A more organized version of 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

[mod mom]

1. Now why would blackwell want to have a fairly balanced independent board

oversee elections in Ohio? Must be that fair and transparent elections conflict with fundie RW belief? Wouldn't Jesus want fair and transparent elections, Mr Blackwell?

[bleever]

2. WWJD: Who would Jesus disenfranchise?

Thanks for posting on this important story, MelissaB.

[tommcintyre]

3. 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.

[MadeinOhio]

4. I've been seeing them for some time, its definitely at its peak now.

I would support everyone to follow a stream of lawsuits against these Churches for their tax exempt status. They stole the Ohio vote, and clearly they are non-profit so they should not be running around tax-exempt.

That's a violation of law, and I'm trying to organize a group to legally take action against their status.