Governor Confirms Hostility Toward Religious Conservatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 22, 2002
NEWS CONTACT: Joe Glover – 804-419-4483 ext. 456
ROANOKE, VA ““ The following is a transcript of a news story that aired on a Virginia television station on Tuesday, May 21. The story, which was presented by NewsChannel WDBJ-7 in Roanoke during the 11 p.m. broadcast, confirms Governor Mark Warner’s hostility toward Christians who express their opinions in the public square.

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Hear the audio. Click here: http://familypolicy.net/audio/
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CHANNEL 7 TRANSCRIPT

[NEWS ANCHOR]:

They won their fight to place the motto “In God We Trust” in public schools…. Now a Bedford County organization wants Governor Mark Warner to clarify or apologize for the remarks he made at U-V-A’s graduation last weekend.

The Family Policy Network in Forest says Warner told the graduates quote–One of the greatest threats facing our world comes from those who believe they are acting out God’s will– end quote.

F-P-N director Joe Glover says if Warner meant those groups who use their religion as an excuse to harm people that’s fine…. but he says it sounded like a slap against conservatives.

[JOE GLOVER / FAMILY POLICY NETWORK /INTERVIEW CLIP]:

“There’s no question the Governor made a number of people among his left-wing ideological base within the Democrat Party mad when he signed the ‘In God We Trust’ bills on Friday and I believe over the weekend he was trying to shore up his base by assuring them that he was still hostile towards certain people of faith.”

[NEWS ANCHOR]:

A private donor is picking up the cost of printing enough posters for each of Virginia’s 17-hundred (sic) public schools.

A spokeswoman for Governor Warner says his remarks were geared toward terrorists… but he also considers the Family Policy Network’s views to be hurtful and hateful. The administration also feels the F-P-N’s demand for an apology is about publicity… not clarification.

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For more information related to this story, see:

FPN President Asks Governor to Clarify Broad Religious Condemnation

AP ARTICLE QUOTING GOVERNOR WARNER’S ANTI-RELIGIOUS STATEMENT

Virginian-Pilot news story on ‘In God We Trust’ Law

Richmond Times-Dispatch on ‘In God We Trust’ Law

Roanoke Times on ‘In God We Trust’ bill

News & Advance on ‘In God We Trust’ bill

Governor’s Statement on bill signings, including ‘In God We Trust’

Family Policy Network:
http://familypolicy.net/