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DEL.ICIO.USBaptists knock on the doors, but find that certain people aren’t to home
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hundreds and hundreds of Southern Baptists descended on the state Capitol on Tuesday.
Though they have become a natural GOP constituency, not every Republican member of the Legislature was happy to see them.
The top priority of Southern Baptist Day was to free a specific piece of legislation trapped in the House — H.R. 536, a proposed constitutional amendment that would establish the state’s interest in a human embryo at the moment of fertilization.
House Republican leadership has been hesitant to move the bill, which would require two-thirds approval for passage, because it would expose moderate GOP members in an election year.
Objections to the measure, intended to challenge Roe. v. Wade, include worries that it might threaten commonly used forms of contraception. And suburban women are a key ’08 voting demographic.
The state’s largest Christian denomination got behind the proposed amendment last November — DVDs and literature were sent to every member church — and have quickly learned that campaign blandishments don’t always translate into results at the Capitol.
“You can’t treat us as a voting bloc during the campaign and ignore us when you get into office,” said a frustrated Bucky Kennedy, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Vidalia and president of the Georgia Baptist Convention. “We’ve been used. We’d just like to see a little action.”
Comments
By Will Jones
February 12, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
Baptists were once part of creating the Whig Revolution that Founded America: Freedom, Liberty, and mutual respect for All. Seems “Ted Haggard,” “Larry Craig,” and “George W. Bush” have prompted some of their “leaders” to join Babylon’s pedophile priesthood misogyny. Get back into your closets boys.
By the truth
February 12, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
How about the AJC renaming itself “We hate christians.” It would make more sense. Yes, politicians USE the American people and christians. That’s how they get elected in the first place. Pandering and then doing nothing. Why do you think the American people are fed up with politicians? Lowest congressional approval rating in history! 20%
By Craig
February 12, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
Pastor Kennedy, the Republicans have been using you then taking you for granted for years. How long will you continue to blindly support them?
By Concerned
February 13, 2008 6:16 AM | Link to this
Craig: Its not all Republicans who are using the Christians. As the story says, its the “moderate republicans” who use them. The Baptists were there in support of HR 536, the Human Life Amendment. Moderate Republicans don’t want it going anywhere in a election year because they are afraid it will hurt them. Why? Becuase they run on a pro-life platform to get votes, then do not support pro-life legislation such as HR 536. I say expose those liars for who they are!