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Current Events

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See stories after Jan. 10, 2001

Election Coverage

ABC

American Family Association

BBC

CNN

Crosswalk

FOX

FOX - Florida tallies

MSNBC

News Max

Rush Limbaugh

USA Today

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George W. Bush Will Become Third Methodist President

...But many of his views are more evangelical.

Source: Maranatha Christian Journal

Gracious Speeches by Gore and Bush

Dec. 13, 2000 - Both candidates addressed the nation in a way that promotes healing and shows mutual respect.

Vice President Al Gore's Concession Speech - CNN

President-Elect George W. Bush's Victory Speech - CNN

U.S. Supreme Court reverses recount ruling

Dec. 13, 2000 - Late yesterday the High Court reversed the Florida Supreme Court's order to recount votes.

"Because it is evident that any recount seeking to make the December 12 date will be unconstitutional ... we reverse the judgment of the Supreme Court of Florida ordering the recount to proceed," the court said in its unsigned decision.

The Supreme Court justices were divided 5 to 4 on the issue, but 7 of the 9 agreed that there had been a violation of the equal protection guarantee of the U.S. Constitution since there were not adequate standards for a manual recount.

Source: CNN

See the text of the decision

Reprise of Bush V. Gore Could Be the End of the Line

Dec. 11, 2000 - The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments this morning on whether or not to allow the decision of the Florida Supreme Court to stand. That decision ordered manual recounts of undervote ballots throughout the state. In taking the case, the U.S. Court had already ordered a stop to the counting process until it can hear the evidence.

The survey of 735 adults also found 72 percent believe the Supreme Court will rule fairly in the case. However, among people who identified themselves as Bush supporters the figure was 87 percent, while among Gore supporters it was 54 percent.

Source: FOX

Stranger Than Fiction

Dec. 9, 2000 - If a clever writer had created the story of this presidential election, no publisher would accept such an improbable story. Less believable than a soap-opera; the details that keep emerging from Florida have the whole world scratching it's head.

In yesterday's episode, two similar cases from two separate counties in Florida threatened to discard more than 2000 absentee ballots because of irregularities in processing the applications for those ballots. The effect of these suits would be to tip the election scale strongly in Vice President Al Gore's favor because a substantial majority of the votes were for Governor George W. Bush. One of the judges, Nicki Clark, had been passed over for a promotion by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the brother of the presidential candidate. Political pundits thought she might favor the Democrats' request to disqualify the votes. But in a surprisingly strong statement, timed to be released together, both courts upheld the validity of the absentee ballots, saying that even though there had been irregularities, there was no evidence that no damage had been done to the sanctity of the election of the integrity of the ballots.

All that seemed to be left was the appeal from the recount case to be considered by the Florida Supreme Court. Running commentary on news channels, which had been going on day and night for more than a month since the election, suggested that the final blow to Al Gore's hopes was about to come from the Florida high court. Everyone was talking about the inevitability of a concession speech from the Vice President when the announcement came that the state Supreme Court had once again ruled in favor of the Vice President.

The decision was to overturn the decision of circuit court judge N. Sanders Sauls, who had recently ruled in the strongest language, and for many reasons, that Al Gore's request for manual recounts in certain counties was denied. Judge Sauls, a Democrat, is known to be a strict constructionist -- one who holds to the letter of the written law, and has had a significant percentage of his decisions upset by the liberal higher courts before, but most commentators thought that his decision was nearly air-tight. Legal experts and commentators also reasoned that the Florida Supreme Court, which had just recently been rebuked by the United States Supreme Court for going beyond the bounds of their authority, would not dare to overturn this ruling. But they did!

The justices voted 4-3 to reverse a lower court decision against Gore and give the vice president 383 new votes that were counted but not certified in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. It also directed a state court to oversee recounts of what could be tens of thousands of ballots in any county where "undervotes" occurred. Undervotes are those ballots for which no vote for president was identified. (Florida High Court Hands Gore Much-Needed Victory - FOX)

The four justices whose opinion prevailed were Barbara J. Pariente, Peggy A. Quince, Harry Lee Anstead and R. Fred Lewis. The three who dissented were Chief Justice Charles T. Wells, Major B. Harding and Leander J. Shaw.

In his written dissent, Chief Justice Wells warned that that the court lacked the legal authority to order the recount and feared that, by prolonging the dispute, they could be inviting a Constitutional crisis.

