Cleveland Clergy Declare Ohio a “Political Sleaze-Free Zone”
Thursday, November 08, 2007
(Cleveland, Ohio) – As the 2008 campaign season gears up, We Believe Ohio, a statewide interfaith coalition of religious leaders, announced a campaign declaring Ohio a “Political Sleaze-Free Zone.” The group is circulating a petition calling on all candidates for public office to run clean, positive campaigns that focus on common good issues. Even before the campaign has kicked-off, the petition has gathered almost 1,000 signatures.
Press conferences were held with clergy in both Columbus and Cleveland. A statement of support from Gov. Ted Strickland thanking We Believe for “elevating political discourse in Ohio” was read at both.
“The momentum behind our petition shows that the people of Ohio hunger for political campaigns that reflect their values of honesty and fair play. We’re rising up to demonstrate that the people of Ohio want positive, informative campaigns that address issues that matter most to Ohioans,” said Rabbi Richard Block of The Temple-Tifereth Israel.
As people of faith, We Believe Ohio believes political campaign tactics and priorities are a moral and spiritual issue. This belief draws on the common values of the leaders’ diverse faiths.
“Making Ohio a Sleaze-Free Zone celebrates the diversity of opinion in the state and welcomes honest debate and civil disagreement. It marginalizes no one. It affirms an essential commandment of all faith traditions: ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness,’” said Rev. Dr. John Lentz of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church.
“Like all faiths, Islam teaches that instead of contesting against each other in mean spiritedness, man should strive to compete in doing righteousness. In that light, we call on those who aspire to political office to inspire the public’s trust and restore civility to our political discourse,” said Imam Abbas Ahmad of the First Cleveland Mosque.
We Believe Ohio’s petition calls on campaigns to promote the common good by addressing issues critical to all Ohioans such as poverty, jobs, education and health care, and to reject the politics of character assassination and polarization.
“For too long we’ve had to sort through smear tactics and polarizing rhetoric to choose between the better of bad choices. We gather in a spirit of hope that campaigns will present us with a vision and values to vote for, rather than an enemy to vote against,” said Rev. Ken Chalker, First United Methodist Church.
We Believe Ohio is currently presenting the “Political Sleaze-Free Zone” petition to candidates and political parties. We Believe Ohio asks all citizens of Ohio to sign its petition calling for a “Political Sleaze-Free’’ state by going on-line to http://www.webelieveohio.org/noguttersignup.html.
Following is the text of the petition:
Declare Ohio a Political Sleaze-Free Zone
We, the undersigned, call on candidates for public office and all political parties to make the following commitment:
• We will positively promote what we stand for.
• We will refrain from negative and inflammatory attack ads.
• We will describe truthfully what we will do for the people of Ohio.
• We will not distort our opponents' records and positions.
• We will exemplify transparency and responsibility in all campaign activities.
• We will denounce attacks by outside groups, and do everything possible to bring them to a halt.
• We will promote the common good by addressing issues critical to all Ohioans, including poverty, jobs, education and health care.
• We will reject the politics of polarization, which focuses on deeply divisive issues and exploits them for partisan advantage.
www.webelieveohio.org
We are called as people of faith and loyal Americans to be united in dialogue and action to say:
YES to justice for all; NO to prosperity for only a few; YES to diverse religious expression; NO to self-righteous certainty; YES to the common good; NO to discrimination against any of God’s people; YES to the voice of religious traditions informing public policy; NO to crossing the lines that separate the institutions of Religion and Government.
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CONTACT: Katie Barge (202) 243-8289; Rev. John Lentz, (216) 321-2660 (Cleveland) and Rabbi Richard Block (216) 831-3233 (Cleveland)
