm not so sure that Chandler is THAT well positioned...particularly coming in as a Democrat behind Patton. He has promised more spending, or so I'm hearing. I don't follow it that much. You are sure right about where the black vote is, though I don't know if they do the knock and drag routine in Kentucky.

As for "Virgil" whoever that is, I still have never heard of him. But I'm sure as the primary gets closer, his name recognition will most likely rise.

[Theodore R.]

His name may not be "Virgil"; I could be mistaken, but I think the last name is "Moore."