The announcement brought chaos. The Bush camp appealed immediately to the U.S. Supreme Court and requested them to stop vote counting activities in Florida until they can make a decision.

The Florida legislature had recessed for the day, but will reconvene Monday to consider direct appointment of state electors, which may not correspond with the outcome of the recount.

In a late night session, weary judge Terry Lewis ordered recounts to begin Saturday and to be finished Sunday. Some think this is an impossible task. Decision on what constitutes a valid vote is left up to individual canvassing boards, invting further controversy.

Then, only hours into the new counting effort, the United States Supreme Court granted the Bush camp's request to stop the procedure, pending a hearing on Monday morning.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justices Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Sandra Day O’Connor voted to halt the counts.

Disenting justices were John Paul Stevens, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter. (Supreme Court halts Florida recount - MSNBC)

Sources: From Election Coverage- above

See also: Tim Russert's U.S. faces potential ‘political civil war’

Major Court Decisions Favor Bush

Dec. 5, 2000 - Yesterday two major decisions were rendered, both of which pointed toward the ultimate acceptance of George W. Bush as the President-elect. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the decision of the Florida Supreme Court which had extended the time to enable late hand counts after the election, and a lower Florida court rejected all of Al Gore's demands for further hand counts.

U.S. Supreme Court Ruling - MSNBC

Florida Circuit Court Ruling - MSNBC

Gore’s hopes rest with Florida court - MSNBC

The election now rests with the Florida Supreme Court, whose decision “will be the end of the matter,” Gore’s top lawyer said.

Team Gore May Join Bid to Toss Absentee Ballots - FOX

Another very serious question must still be decided by a Seminole County court which begins hearings tomorrow on the issue of disqualifying that county's absentee votes.

Seminole County resident Harry Jacobs, a Democrat, filed suit charging that the county's election supervisor allowed the local GOP to alter about 4,700 absentee ballot application forms. The forms had initially been rejected because they lacked the legally required voter identification numbers.

Because it would be nearly impossible to determine which ballots corresponded with the allegedly altered applications, the suit seeks to have all 15,000 absentee ballots in the county thrown out.

Waiting for the Decisions

A decision from the Supreme Court could be forthcoming as early as today on George W. Bush's request to overturn the ruling of the Florida Supreme Court to allow late processing of hand-counted ballots .

In regard to another trial, Time.com's article, Summing Up the Summings-Up, gives details of the closing arguments from a separate week-end Florida trial. The state contest is considering Al Gore's request to include hand-counted ballots which were rejected by voting machines in two counties.

Representing Gore, David Boies gave a polished 40-minute summary, and though it was a hard act to follow, the Republican's attorney, Barry Richard delivered a strong rebuttal, calling Gore's whole case into question.

"The Gore team is light years away from carrying their legal burden. They proved nothing, presented no evidence, only speculation. There is no evidence of abuse of discretion by the canvassing boards — and that is what this lawsuit is based upon."

Source: Time.com

Supreme Decision

Dec. 1, 2000 - The U.S. Supreme Court will devote less than one and one half hours this morning to hearings on the question of whether or not the Florida Supreme Court violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution by permitting manual recounts after the November 14 deadline.

Source: CBN

Also: 70 minutes that will make US history - UK Guardian

Who's Suing Whom

Nov. 28, 2000 - An overview of the major lawsuits filed over the Florida presidential vote.

Source: Orlando Sentinel

Bush claims victory, plans transition

Nov. 27, 2000 - The Florida Secretary of State declared George W. Bush the winner of Florida's election, and Mr. Bush addressed the nation, saying that he would proceed with a transition team to asssume the presidency of the United States.

Many legal battles must still be settled, including one by the Supreme Court which appeals the Florida Supreme Court's decision to include hand counted ballots. Al Gore has promised to contest the Florida results.

Source: MSNBC

See also: GSA Won't Open Transition Office - Yahoo

Legislature hires lawhers to argue Supreme Court case

Nov. 25, 2000 - Top Florida lawmakers decided not to call a special session of their legislature, but to support the Bush camp's case in the Supreme Court.

Source: FOX

U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in

Nov. 24, 2000 - The Supreme Court has agreed to intervene in Florida's election battle. They agreed to review the Florida Supreme Court's decision allowing manual recounts to be included.

The stunning decision — the first time any federal court has said it has jurisdiction to weigh in on the presidential election dispute — dramatically redirected the battle for the state’s 25 decisive electoral votes to Washington.

