Patriot pastors, Blackwell, and Ohio politics

[MelissaB]

A "non-profit organization" called "Ohio Restoration Project" has been formed. This "christian" conservative group is encouraging pastors to register voters and organize to vote against amendments by Reform Ohio Now, a group trying to help improve elections in November?

'Patriot pastors' recruited
Churchgoers will be urged to vote

By Howard Wilkinson
Enquirer staff writer


KINGS MILLS - The luncheon Thursday at the Kings Island Conference Center could easily have been mistaken for a political party affair, with politicians, speaking over the clank of forks and knives, exhorting the guests to go out and register new voters and make sure they get to the polls.

...snip

They were, for the most part, men and women of the clergy - evangelicals, Pentecostals, Baptists and a smattering of Catholic clerics and laymen.

They were being recruited for the Ohio Restoration Project, the brainchild of the Rev. Russell Johnson, pastor of a 2,500-member evangelical church in the southeastern Ohio town of Lancaster. He wants to build a force of Christian conservatives - the "values voters'' who oppose abortion, want to protect traditional marriage and oppose higher taxes - to dominate Ohio politics, starting with the 2006 gubernatorial election.

...snip

And he plans to do it by recruiting an army of more than 2,000 pastors - "patriot pastors,'' as he calls them - to do the grassroots work.

...snip

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050826/NEWS01/508260404/-1/CINCI

Since the Ohio Restoration Project is a non-profit organization it can't endorse candidates, but it was clear that their favorite candidates for governor is Secretary of State Ken Blackwell. Read how he quotes MLK, JR and Mother Teresa and gets a standing ovation as he strongly encourages Christian conservatives to "get involved in the political process."


Not concerned yet?

Christian group protests proposed amendments

MASON — Christian conservatives rallied Thursday against four proposed state constitutional amendments that would change how Ohio residents vote and how elections are supervised statewide.

The Ohio Restoration Project invited about 500 religious and political leaders to the Kings Island Resort and Conference Center, encouraging them to register voters and organize against the amendments proposed for the November ballot by Reform Ohio Now.

“I believe the hinges of history are turning on our watch,” said pastor Russell Johnson of Lancaster.

More: http://www.middletownjournal.com/hp/content/news/stories/2005/08/26/mj0826reform.html

About Reform Ohio Now

Link to their website: http://www.ohiocitizen.org/moneypolitics/ron/ron.htm

[goodboy]

1. This is some really scary stuff. I went to a

pastor's breakfast on May 19th. Check this out: (from a thread I started about it)

My company set up a booth for a Pastor's Breakfast at the Hilton at Easton in Columbus OH. I was conscripted into attending. So I get there at about 600AM, grab some coffee and wait for the pastors to enter at 630. 630AM rolls around, and here they come, 500 of them, strutting sancimoniously, bibles in hand, hair neatly parted on the right, glad-handing PRAISE JESUS etc. The initial flood of piety began to break up once the doors to the banquet halls opened for breakfast, so I stood at the door listening for the list of businesses participating in the event. The first speaker was a pastor who introduced, "A great man..."


NONE OTHER THAN, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?!?!?!?


SECRETARY OF STATE KEN FUCKIN' BLACKWELL!!!

to ROARING APPLAUSE! (except for you know, the representatives of the black churches, who feigned approval by politely, albeit nearly silently, going through the motions of clapping)

and this is the best part:

"...and I hope he can count on your vote for GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OHIO!"

Excuse me while I

Whitewell just stood up and soaked it in. He didn't speak, at least not while I was there. I left shortly afterword.

Here's the real kicker? Ever heard of the "Patriot Pastors"???
I found this on Kos: (thanks Rene'in Ohio)
"Rising from the vacuum of prophetic witness, is the ultra-right wing politics of intimidation and hate. A movement calling itself "Patriot Pastors" is now mobilizing (mostly rural Christians) to gather thousands of " Ohio for Jesus" pastors and tens of thousands of lay people calling themselves "Christian Minutemen."

Called the Ohio Restoration Project, this group intends to take over the Republican Party in Ohio . Once they have done this through electoral primaries, they will also run all Democrats off the state map.

Their plan is to run good people out of office if they are pro-choice or supportive of equal rights for gays. In their website, these so-called Patriot Pastors will "shoot down" any politicians or candidates who they deem "vague or noncommittal on issues of abortion and gay rights."

