AP: Religion Central to Tim Kaine

[Perky]

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KAINE_PROFILE?SITE=CATOR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-11-08-21-43-58

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- As a Christian missionary in Honduras during his early 20s, Tim Kaine was devastated by the poverty surrounding him and vowed to spend the rest of his life serving others.

That dedication to serve has taken Kaine all the way to the governor's mansion in Virginia.

The Democrat's Roman Catholic faith has played a major role in his life, from his childhood as an altar boy to his work in Honduras - a pivotal experience that helped shape his political aspirations.

His faith-based opposition to the death penalty landed him squarely in the middle of a fierce battle with his Republican opponent, Jerry Kilgore, during the race for governor. Kilgore said Kaine couldn't be trusted to uphold Virginia's death penalty; Kaine argued he can separate his religious beliefs from his duty to uphold state law.

[jsamuel]

1. NOOOW they put a story out about him being religious? WTF?

[Perky]

3. It was a small issue here in VA n/t

[mattclearing]

21. Yeah, but it was a big issue in Kilgore's ad buys.

That asshole tarred Kaine as soft on crime.

[beam me up scottie]

4. What do you expect from "The Daily Breeze" ?

:rofl:

[Perky]

7. It is an AP article appearing on the Dailly Breeze site

in... wait for it.... Los ANgeles. It's an AP sidebar.

Go to any newspaper site that carry's the AP feed and you will likely see it.

[LostinVA]

32. This wasn't a secret -- he's a devout Catholic

[deadparrot]

2. He's an example of an actual Christian.

Good for him.

[RepublicanElephant]

6. amen!!! n/t

.

[BattyDem]

5. "Kaine argued he can separate his religious beliefs ..."

"... from his duty to uphold state law."

Funny, I don't ever recall a Repug ever saying that, nor do I recall the Repugs ever pressuring another Repug to clarify his religious intentions. :eyes:

[ComerPerro]

18. I know. They don't think its necessary

[FreedomAngel82]

26. Sounds like Jimmy Carter

I remember watching a CMT special with him and Willie Nelson on growing up in small towns and he told about his faith and how he used it to help him make decisions. He didn't use his faith like the "religious right" do or George Bush to hide behind.

[flowomo]

8. Kaine himself pushed his religion throughout this campaign...

made it a central focus of his interview on NPR yesterday.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Hi, Perky -- thanks for posting. nt

[Perky]

10. Go God!

:)

[faithnotgreed]

11. right on

im with you perky.....

sadly enough i am surely understanding more and more the reasons why so many want nothing to do with God

i wouldnt either with all the hypocrisy and destruction
i dont know much about him but its good to see mr kaine living out this true article of faith

[FreedomAngel82]

27. That's why more people have to speak out

It's hard to speak out when nobody listen's to you in the media and such. The "religious right" think they're the only one's. Ugh. I'm glad they're showing Kaine's religious side.

[AnnieBW]

12. There Was A Big WaPo Article About It

last week. Kaine is a liberal Catholic, who was a missionary in Guatemala (or Honduras?) during the 70's, and attends a majority black church in Richmond. He's very much into liberation theology, which Papa Ratzi said is a big no-no. In other words, Kaine is one of the "good guys".

[Perky]

13. I'll tell you what....

If he continue with Warenres stragey on economic growth but gete tegonized as a law and ordrer Governor, he will looking across the Potomac in four years assmuing Jon Warner is ready to retire,

[Crowdance]

14. Great. Another anti-choice Dem.

Why is this OK in this party? Is it because the party thinks women and their votes simply don't matter?

[Perky]

15. Wrong

Nothin in the OPm the article or the thread suggest the he is pro-life.

It is entirely possible to be a Democrat and a Devout believer ya know.

[Crowdance]

37. The corpus of information is MUCH larger than the OP

and I can both search and read. You might give it a try. See:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/26/AR2005102602504.html

[Perky]

39. WHere in this article does (repostes with snips)

it say the Kaine is anti-abortion???????

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Timothy M. Kaine used an Arlington appearance before about 300 women yesterday to hammer his Republican opponent on abortion, saying former attorney general Jerry W. Kilgore wants to make the procedure a crime.

The back-and-forth in Virginia, where the election is 12 days away, signaled a new focus on abortion issues while the national debate continues on how new Supreme Court justices might affect the court's stand on abortion law.

