Churches See an Election Role and Spread Word on Bush

[yardwork]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/09/politics/campaign/09church.html?hp

Churches See an Election Role and Spread the Word on Bush
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

Published: August 9, 2004

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 8 - Susanne Jacobsmeyer, a member of the West County Assembly of God in a St. Louis suburb, voted for George W. Bush four years ago, but mostly out of loyalty as a Republican and not with much passion.

This year, Ms. Jacobsmeyer is a "team leader" in the Bush campaign's effort to turn out conservative Christian voters. "This year I am voting for him as a man of faith," she said over breakfast after an early morning service. "He has proven that he will do what is right, and he will look to God first."

Jan Klarich, her friend and another team leader, agreed. "Don't you feel it is a spiritual battle?" she asked to nods around the table.

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Reading this article will require free registration at the NY Times.

This really, really worries me. It's not just that these fervent church people could tip the election to Bush, it's the whole idea behind what they are doing!

The concept of separation of church and state does not exist for the people interviewed in this article, and I think they represent a LOT of people in this country. They believe that the Bible tells them to elect a government that will ensure that the United States follows their religious ideology, and nobody elses.

Read the part where the pastor says that they are the good guys, and those opposing Bush are "the bad guys." That means us! That means anybody who doesn't agree with their views about gay and lesbian rights, marriage rights, abortion, or stem cell research (and that's just for starters).

These people aren't going to go away. They aren't going to be easily swayed into giving up their idea.