They have transportation set up for the elderly and child care for the young to attend their "God Rallies." Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church in Canal Winchester is their leader. In his book Silent No More, Parsley outlines which issues will either drive people from office or put them in office. Republicans who were once considered right-wing radicals in Ohio , like Sen. Jim Jordan of Champaign County , are moving into key leadership positions in our statehouse five blocks west of First Church . These "Patriot Pastors" are a scary lot. Issue #1, which they say restored "Biblical marriage" to Ohio , was step one in their politics of fear and (so-called) "Family values." Issue #2 says Parsley is to take back the state."
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/14/10582/0454
Well they were there in FULL FORCE, recruiting these poor saps for the Christian Taliban.
I left my booth and went home. My company is upset that we weren't told this was a Christo-Fascist-Political event. We're in the process of getting to the bottom of it right now. *shakes head* I'm telling you now, we gotta watch out for these people.

rant off/

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3689667

[MelissaB]

3. You were there? Wow! Do you think we are being set up for another

stolen election or what?

Ken Fucking Blackwell :grr:

[goodboy]

19. It's like Andy S. said: "They own the machines, they decide the election"

This Patriot Pastor's thing should result in every single one of the participating churches losing their tax exempt status.


UncleTom Blackwell doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of becoming gov. ---unless they steal the election, which he's got lots of experience doing.

[MelissaB]

20. Amen! Pull thier freaking tax exempt status. n/t

[Tigress DEM]

34. Except that Bush already sanctioned this type of activity... 2004

He asked for support from churches and when they said it would compromise their 501C status if they combined politics with their services... he was actually asking to prempt God on Sunday... Bush wrote back that he could "fix" that at least temporarily.

[rateyes]

50. We need to file a complaint with the FEC now, and

get Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the ACLU, and YES, The Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs to file a LAWSUIT against every church and pastor involved in that meeting. Believe me, I know, this is illegal for 501 (c) 3 organizations. It sickens me that any church would advocate CHEATING to keep their politicos in power. Who would Jesus defraud, you fundie jerks?

[FreedomAngel82]

7. Sounds scary indeed

One thing I found very interesting is the black people who were there who didn't seem thrilled at all. Maybe you could find out who they are and talk to them and get them to work with you. You don't have to agree politically but at least to get rid of this corruption in Ohio. Maybe they can be a key. I heard on either Mike Malloy or Mike Webb's show last year after November and they were talking about the election. Apparently something that happened is a lot of the black church's were paid big amounts of cash for promise to encourage their members to vote republican and preach about politics from the pulpit. I think all of this needs to stop. I could care less if they're just a real Christian group who wants to get involved in the government, but these people are totally opposite of Christian and people like Blackwell are using these groups as well (they're all using each other it seems).

[belle]

27. CHRISTIAN MINUTEMEN. Well, there it is, folks:

this is what fascism, American-style looks like. Yee-haw.

[Tigress DEM]

42. How can we get names of those who participated?

I think we should send massive mailings to any church that participates in this process and ask them where in the Bible it says that the rich man should have easier access to heaven than the poor man?

Was it perhaps...
Mar 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Or the tale of the begger Lazarus and the rich man who never gave the beggar the time of day?

Luk 16:23-25 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

[WCGreen]

51. Rod Parsley is an ass hole....

He tries t get his folks to pony up for jesus so that they will get rewards on earth. materialism....

And these goddless yuppies a re soaking it up.....

They think if they attend a huge church, sign there kids up for Sunday School, write some checks and vote for Republicans, they will get into heaven.....

[FogerRox]

52. keep kicked and recommend this

[blm]

2. Christian pastors and priests OPPOSE transparent vote counting? How odd.

Odd that they prefer hiden and untraceable voting methods.

Shouldn't they be asked WHY they deposit their donations and get reciepts for tracking their MONEY accounts but don't want receipts and traceable transactions for the citizens' votes?

Isn't that the bottom line?

[leesa]

4. These manipulative bastards intend to take over the US because it is part

of their End Times fantasy. The ends justify the means. That's why they support crime and criminals in their endeavor. There is a part of their Rature nonsense that tells them a new country (which they have decided is the US)will launch the wars in Mesopotamia which will kick off the End Times. This is the reason for all their irrational support of evil people (Bush) and evil means...they have convinced themselves they are doing God's work.

Millions of Americans believe this crap. My own dear brothers believe it...several people I work with believe it. They are everywhere. All of you know people who believe it.