Kaine made his abortion remarks at a luncheon event featuring Granholm. About 300 women, and a handful of men, paid $100 each for the fundraiser, which Granholm dubbed "estrogen in the afternoon."

Kaine spoke more extensively than he has previously about abortion, which he said is a "critical issue" in the race because of the changes on the high court, which has protected abortion rights.

"Jerry Kilgore believes that you can't be anti-abortion unless you want to make abortion a crime, and I fundamentally reject that," Kaine said. "I've always opposed making it a crime -- outlawing a woman or a doctor for participating in an abortion. And you don't have to criminalize women or their doctors to be anti-abortion."

Kilgore has said he does not want to criminalize women. He has refused to say whether he would sign a bill banning abortions if a newly constituted Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade , the landmark case guaranteeing the right to an abortion.

[FreedomAngel82]

28. Buzz

Wrong. Just because you're religious and "pro-life" doesn't mean you're anti-choice. It's a personal philosphy you believe in. Just because I'm pro-life doesn't mean I'm going to force others to believe like I do and I know that it's about personal choice and not everybody believes like I do. I get so tired of that nonsense. You don't know where Kaine stands on this issue do you? You're just spewing nothing you know about with Kaine and same with Harry Reid. Do you know how he'll vote on Roe V Wade?

[Crowdance]

36. He won't be voting on R v. W

He's been elected Gov. of V., not a Supreme.

He has, in fact, declared himself to be anti-abortion. Here is the quote from the WaPO:

"Jerry Kilgore believes that you can't be anti-abortion unless you want to make abortion a crime, and I fundamentally reject that," Kaine said. "I've always opposed making it a crime -- outlawing a woman or a doctor for participating in an abortion. And you don't have to criminalize women or their doctors to be anti-abortion."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/26/AR2005102602504.html

What he's said is that he IS anti-abortion. He's just not in favor of sending women and doctors to jail for engaging in it. YOU might want to educate yourself before insulting others on this board.

[Perky]

40. Thats a jump in logic not supported by the text,

He simply is stating what his oppenent thinks. FInd me an article where Kaine says he is personally anti-abortion. Hell Bioll CLinton was Anti-abortion, You can be bepersonally against abortion, but politically pro-choice. That is where most DEMS say they are, on the issue.

Your post which started this said that he was anti-choice non anti-abortion.

[Az]

16. His first words are a bit troubling

Sorry Mr Kaine but not everyone shares in your appreciation of god. If you are only going to serve those who share your reverie of god then you are not serving We The People. I will chalk his clumsy comments up to a misstatement right now. But it is disheartening for atheists to see even the Dem representitives so casually toss is to the side.

[LostinVA]

33. Kaine never said that's all he's gonna serve

He's my governor (yay!), and I hope one day he may be my SEnator. I'm no longer a cHristian, and i don't agree with everything he does, but I will say he is a real Christian in many, many ways.

He was FORCED by that redneck, closeted, stupid, and mean Kilgore to publicly state his beliefs. He did not make it an issue -- that idiot running against him did.

[terrya]

17. Why is this necessary?

Why do we have to go through this crap every election cycle? The need to trot out the candidate's faith and religious beliefs...as if it's the most important thing in the world. Is it absolutely necessary to know whether a candidate is pious and religious before you cast your vote? Why can't this stuff remain private? I cringe whenever an election is coming up, because, I'm "treated" to articles where the candidates talk about, what I thought were, very private beliefs. This stuff is TMI, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm glad Kaine won, but I read this and it just gripes me to no end. A person's relgious beliefs should be private...not a qualification for office that has to be widely talked about.

[Catchawave]

19. Good post terrya....

Kilgore's rovian smear tactics made Kaine's beliefs an issue, to wit, "he wouldn't enforce the death penalty for Hitler". Also, the commercial with the sobbing policeman's widow telling us "not to trust Kaine to keep Virginia safe".

[Perky]

20. Two points

1) like it or not, religion is an important issue to many many americans. It's not nearly so much about the religiosity qualifying some one for office as it is relatedness of the candidate to the voter. For many voters it builds trust because it suggests personal humility and a moral compass.

2) You may not appreciate the value in this,, and I respect that...but for many people, regardless of political affiliation, religious life is the most important thing in the world. I don't expect nor do I want Kaine to be spouting Bible verses during his "State of the State" speech.