Source:

Bush, GOP Mull 'Nuclear Strategy'; Concern Over Family Name

Nov. 22, 2000 - Republican lawmakers and advisors are upset by the Florida Supreme Court's decision to allow the inclusion of hand recounts in the final certification of the state's presidential election. Some have suggested the calling of a special session of the legislature to reinforce state law and pick Florida's electors.

James Baker, advisor to George W. Bush said:

"Today, Florida's Supreme Court rewrote the legislature's statutory system, assumed the responsibilities of the executive branch and sidestepped the opinion of the trial court as the finder of fact," he said. "So one should not now be surprised if the Florida legislature seeks to affirm the original rules."

Source: FOX

Florida Supreme Court says ballot recounts should be added to state tallies

Nov. 22, 2000 - As expected, the Florida Supreme Court decided in favor of the Gore camp by allowing an extention of the deadline for hand-counted ballot tallies.

A top Bush campaign official said the Florida Supreme Court decision amounted to changing the rules in the middle of a game and Republicans were looking at "whatever remedies we may have to correct this unjust result."

James Baker said the court "rewrote the legislature's statutory system, assumed the responsibilities of the executive branch and sidestepped the opinion of the trial court as the finder of fact."

Baker, a former U.S. secretary of state, denounced the practice of counting dimpled chad, where a voter has indented, but not perforated a ballot. He also ventured the idea that the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature could take action to "affirm the original rules" by which the election was held.

Source: CNN

In our opinion, this disregard for the stated laws of Florida by its own Supreme Court is the most shocking example yet of the problem of "jury nullification," which we have seen in high profile cases such as the O.J. Simpson trial where the jury decided to ignore the law, and the impeachment process where the U.S. Senate decided to ignore the law. Courts have been doing it all along, rewriting the laws to suit their own philosophies. If this trend continues, how far are we from anarchy?

The End of Democracy?
The Judicial Usurpation of Politics

This series of articles by Chuck Colson, Robert Bork and others, gives perspective to the kind of thing that is going on in the Florida courts now!

The Election Comes Down to Who the Judge Is

Matt Friedeman, Professor at Wesley Biblical Seminary, explains the problem. He writes, "Roy Cohn once remarked that he really didn't care what the law stated, 'tell me who the judge is.'"

Source: American Family Association

Court climax in presidential drama

Nov. 20, 2000 - Arguments will be made by attorneys representing both sides in the presidential election in Florida's Supreme Court today. The issue is whether or not manual recounts of votes in certain democratic counties of Florida can be included in the final count.

Source: BBC

Democrat Memo On How To Disqualify Military Votes

Nov. 20, 2000 - More than 1500 absentee ballots have been set aside for not having proper postmark or other reasons. Many of those ballots are from military personnel who have the privilege of mailing without a stamp because of their active duty.

This article exposes the effort to ignore these votes.

Source Drudge Report

The "Chad" Expose - Fact or Fiction

Nov.17, 2000 - A good explanation why hand counting is less accurate than machine counting of punched ballots.

Source: Prophezine from AFA

http://www.afa.net/CHAD.shtml

More Screaming On The Florida Election Rollercoaster

Nov. 17, 2000 - Yesterday, Florida's Supreme Court ruled that hand voting may proceed even though Florida's Secretary of State had declared that their reasons for doing the hand count were not valid.

This morning, however, Federal Judge Terry Lewis handed down his second ruling on the issue, stating that Secretary of State Harris's reasons for denying the inclusion of any future hand counts was valid.

Today the state Supreme Court could consider the Bush campaign's request to disregard the result of hand counting, and the Supreme Court will probably eventually be asked to rule on an appeal from Judge Lewis's decision.

Tomorrow, Florida's absentee votes will be counted and included in the total, which could result in the official statement of the winner of the presidential race.

Sources: Judge upholds state official’s recount ruling - MSNBC
Florida court blow for Gore - BBC

Recount chaos continues in Florida

Nov. 16, 2000 - Florida's Secretary of State denies request for hand counts, but various legal actions continue. Final vote could be certified Saturday if court orders do not intervene.

Source: MSNBC

The Bright Side of The Elections

We can laugh at ourselves and at each other!