It does not matter WHAT Bush does because this is the end they desire. They have labored for 40 years to put people in Government, both R and D, in key positions in all facets of our existence.

They are the enemy...of us and of Christianity and the rest of the world

[FreedomAngel82]

9. What I think is happening

is they are using the Bible and the book of Revelation to get people to vote for them and scared and whatnot. They forget the key thing with the "rapture" and that's what Christ himself says. He said the end of the world will come like a thief in the night: in other words we don't know! That is why anybody who says any of this "it's the end of the world" nonsense I just shrug it off because we don't know. God is above time and space. And yes, at my church all the college kids except my brother and I are very pro-Bush. Being pro-republican is fine with me but being Pro-Bush is just ugh. They just don't get it I guess. They're not on the outside looking in and they don't know the truth. Someday I hope they will learn that being a Christian doesn't automatically mean you're a republican.

[Tigress DEM]

37. Thank you. re: being a Christian doesn't automatically make one a repuke

They also forget the parable about the bridesmaids waiting for the groom and 1/2 were not prepared because they fell asleep and wasted their lamp oil and such. Not getting this exact, but the ones who were prepared were vigilant and kept their eyes open.

Those who are aiding and abetting the fall of nations in order to bring about the last days are working for the deciever not the Lord and they will be plenty surprised at how much hotter than Phoenix Hell is.

[Tigress DEM]

36. With that reasoning.... they would be supporting the Anti Christ.

And they think THAT will get them into Heaven?

Totally bizzare. Even watching "left behind" it shows that the bad guys are the deceiptful administration - did these people flunk film analysis?

[MelissaB]

6. I don't understand why they would be working against fair elections.

Something is fishy.

[Tigress DEM]

39. Yeah, right isn't necessarily right... or even in their right mind.

Wasn't their research on some sort of spray that was developed to make people more agreeable to your point of view? It was supposed to be developed to help counselors work with families to get them to better see each other's viewpoints or something... but it almost sounds like these people have been drinking the koolaid AND inhaling that stuff.

[Tigress DEM]

35. I agree.

And while we're on the subject of getting receipts for money spent....

8.8 billion dollars MIA in Iraq and no receipts on taxpayer dollars fluffed away there.

You'd think people would have more brains than this, but I'm sure a lot of them are being blindsided. It was more blatant before, Vote for Bush or leave the church. I hope the church members raise holy hell.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. It's all connected

The ONE thing I have learned from following all of this is that everything is always connected. ALWAYS. It's always the same people. Is there any wonder why they support Blackwell?? This should definitley be looked into. How much do you want to be it isn't very Christian at all?

[mod mom]

8. I am going to a picnic today which Paul Hackett is guest. We need a plain

speaking War Vet like Mr Hackett to put pressure for fair and transparent elections in Ohio. Now looking at Blackwell's hx does any sane dem really think his run for governor can be fair w/o changes like the ones proposed by the RON Amendments? The problem alot of us in the election reform world see is a catch 22-Blackwell doesn't want an amendment that proposes a fair and balanced oversight committee overseeing elections (1 of 3),yet he will control the election in which it voted on.

BLACKWELL HAS USED VOTER PURGES IN HIGH DEM AREAS TO DELETE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS OFF THE LISTS. THE OHIO DEM PARTY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND MAKE SURE THEIR VOTERS REMAIN ON BOARD !

[FreedomAngel82]

10. I agree

Isn't he a lawyer too? I think he would be a great person to get involved with this. He should get in touch with David Cobb, Cliff Arnebeck and the people at BradBlog.

[mod mom]

12. He is a lawyer. I only hope the DLC types don't try to re-mold him. We

in Ohio, need a claear speaking man of the people to tell it like it is!

[MelissaB]

13. Is there any way to stop that? n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Hackett seems to me

to be his own person. I'm sure he'd listen but in the end it'd be his call and judgment. I think he'll be okay. I hope people can convience Hackett to look into this. Could he be apart of this as a lawyer or does he not do that field or what in general does he do with the law? And please tell us how the event goes!

[MelissaB]

11. I hope somebody educated Mr. Hackett if he doesn't already know.

The whole state of Ohio needs to know what Blackwell has been up to and run him out of office.

