'Values voters' seek to mobilize Black Christian vote

The Afro American News ( Baltimore edition) ^ | October 25, 2006 | James Wright

[jmaroneps37]

"A leading minister of Black conservative Christians is launching a voter registration and education drive encouraging Black Christians to vote on Nov. 7. They want Black Christians to vote for candidates who support Christian values and not on the basis of party.

"Bishop Harry Jackson, chairman of the High Impact Leadership Coalition and senior pastor of the Hope Christian Church, said that he sees the Black vote in Maryland as the swing vote in next month's elections. As a result, he launched the "Maryland Values Voter Initiative" on Oct. 18.

".. Jackson said. "We need to look to leaders who align with our moral and spiritual philosophy. We are educating voters as to where the different candidates stand on important issues,... in addition to protecting the sanctity of life and the preservation of marriage." Jackson's group, which represents 150 churches in the state with about 48,000 congregants......."

"Jackson said he thinks that marriage should be defined as "being between a man and woman" and sees nothing wrong with a constitutional amendment saying that. "We are an advocate of marriage," he said.

”...The components of the initiative include voter registration, a dialogue with the pastors, a town hall meeting and a radio and television campaign. The organization has budgeted $50,000 for the media blitz and a meeting is in the works for the ministers.

"...Jackson said that Blacks cannot be counted on being in one political philosophical camp anymore.

"Like the Catholic vote in the 2004 presidential election, we see the African-American values as the key demographic to any winning campaign," he said. Jackson notes that his effort is not partisan.

"Values that support families, schools and safe communities are not Democratic or Republican values but values that all Americans should share," he said."

[jmaroneps37]

I wonder if any of these folks have been polled. This is why you have to like Mike Steele's chances. In a year that promises to show a big drop in Black voting, drives like this are very valuable.

[D.P.Roberts]

The one demographic that bought the democrats' stories about "fixed" voting machines, they aren't going to bother to come out, since they believe their votes won't count

[elhombrelibre]

Great news.

[Aetius]

That would be ironic.

[He Rides A White Horse]

"A leading minister of Black conservative Christians is launching a voter registration and education drive encouraging Black Christians to vote on Nov. 7. They want Black Christians to vote for candidates who support Christian values and not on the basis of party.

In related news, leading Black politicians such as Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton declared said leading black minister not really 'black', but some label the DNC basement is furiously trying to conjure up.

[Heartofsong83]

The most important thing they can do is vote YES for marriage in all the states that have such ballots, and vote YES to ban abortion in South Dakota...