Indecision 2000 Brings Out Net Comedians - Fox

Campaign Cartoons - WorldNetDaily

Humour soothes election blues - BBC

Palm Beach recount halted

Nov. 14, 2000 - State officials disagree on legality; court to decide

Florida's Republican Secretary of State has called for certification of votes by 5 pm today according to state law. The manual recount which had started in Palm Beach County could not be finished in time, so it has been discontinued.

Meanwhile, Florida's Democrat Attorney General issued a completely different legal opinion and the dispute is likely to create another court battle.

A state Judge is expected to issue a ruling this morning to decide if Florida’s recount deadline should be extended.

Source: MSNBC

Florida secretary of state issues presidential vote count deadline

Nov. 13, 2000 - Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris has told campaign officials that she will observe a Florida statute which calls for a certification of the vote by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, one week after the election. That would mean that the current hand-counting of votes in some contested districts would be ignored.

The news also comes at the same time that Bush representatives are in court seeking an injunction against the hand counting on the grounds that trying to figure out how voters meant to vote it is too subjective. The Tuesday certification would not apply to the overseas absentee ballots, which may be received until the 14th. The full state vote certification, including the absentee votes is scheduled for Saturday.

Source: CNN

Jay Sekulow explains: There is No Constitutional Crisis In The Presidential Election

Nov. 9, 2000 - It is not permissible to challenge the ballot after the election. Such a challenge must be made in a timely fashion before the election. In addition, Sekulow shows that a Florida court held in 1974, however, that "mere confusion does not amount to an impediment to the voters' free choice if reasonable time and study will sort it out."

Source: ACLJ (American Center For Law and Justice)

Bush Wins?

Nov. 8, 2000 - Today the nation will have to wait through a recount in Florida to see whether George W. Bush will hang on to the narrow lead in that state which seemingly gave him the victory late last night, then withheld its blessing because the race was too close to call.

Last night's historical roller-coaster election was a nightmare to everyone concerned. Within minutes of the closing of the polls in Florida, national news sources projected that the state's 25 electoral votes would go to Al Gore, giving him an early lead, which was bolstered by wins in other key states. Within an hour, the networks had to admit that their pronouncement about Florida was premature, resulting in withdrawal of Florida's votes, and giving Bush the lead.

After 2 A.M. (Eastern Time), the networks again projected Florida's outcome, this time giving it to Bush. At that time Bush had more than a 100,000 vote lead, with 85% of the states's precincts counted. But as the last votes were slowly calculated, the lead narrowed to less than 2000, with some unofficial reports that the actual difference was only about 200 votes! The close margin triggered an automatic recount, and a second embarrasing withdrawal of the state from the national totals.

As of mid-morning the day after the election, neither candidate has the 270 votes needed while they wait for final results from Florida. The Bush camp, including Jeb Bush, George W.'s brother, who is Governor of that state, say they are confident that the margin will hold. Meanwhile, Al Gore's popular vote total has climbed ahead of Bush's nationally, pointing out another difficulty of the election process - the fact that one can actually receive more votes than the other and still not be elected. This phenomenon is caused by the Electoral College, which grants all of a state's votes to the winner of that state.

Get the latest election polls

Nov. 6, 2000 - On the eve of the election, see how the potential votes stack up. And don't forget to vote tomorrow!

Source: RealClearPolitics.com

Christian Coalition

Information about candidates' positions on moral issues

Voter Guides and the Law - Information that it is legal and appropriate to distribute voter guides in your church.

Born Again? The Religious Views of Gore and Bush

Nov. 6, 2000 - Both Gore and Bush claim to be "born again" Christians. But what does that term mean to each of them, and why do they use it? For Gore, Baptist Worship Mixes with Environmental Spirituality and For Bush, Faith is More Than Sunday Morning Formality are the titles of these two reports.

Source: CBN

Bush confirms '76 DUI arrest: 'I'm not proud of that'

Nov. 3, 2000 - The presidential candidate had often admitted that he regretted some aspects of his "irresponsible youth," and had indeed been arrested for driving under the influence when he was 30 years old. It is also a matter of public record that he gave up drinking the day after his 40th birthday, because, as he told interviewer Barbara Walters in September, it "was beginning to compete for my affections."

[An] expert said the news could backfire on Mr. Gore if he makes it an issue.

"If the Democrats really push this, I think it would probably create a sympathy thing for Bush," said Merle Black, a political science professor at Emory University in Atlanta.

