Minister's organization a blessing for Blackwell

[Algorem]

Patriot Pastor's' Ohio Restoration Project shines spotlight on gubernatorial candidate

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/lorain/1143884165209190.xml&coll=2

Saturday, April 01, 2006
Mark Naymik

Portsmouth, Ohio -- The 40 American flags lining the parking lot of Christ's Community Church foreshadow the message about to be delivered inside: that God has a plan for the country.

More than 700 people from this Ohio River town, about 100 miles south of Columbus, file into the sprawling hillside church for the evening service sponsored by the Ohio Restoration Project. Among them are Miss Scioto Valley and a half-dozen Bikers for Christ.

They do not know what to expect, except that they are to help prepare a way in the secular world for conservative politicians, notably the Republican Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate, Ken Blackwell.

Most have never seen the Ohio Restoration Project, whose traveling road show combines patriotic songs and images with evangelical sermons meant to rally so-called "values voters." Most have never seen Blackwell, either...


Restoration Project getting attention from media, clergy

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1143884189209190.xml&coll=2

Saturday, April 01, 2006
Mark Naymik

The Ohio Restoration Project has attracted plenty of attention -- and not just for the zeal of its leader, the Rev. Russell Johnson of Lancaster's Fairfield Christian Church.

The New York Times, USA Today, The American Prospect, National Public Radio and HBO, among others, all have come to Ohio to cover the influence that evangelical church leaders like Johnson are trying to exert on Ohio politics.

But fellow religious leaders -- all liberals, Johnson says -- have also criticized the group for activities they contend cross the line separating church and state.

In January, 31 ministers from Ohio filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service asking that the agency investigate Johnson's church and the Ohio Restoration Project...

[saltpoint]

1. The GOP is being driven by, maybe overrun by, blood-thirsty

neocons on one hand and by humorless Christofascists on the other, all the while gutting essential social services for a majority of the citizenry.

If I were to locate the long-term viability of a political party in those components, where would I begin looking?

[DanCa]

2. Blackwell is just another GOP prick

who thinks that fetus' are more important than disabled people. Can some give me a link to where I can contribute a little money to the Ohio Dem party. I do not want to see this asshat elected.

[0007]

3. How sickening!

Johnson denies violating the law, noting that Blackwell and others don't speak during Sunday morning church services and that the Ohio Restoration Project's political activities are nonpartisan. He avoids, for example, introducing Blackwell the candidate, as opposed to Blackwell the secretary of state, at the group's events.

Later this month, the Restoration Project will distribute 500,000 copies of its voter guide, noting where politicians stand on abortion and other issues, through CitizenUSA, a conservative paper distributed mainly through churches.

CitizenUSA's Web site displays a letter it received from Blackwell in 2005 commending it for being the "primary outlet in Ohio . . . for readers interested in a conservative and Godly perspective to the news."

The Restoration Project on Thursday invited Republican and Democratic statewide campaigns to advertise in its voter guide.

"Some people see our activities and think this is about 2006, but we have been doing this for 20 years," Johnson said.

He added that liberal media and politicians are critical because he proudly displays what he describes as his only bias:

"I take a biblical world view," he says. "Can we teach biblical values without Big Brother muzzling us?"

[believerinchrist]

5. Biblical world view?

What in the world is a biblical world view--that "Christians" (only those who are conservative) should be in charge? How about "For God so loved the world...?" That, my friends, is the biblical value we need in our country and the world. Love does not hate or condemn--it is full of grace, compassion, and mercy. Love lays down its life for the lives of others. When those who call themselves by the name of Christ both realize and practice the overwhelming love God has for each and every human being, then our world will be a better place.

[LittleWoman]

4. Where does the money come from for this organization?

Hubby and I went to the dialog between Jim Wallis and Russell Johnson last Sunday in Columbus. As we were going in we were all handed a very slick folder about the Ohio Restoration Project and the Patriot Pastors. I haven't priced this sort of thing recently, but it struck me that with the gold embossing on the cover and all the colored maps etc on glossy paper this was no cheap handout. Who paid for this? It appears to me that this organization has a lot of money to spend and I would like to know where it comes from. This is no grass roots operation and I doubt it is a religious operation either. Something stinks like a dead catfish in the sun on a hot summer day.

link to the Ohio Restoration Project web page <http://www.ohiorestorationproject.com>

The folder they handed out is the glossy paper version of the web page and I think the paper version is more impressive than the web page.

[WhiteTara]

6. this sounds like a violation of tax exempt

status. Time to complain to the IRS. Here's where to go and get the form. Easy to do
http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=106778,00.html

[wordpix2]

7. Blackwell linked to questionable voting practices in OH 2004. Needs to be

stopped!

[DeepModem Mom]

8. K&R