As long as he is there, elections will be corrupt. :(

[FreedomAngel82]

15. For sure

And I'm sure all these groups have their own plans and plan to use Blackwell which is why they are supporting him. If they get him elected Blackwell would have to do some things in return to them. He isn't a Bush and have tons of power and influence over people. But I do think word of this should get around to DailyKos and AmericaBlog and just tell every progressive liberal as possible and investigate this.

[MelissaB]

17. If you post at either of those sites you're welcome to use

anything I've posted here. I've visited them, but don't post there.

[dogday]

16. What about their Tax Code and how does this affect it?

Also we need a religious group to stand up and counter this by saying what the churches' responsibility is to their members and that is to save their souls, not make laws....

[msongs]

18. the American Taliban in action nt

[MelissaB]

21. .

[MelissaB]

22. Spread the word.

:kick:

[xultar]

23. kick

[babylonsister]

24. Where IS that pesky separation of church and state? nt

[Tigress DEM]

48. Here is a strange link about 501c status being "optional" for churches

http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north360.html

Churches and Government
by Gary North


Congressman Ron Paul has written an important report. It deals with the politicians’ public praise of John Paul II and their voting records, which show that they opposed him at every turn. The report mentions the Federal government’s threat to churches: to remove their tax-exempt status. This threat has produced lapdog churches, which is what the politicians want.

Historically, religion always represented a threat to government because it competes for the loyalties of the people. In modern America, however, most religious institutions abandoned their independence long ago, and now serve as cheerleaders for state policies like social services, faith-based welfare, and military aggression in the name of democracy. Few American churches challenge state actions at all, provided their tax-exempt status is maintained. This is why Washington politicians ostensibly celebrate religion – it no longer threatens their supremacy. Government has co-opted religion and family as the primary organizing principle of our society. The federal government is boss, and everybody knows it.

Once again, let me recommend that churches that are presently set up under the Internal Revenue Service’s 501C(3) tax exemption requirements send the IRS a letter saying that they are no longer claiming exemption under this section of the Internal Revenue Code. This is because every church is automatically tax-exempt. No church has to ask permission of the U.S. government

.....

There is no good reason for an American church to apply to the government for anything. If a church or a church-based school is accepting money from the government for faith-based initiatives, it is time to pull the feeding tube. There is no such thing as free money from the government. There are always strings attached.


Specifics on 501c status
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96109,00.html

One Caution, don't en masse request their information - it's considered harrassment. One legal team or Heavy Hitter like Paul Hackett should request. Others could write letters asking why they refuse to comply if that happens.

[intheflow]

25. Somebody in "Reform Ohio Now" ought to

contact the local progressive churches to help counter this. Where are the local UUs, UCCs, and MCCs? Where is the local branch of The Interfaith Alliance? Many in the religious left want to work/organize with the secular left in curbing the RW so-called Christian fascists.

[Tigress DEM]

43. Getting ready for the anti-war impeachment party or at Cindy's tent..

or fighting against the "nonPatriotic act" or working 2 or 3 jobs to pay for the gas to get to work and their protests.

Anyway, I sent ReformOhioNow a heads up.

[intheflow]

44. Amazing.

That's what everyone I know in the religious left is doing, too! Thanks for passing it along.

[idiosyncratic]

26. Unbelievable . . .

:kick:

[BQueen]

28. Already purging voters

I got a small post card (even though I just re-registered at this address for the 2004 election) saying basically that if I didn't return the postcard within two weeks (i think) OR vote BEFORE the November election, I MAY be stricken from the rolls. Vague enough there? I'm just going to re-register -- our BOE is a mess. (In fact, I initially thought I had finally got my confirmation card from last year's registration)

I agree this is scary, and additionally, even if the rat bastard doesn't weasel enough votes out of these faux christians, he'll again have a ready-made phantom population to support his claimed electronically enhanced "victory" (same purpose served by the Anti-Gay amendment last year).

Is Rod Parsley the guy who married the senile lottery widow? or am I mixing up my Columbus area charletains?

on edit, I remembered just as I hit post that the guy who married his dotty but rich parishoner was the Rev. Leroy Jenkins. My abject apologies to Parsley, who (so far as I know) has yet to add that quirky twist to his televangelical c.v., and has kept his thievery to more conventional methods.

[JanusAscending]

29. Hey Melissa !

Just voted it up to the greatest page! Thanks DC

[veness]

30. Kick

...

[tommcintyre]

31. These churches should lose their tax-exempt status

We need some "Land Sharks" to file some suits - this is clearly unconstitutional. It violates the separation of church and state. Previously (including the 2k race), if pastors took political stands from their pulpits, etc. they were warned by the feds of eminent loss of tax-exempt status.