Source: The Dallas Morning News

Jewish Court Excommunicates Lieberman

Oct. 24, 2000 - In a rare action, a Rabinical court in Brooklyn has excommunicated Vice-presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman because of his unorthodox positions favoring homosexuality and abortion.

Source: News Max

Al Gore Used to Be Opposed To Homosexuality

Gore Said Homosexuality 'Abnormal' And 'Wrong",
Vowed Not To Take Money From Gay Groups

Oct. 15, 2000 - Matt Drudge reveals that in 1981 Al Gore said homosexuality is wrong and is an abnormal lifestyle. He also declined gifts from homosexual activists during his Senate race in 1988. Since he is now a strong supporter of homosexual rights, it is interesting that he also said later that year at the presidential debates:

"I'm going to lay it on the line.. The next president of the United States has to be someone who the American people can believe will stay with his convictions." -- Al Gore, 1988 Democratic Presidential Debate, 2/18/88.

Source: Drudge Report

Election Prayer Warriors

Oct. 10, 2000 - A prayer organization in Oklahoma demonstrates how Christians ought to pray for the elections and for a repentance in the nation.

Source: CBN

Conservatives Grumble About GOP

Oct. 10, 2000 - After the first presidential and vice-presidential debates, conservatives and evangelicals are disappointed about the apparently soft stance by George Bush and Dick Cheney on the issues of homosexuality, abortion, and the traditional family.

Source: Religion News Today

Gore Endorses Civil Unions For Homosexual Couples

Sept. 29, 2000 - Presidental candidate Al Gore believes homosexual couples should have all the rights that married heterosexual couples now have. He was not in favor of the recent legislation signed by President Clinton that defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.

Source: Maranatha Christian Journal

Bush Firm In Opposition To Abortion

Sept. 26, 2000 - In a recent interview with Catholic News Service, presidential candidate George W. Bush reaffirmed his anti-abortion beliefs.

Bush accepts the cultural shift that has a majority of Americans backing abortion, but he insists that polls will not keep him from acting on his conviction that "the born and unborn ought to be welcomed in life and protected by law."

Source: Maranatha Christian Journal

Bennett accuses Lieberman of 'sellout'

Sept. 22, 2000 - Former U.S. Secretary of Education, William J. Bennett, has worked very closely with Vice Presidential candidate, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, to expose immorality in Hollywood. Yesterday, he broke with his longtime ally in the culture wars, for "selling out" to Hollywood and for failing to condemn a joke, mocking faith in Christ, at a Democratic fund-raiser.

Source: Washington Times

Election spotlights battle over gay rights

Sept. 11, 2000 - Brad Knickerbocker, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor cites tensions all across the country, from national campaign platforms to local ballot initiatives that center around homosexuality. He says, "More than any other election year, this one reflects the country's continuing unease with the subject of sexual orientation."

Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush reluctantly met with a delegation of homosexual Republicans earlier this year, and invited homosexual Congressman Jim Kolbe (R) of Arizona to speak at the Republican convention.

Still, Mr. Bush has conceded that "an openly known homosexual is somebody who probably wouldn't share my philosophy." Bush also has declared that he is "against gay adoptions."

By contrast, the Democrats are eagerly courting the gay vote.

The ... Clinton-Gore administration has appointed more than 150 openly gay officials. Mr. Gore would do away with the military policy of "don't ask, don't tell" in favor of allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the armed forces. He supports the adoption of children by gay individuals and couples.

Predictably, in a Harris Poll conducted in June, homosexual voters support Gore over Bush, 83 percent to 16 percent.

In Oregon, a ballot measure (the fourth of its kind) is being considered that would prevent schools from discussing homosexuality or bisexuality "in a manner which encourages, promotes, or sanctions such behaviors."

Nevada and Nebraska offer initiatives which would ban same-sex marriages, while a ballot measure in Maine would prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation.

A new law in Vermont that allows "civil unions" between same-sex couples, figures prominently in that state's legislative races. Opponents to the new law brandish signs which say "Take Back Vermont."

On other fronts, corporations are beginning to offer domestic-partner benefits to homosexual partners, and the Boy Scouts and talk-show host Laura Schlessinger are under attack for their positions on the subject.

Source:Christian Science Monitor

Gore backs greater U.N. role; Bush wouldn't let it lead GIs

Aug. 30, 2000 - Both presidential candidates endorse the U.N.'s traditional role in weapons inspections, peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts, but Al Gore would like to see expansion of the United Nations' power and peacekeeping operations.

