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Politics : Al Gore vs George Bush: the moderate's perspective -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ben Wa who wrote (4152)	10/31/2000 7:14:39 PM
From: John Carragher	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10042

Bush In Calif Expresses Support For Religious Agencies Dow Jones Newswires SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP)--George W. Bush ended his uphill quest for California's 54 electoral votes on Tuesday, not with a noisy rally but a quiet talk at a Christian relief center in the heart of Silicon Valley. The Texas governor mingled with former drug addicts, recovering alcoholics and high-tech corporate executives to make a pitch for increased volunteerism. "I can't think of a better way to end a campaign in an important state than to come to a place that is founded not on politics but on love," Bush said at Cityteam Ministries. The center gives shelter to those recovering from substance abuse and also provides food and clothing to the poor. It has a $15 million annual budget and receives no government money. Bush said he and rival Al Gore disagree on the role of religious agencies in dealing with social problems. "He called programs such as these 'crumbs of compassion.' I don't believe that. I believe programs like these are the bread of life," Bush said. Gore used the "crumbs" phrase in his June 16, 1999, speech announcing his candidacy, arguing that much more aid is needed and that that means government help. Bush has encouraged more volunteer efforts by private and religious-based organizations - with fewer federal strings attached. He also would give corporations bigger tax breaks for charitable contributions and offer them for the first time to individuals who don't itemize their deductions. In front of a backdrop of food containers, clothes and toys, Bush said, "We need to understand the power of faith in people's lives when it comes to helping people fight addictions." He talked about his own experience with alcohol. "I quit drinking in 1986 and I haven't had a drop since then. It wasn't because of a government program, by the way, in my particular case. It was because I heard a higher call," Bush said to applause. "I believe our society ought to recognize the need to change people's lives in a positive way and welcome those programs that do that without obstructing their mission," Bush said. Polls continue to show Bush trailing Gore in California, but the gap has narrowed in recent weeks and Republicans saw that as an opportunity to gain ground - or at least throw Gore offstride. Bush toured the shelter with his wife, Laura. In a room where they interrupted a ping pong game, Dominador Linosnero, 31, told Bush he was a former gang member and recovering drug addict. Sobbing, Linosnero told Bush, "The Lord opened the door for me here...I'm just sick and tired of gangs and everything else." Bush's audience also included a group of Silicon Valley executives. "He's getting better and better" at campaigning, said John Chambers, chief executive officer of Cisco Systems (CSCO). "He'll make a great president."

To: Ben Wa who wrote (4152)	10/31/2000 8:05:18 PM
From: epicure	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 10042

Let me put it another way- I probably care about issues in almost the exact opposite way you care about them. In fact, so opposite are we- that I simply said we were interested in different issues. Message 14698490 There's an example above. I don't want my politicians pushing faith. I think people have plenty of faith on their own- I don't believe I want to hear about it from politicians running for federal office. I don't like religious mumbo jumbo talk from candidates. I don't want to see federal dollars spent on religion. I don't even agree churches should have tax exempt status. I want no Federal aid to any religion, whatsoever.