Hit 'em where it hurts - the pocketbook.

[Initech]

41. Definately. This is insanely unconstitutional!

[Tigress DEM]

47. Well, let's see what the law says. This MAY be legal...

and it may be simular to Churches supporting the Anti-War movement, so we want to be clear on which laws are being broken and how.

I think if a Church gets involved in what it considers to be a "justice" issue, it has that right and this was organized outside of the Church, but the parts they take back and how much force they use on people to vote a certain way is what is the problem.

The church can not be legally used as a tool of cohersion into supporting a certain political agenda against the free will of it's parishioners.

I think it would be more effective to turn the light on the coackroaches and get this to the media and keep jumping on it - especially this "purging" that one person up thread mentioned. People are being told they have 2 weeks to register or some stupid thing...

The problem with being a law abidng citizen is that people like Blackwell don't respect any of the legal manuevers.

I feel like we need to have a massive protest outside of the Ohio capital..... with 1000's of signs "Not Again!" and Blackwell as a theif with a bag of votes kicking a voting machine causing it to malfunction.... with a bubble from his mouth, "Oh, yeah, I just knew that person meant to vote Republican. It's fixed now."

[DemReadingDU]

32. Another website, Reform Ohio Now

http://www.reformohionow.org/


Click on the tab for News and Updates for all the latest info

[Bill Bored]

33. kick and Reform OH Now! nt

[jen4clark]

38. Kick!

:kick:

[NoBushSpokenHere]

49. kick n/t

[Amaryllis]

40. KIC

[mtnester]

45. I called Rev. Rodney an asshole to his face many time...in high school

and since.

He is hated by his own community too..his church lures most folks from out of state, then they move here and live and breath the church. We lived next to a family like that...SERIOUS freaks... so bad we finally let them drive us out of our house...we just cried Uncle and moved. He does not have a classmate or neighbor whom he grew up with attending the church, and if you mention his name in town, it usually involves a cuss word and spitting on the sidewalk.

Wonder how they like having the doors locked...no one leaves, if he does not get enough in the "till" during the first passing of the garbage cans (seriously, the use big cans). It is damn near impossible to spy on the church as well, since there are pat downs on incoming for recording devices, etc.

After they count it in the back, if it is not enough, our comes the can again.

Lord save us all from these false prophets, please.

[Joanne98]

46. This is really important. Thankyou Melissa B

[dchill]

53. Kick

[nicknameless]

54. Kick!

How sleazy. No commandments about having to be honest or ethical, I guess... Not that the rw takes great issue about breaking the existing ones, of course. :eyes:

[autorank]

55. WWJCD: What Would John Conyers Do?

I went to church for a bunch of years. :wtf: does this type of state resolution have to do with Jesus. I never heard anything about gerymandering in church. I did hear about civil rights, giving to the poor, forgiveness (still working on that one), and loving thy neighbor, even "the Kingdom of heaven is within you."

I think that these churches should pay taxes!

[MadeinOhio]

56. Oh you mean those people....

Trust me, those individuals are completely reckless and we're trying to get them out of the process IE: they appoint people to the board of elections who cheat, they try to get their way in whatever way possible.

Opposite of christian...Totally 'faux' christian, we've been dealing with them for years. Only now are they widely known. We need to litigate them plain and simply out of government, which is why I've proposed several lawsuits against the churches involved. Legally, they should not be allowed any tax-exempt status in our state.

[tommcintyre]

57. kick

[meganmonkey]

58. I didn't think ANYTHING could shock me anymore!

This is OUTRAGEOUS! What do these amendments have to do with Christianity? The RW in Ohio is so desperate to stop the state's Elections from being fair. Now they've enlisted conservative clergy to talk about the dangers of fairness in redistricting?

Reform Ohio Now is an excellent group who is proposing really important amendments. I saw a presentation by an attorney from the group (whose name has escaped me) and all I wanted to know was 'Can we do it Michigan too?' It was really good stuff. They are thorough and professional, and this stuff NEEDS to pass to fix OH's election woes.

Conservative religious leaders? This is twisted.

:wtf:

:grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr:

[Bill Bored]

59. kick nt

[Wilms]

60. Wholly unholy n/t

[NoBushSpokenHere]

61. kicked, nudged and prodded n/t