George Bush draws the line at putting American troops under U.N. command.

Source:Washington Times

Homosexuals target Boy Scouts

Aug. 21, 2000 - Not content with the booing of Boy Scouts at the Democratic National Convention, homosexual activists now plan to demonstrate in front of 36 Boy Scout offices across the nation.

Source: WorldNetDaily

Gore, Others Trumpet Democrats' Dedication to Abortion Rights

Aug. 18, 2000 - Al Gore was forthcoming with his plans, and many of them stand in contrast to those of George W. Bush.

Gore said he will stand firmly against school voucher programs, and vowed to fight for abortion rights.

"Let there be no doubt," Gore said. "I will protect and defend a woman's right to choose. The last thing this country needs is a Supreme Court that overturns Roe v. Wade."

In addition, Gore said he will push for a federal hate crimes law which gives specific protection to homosexuals.

Source: Worthy News

No Lack of Issues at Demo Convention: Morality, Pro-Choice, Gay Rights, Christian Radio

Aug. 17, 2000 - While Al Gore is striving to promote a standard of morality and democrats are talking about "family values," their national convention made it clear that they are strongly in favor of abortion and homosexuality. There is also concern about the future of Christian broadcasting.

Meanwhile, religious broadcasters are expressing concern with a piece of the Democratic Party platform which calls for a return to the "fairness doctrine." That policy, which was struck down by the Reagan Administration in 1987, would force broadcasters to air opposing views.

Source: Worthy News

Cardinal delivers anti-abortion prayer to Democrats

Aug. 15, 2000 - Cardinal Roger Mahony was invited to deliver the opening prayer for the Democratic Convention, and as should be expected, he asked God's protection for the unborn. This, of course, runs counter to the position of most of the delegates. He prayed:

"In you, oh God, we trust ... that you will keep us ever committed to protect the life and well-being of all people but especially unborn children, the sick and the elderly, those on skid row and those on death row,"

Source: Reuters

Candidates Mix Religion, Politics

Aug. 14, 2000 - From passionate opening prayers at the two conventions, to President Clinton's admission of a "terrible mistake." at a gathering of clergy, to the choice of an orthodox Jewish running mate for Al Gore, there is a decided religious tone to the campaign this year.

...Roger M. Mahony, the Roman Catholic cardinal of Los Angeles who is adamantly opposed to abortion, will say the opening prayer at the Democratic convention. The party's platform supports a right to an abortion.

...Mahony's appearance breaks recent precedent among Catholic cardinals, who have declined to speak at Democratic conventions in Chicago and New York, news reports said. His invocation will consist of a blessing for the country, not a tirade against abortion, the cardinal's office told the Los Angeles Times. ...

...Franklin Graham called on the nation to confess its sins and turn back to God in his prayer July 31 that opened the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. The son of Billy Graham then hopped back on a plane to return to the Amsterdam 2000 evangelistic meeting, which was in progress.

Source:Religion News Today

Al Gore: Foundations of Faith

Aug. 14, 2000 - "Al Gore describes himself as 'a child of the Kingdom' who believes that 'the purpose of life is to glorify God.'"

He claims to be a born-again Christian, and is a member of a Southern Baptist church, but many think his views, as expressed in his book Earth in the Balance, have a pantheistic and New Age tone.

Source:CBN

Demo Fundraiser at Playboy Mansion Causing Headaches on Eve of Convention

Aug. 14, 2000 - Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, general co-chair of the Democratic National Committeere moved from her has planned a fundraiser at the Playboy mansion. Al Gore objects to the event and asked that Sanchez not be allowed to speak at the party's convention.

Richard Lessner of American Renewal notes that in recent years, Gore has accepted more than $8,000 in contributions from Hefner and his daughter. Lessner says paying lip service to morals and family values, while accepting money from people like the Hefners, is "plainly hypocritical and smacks of self-serving sanctimony."

Source:Worthy News

See also: Democrats going both ways on porn - by Joseph Farah

Lieberman Void of Moral 'Kosher Beef,' Says Rabbi

Aug. 9, 2000 - Rabbi Yehuda Levin, founder of the New York-based Jews for Morality, says Senator Joseph Lieberman is an embarrassment to orthodox Judaism.

Referring to Lieberman's voting record, Levin pointed out the senator shares Gore's support for abortion rights and voted against the partial-birth abortion ban. He also voted against a separate housing and platoon requirement for male and female recruits in basic training.

