c. 2007 Religion News Service
Quotes from the Values Voter Summit, held Oct. 19-21 in Washington:
“It’s terrible, terrible, just terrible. Because we don’t have a clear-cut choice.”
_ Dale O’Leary, 66, of Avon Park, Fla., author of the book “A Catholic’s Guide to Defending Marriage.” She likes former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and won’t consider former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
“There’s a consensus that we’re not sure who the man is going to be, that we’re hearing what we want to hear and not the real agenda.”
_ Leonard Geidel, owner of a construction company in Rapid City, S.D., speaking of Giuliani.
“I can’t support a candidate who’s willing to kill babies.”
_ Joe Guarino, consultant for Illinois-based Samaritan Ministries International, who lives in Paltan, Va.
“When it comes to substance, they are all lacking and (say things) based on the evangelical crowd. Tomorrow, if they were with the NBA, they’d be talking about jump shots.”
_ Ronald Smith, 49-year-old CEO of Children Need Both Parents Inc. in Grand Rapids, Mich.
“I am very upset that the news media doesn’t include all those who are running. It’s not just about the two or three. You don’t even hear about Brown _ whatever his name is.”
_ LaVonne Thesing, 70, of Brainerd, Minn., referring to Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who dropped out of the presidential race on the same day he spoke to the summit.
“God would have to part the Red Sea for (Huckabee) to win. … I used to not be for Mitt (Romney) but I believe he’s sincere. We spend all this time trying to convince people to change and when they do we attack them. Romney is reaching out one by one to evangelical leaders and they are starting to say not to vote for him for his theology, but to vote for him for his values.”
_ Sharon Slater, 45, a Mormon from Gilbert, Ariz.
“With Giuliani, people were respectful and kind of collegial. With Huckabee, they were warm and enthusiastic.”
_ Paula Oas, 54, homemaker and accountant from Laurel, Md., describing the Values Voter Summit crowd.
“He’s confusing. It’s like `aloha’ can mean hello or good-bye. He tries to confuse.”
_ Nancy French, 32, of Columbia, Tenn., wearing an “Evangelicals for Romney” button. She was describing Giuliani’s discussion of appointing strict constructionist judges.
“I trust him and he shares my beliefs. In his own words, his faith doesn’t just inform his beliefs. His faith drives his beliefs.”
_ Daniel Briggs, 26, law student from Syracuse, N.Y., on Huckabee.
“He wasn’t afraid to say the name of Jesus Christ in his speeches, whereas (former New York Mayor Rudy) Giuliani, all he could say _ `I’m a man of faith.’ I’m like, what faith is that?”
_ David Tornero, 57, a video producer from Columbus, Ohio.
(Adelle M. Banks and Daniel Burke contributed to this report)
KRE/RB END McCANN 500 words
Eds: see main bar, RNS-VALUES-VOTE, transmitted Oct. 22.
