Kerry Tries Faith to Win Undecided Voters

Kerry Tries Faith to Win Undecided Voters

NewsMax Wires
Monday, Oct. 25, 2004

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Democrat John Kerry on Sunday tried to persuade late-deciding voters that they can put their faith in his leadership by describing the values and beliefs that he says have guided him and would shape his presidency.

Kerry said the Bible - and the American dream - says society must take care of its most vulnerable members, but in many ways that test is not being met under the country's current leadership. And he responded to some leaders of the Catholic church who have criticized his support of abortion rights and stem cell research.

Story Continues Below

"I love my Church. I respect the Bishops, but I respectfully disagree," said Kerry. "My task, as I see it ... is not to write every doctrine into law. That is not possible or right in a pluralistic society. But my faith does give me values to live by and to apply to the decisions that I make."

Kerry, running against one of the most overtly religious presidents of recent times, quoted the Bible to suggest overt religion is not enough.

"In the Book of James we are taught: `It is not enough, my brother to say you have faith when there are no deeds,'" Kerry said, putting am emphasis on the word "say." "Faith without works is dead."

Although Kerry spoke in one of the strongest Democratic strongholds of Florida, adviser Mike McCurry said his remarks were aimed at those who are still undecided voters who may be open to Kerry's call for change but aren't sure how they feel about him personally. He noted that 70 percent of voters tell pollsters that they want a religious president.

Kerry said he prayed daily in Vietnam as some of his closest friends were killed. "I even questioned how all the terrible things that I saw had fit into God's plan," said Kerry.

During Kerry's speech, a man shouted, "End the war, John!" The man was escorted out after he tried to drape a banner over the third-floor balcony.

Kerry said the man had a "legitimate concern." But he added the highest duty is to defeat terrorism so children can grow in security and peace, but that requires cooperation with allies.

Kerry gave a more partisan speech earlier Sunday at the nearby Mount Hermon African Methodist Episcopal Church where he painted the election as a choice between a man of the people or one of the powerful.

Kerry said Bush has not helped lower the price of drugs and has turned his back on veterans and the unemployed while giving tax cuts to the wealthy.

"Oh, no, they didn't chose the least among us, they chose the most powerful among us," Kerry said. "They keep on thinking it's the most powerful who deserve the most, some kind of entitlement."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

2004 Elections