Rabbi Levin Levin said that every Orthodox Jewish child knows that abortion is "akin to murder."

Lieberman has also championed homosexual rights, and supports the National Endowment for the Arts which promotes anti-religious propaganda and pornography as art.

Source: NewsMax

Lieberman Brings God Squarely Into Campaign

Aug. 9, 2000 - Continuing a recent trend in which Jesus and God are often thanked or invoked in political speeches, Al Gore's choice for vice-presidential candidate, Joseph Lieberman said,

``Dear friends, I am so full of gratitude at this moment. I ask you to allow me to let the spirit move me as it does to remember the words from Chronicles, which are to give thanks to God. To give thanks to God and declare his name and make his acts known to the people.

``To be glad of spirit. To sing to God and to make music to God, and most of all, to give glory and gratitude to God from whom all blessings truly do flow.

``Dear Lord, maker of all miracles, I thank you for bringing me to this extraordinary moment in my life.''

Source: Yahoo

Poll: Poor marks for public school

Aug. 5, 2000 - With school vouchers in focus during the campaign, results of the Portrait of America poll are significant, with 64 percent of parents with children in private schools rating the education their kids are receiving as excellent, while only 27 percent of public-school parents are making the same claim.

In the wake of plummeting test scores, controversial curricula and increasing incidents of violence in the nation's public schools, both private schooling and home schooling have seen a tremendous growth in popularity over the last few years.

Source: WorldNetDaily

Bush bluntly challenges Washington

Aug. 4, 2000 - In last night's acceptance speech, George W. Bush faced the abortion issue:

Acknowledging dissenters’ sincerity but rejecting their plea for tolerance of their views, Bush restated the party’s traditional opposition to abortion and promised to sign any congressional bill to outlaw a late-term procedure opponents call “partial-birth” abortion.

Source: MSNBC

Campaign issues: Abortion

BBC Perspective on attitudes in the US, and the difference between Democrats and Republicans on the issue.

Survey Identifies 'Bible-Study Moms'

Aug. 3, 2000 - Like the "Soccer Moms" of the last presidental election, Dr. Janice Crouse, with the Beverly LaHaye Institute, suggests that "Bible-Study Moms" are a factor in this year's campaign. They are "women who considered themselves homemakers, who were born again, who identified themselves as married, having at least two children and were registered voters." Eighty percent of the group are pro-life, and want a party that has a respect for life and the living.

The study, commissioned by the Institute, found that Bible-study moms comprise 22 percent of women voters. But Wendy Wright, with Concerned Women for America, said they are not a given for either party.

"Among Bible-study moms, 56 percent are Republican, 27 percent identifying themselves as strong Republicans. However, 43 percent are Democrat, with 26 percent identifying themselves as strong Democrats," Wright said.

Source: Family News In Focus

Christian Conservatives Suffer in Hopeful Silence at Republican Convention

Aug. 3, 2000 - Conservative Christians appreciate that George W. Bush is a born-again Christian, but would like to see something substantial said about abortion rights, the Department of Education, gays in the Boy Scouts, and school prayer.

But rather than walk out in protest, the most socially conservative delegates from California and elsewhere are trying to shelve their disappointment ...

Such delegates, said conservative Republican Assemblyman Bruce Thompson of Fallbrook, "know what we have to have, and we have to have the middle - the moderate Republicans, the Reagan Democrats and the independents. We need them to win. Conservatives in this party are saying we'll step aside, but we have faith that things are going to be all right."

Source: Capitol Hill Blue

Abortion Issue is Hot Button Republican Plank

July 3, 2000 - According to this article by David Snyder, the abortion plank of the campaign will not be debated at the convention, but activists are pushing for change in the future.

... a growing number of voices are arguing against the traditional GOP pro-life position. While those activists have agreed to keep quiet in Philadelphia, they are getting restless to flex their political muscle.

Source: CBN

Bush for President - official site

Acceptance Speech

Gore2000 - official site

Electoral College Home Page

RealClearPolitics.Com

CBN Campaign Central

Rush Limbaugh

iCampaign 2000 - Time

BBC- US Election News

MSNBC Coverage

CNN: Republican Convention

Republican Platform

Christian Coalition

Family Research Council

Focus On The Family: CitizenLink

See also: our links on Christian and Family Concerns

See features of The Prophecy Puzzle, Bible study software for prophecy students.