Would I have voted for Kaine if he were not religious? Of Course.
Would I have voted for Kilgore if Kaine was not religious? Of Course.
Would I have voted for Kaine if he were a rabid athiest? I would have to think about it, but I would likely prefer a republican moderate.

Why? Because I view rabid athiesm the same way I view rabid fundamentalism: Its to exteme a position to be trusted to govern with respect for the great diverity of religious expression.

[Bill McBlueState]

22. agreed

I agree. The rest of the civilized world doesn't demand religious belief of their leaders. I don't understand why people need to trot out belief in mystical beings as a motivation to do the right thing.

[Perky]

23. Umm how would you define civilized world?

Just curious?

[FreedomAngel82]

29. Sometimes with people

religion plays an important role in their life as it appears to do so with Mr. Kaine. If he wants to talk about his religious beliefs he should. The "religious right" isn't the only one who should talk about their beliefs. I remember back in April here in my town we had a mayoral race and one time there were flyers going around that one canidate was an athiest and people freaked out. I mean c'mon! :eyes: I could care less about someone's religion myself because I go by whether or not they can do the job effectivley. It is a personal thing, but I think if Mr. Kaine wants people to get to know him showing what he believes in helps. He doesn't appear to be a "religious right fanatic" type of person. Just because someone talks about their beliefs like he does doesn't mean that he'll be like George Bush and all of these other hypocrites.

[maximovich]

24. Religious Belief is Irrelevant

What is relevant is a person's actions. See, Perky... there are atheirsts who live in this World too. I know you want this country to be more theocratic, but in order to do so, you alienate those of free will, especially agnostics and atheists. The split could harm more than help.

[Perky]

30. LOL

Aww cmon... where have you seen any hint that I want theoctacy in my posts.

It alwys amuses me when Athiests say they are the tolerant ones.

[maximovich]

31. Who Said I Was an Atheist? (nt)

[Perky]

34. I certainly didn't. n/t

[maximovich]

35. Surrrrrrrrrrrrrrre

Very dishonest. "I love how ....."

Full of it!

[Perky]

38. This from some one who has accused me

of wanting to establish a theocracy. You have never seen anything approaching that in any of my posts, Not even close. You have never seen any post of mine criticizing Athiests for their belief in No God.

I have been critical of needlessly slamming Christians as an issue of political and religious tolerance but I have never gone after a group or an individual for their beliefs.

[maximovich]

41. You Have Accused Others of Far Worse

So step down from the pulpit...! You also state that you "have never gone after a group or an individual for their beliefs". Funny thing is you go after those who don't think believe and accuse DU of going after people who do.

You are very disengenuous. Also... I noticed how you didn't get upset when the IRS went after a Church just recently. But man are you quick to judge DU for cracking on fundis.

[Perky]

43. I don't preach

I have never said people who do not believe as I do are idiots.


I have a Right.. an absolute right to respond to things that I think are unwarranted or foolish... But I have NEVER...EVER said anything personally Disparaging about any person or group except that I think there is a certain level of intolerance in some quarter for people of Faith.



With regards to the IRS church All I offered---and I trust you read all the posts on the issues because I did respond on one of the several threads, Was that it seemed to me to be a land mine issue,

Meaning that as much as I want the FUndies to stop abusing their 501(3)(c) status, I think If that case goes to court and the liberal pastor wins it will legitimize Dobson and Robertson ability to do the same and no doubt worse. If on the other hand, the IRS wins. it was maliciously prosecuted and is a significant free speech issue.

I also said that the RW pastors would likely want to file an amicus brief in support of the liberal pastor's rights being infringed.


LIke I said: a land mine.


And again I will ask where did I call for a Theocracy?

[FreedomAngel82]

25. The thing to see

the difference with him and the "religious right" is he cares more about real Christian values such as helping the poor and the enviornment and the elderly. Being "pro-life" is more than just "saving the babies" and everything. Hopefully Kaine can show that to them.

[insane_cratic_gal]

42. I agree

and to add to that.. he's rational about his religious belief, able to set aside personal views to accommodate the american public. Not cave to groups like focus of family that hates all of women's choices.

I respect that he said it and I believe him.

Now, what is odd is a re-thug who is more then willing to drape Bush and fundamentalist and their hot key issues around his shoulders, basically says "he didn't have the ball to kill people due to his religious beliefs." WTF??

Rethugs are loosing it.
:crazy: