Clergy Put Political Ads to the Test
Debut New Tool to Evaluate ’08 Campaigns
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
(Columbus, OH) – As the campaign season heats up, We Believe Ohio is stepping up its effort to make Ohio a “Political Sleaze-Free Zone.” Clergy will introduce the Sleaze-Free Zone Test – a new tool they will use to determine whether political ads are truthful and instructive OR polarizing and dishonest. We Believe clergy will demonstrate how the Test works by evaluating political ads that have recently aired in Ohio.
Leaders will also distribute the Test at their houses of worship so their congregations can join in the effort to monitor this election season’s political ads.
We Believe clergy believe that people of faith have a moral obligation to call for clean, instructive campaigns that promote democracy and keep the focus on the critical issues of the day and the people of Ohio.
WHAT: We Believe Ohio introduces and demonstrates the “Sleaze-Free Zone Test” – a tool for evaluating ’08 political ads.
WHEN: Thursday, July 17, 2008, 11:00 AM
WHERE: First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad Street, Columbus
WHO: We Believe Ohio Diverse Clergy Leaders
Governor Ted Strickland and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner have endorsed We Believe Ohio’s “Political Sleaze-Free Zone” campaign and many area ’08 candidates have already signed on. 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/.
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: Dennis Mahoney (614) 228-1741, x17, dmahoney@first-church.org or Katie Paris or Dan Nejfelt at kparis@faithinpubliclife.org or dnejfelt@faithinpubliclife.org
