Conservative group to rally NM Christians to vote

A national group whose goal is to encourage Christians to vote in November plans to hold a rally at an Albuquerque church on Thursday — the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — that will be attended by a prominent conservative actor and a controversial conservative military officer.

Thursday’s is the first of several rallies in Albuquerque, Roswell and Las Cruces that will be held by Vision America, whose stated mission is to “inform, encourage and mobilize pastors and their congregations to be proactive in restoring Judeo-Christian values to the moral and civic framework in their communities, states, and our nation.”

The Sept. 11 rally is being held at Legacy Church, located at 7201 Central Ave. NW, and will feature actor Stephen Baldwin and retired Three-Star Lieutenant General Jerry Boykin. Vision America is founded by conservative Christian leader Rick Scarborough.

Legacy Church Pastor Steve Smothermon, in a news release, encouraged community members to attend the event, register to vote and get informed about the candidates and the issues.

“Vision America is working to register and educate voters who will cast their votes in accordance with their morals and beliefs,” Smothermon said. “We are looking forward to hearing these great inspirational speakers while helping people of all denominations make their voices heard.”

The group’s core principles, according to its Web site, are the sanctity of human life, marriage and family; personal decency and moral integrity; and religious liberty.

Baldwin, who became a born-again Christian after the Sept. 11 attacks, joked with FOX News in July that if Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama wins the race he will leave America. Baldwin endorsed Republicans Sam Brownback and later Mike Huckabee in the presidential race.

Boykin, who was an undersecretary for defense in the administration of the current President Bush, came under fire after a Pentagon probe concluded in 2004 that his casting of the war on terror in religious terms violated regulations because he failed to state that the comments were not made in his official capacity. Bush distanced himself from Boykin’s characterization of the war as a Christian mission.

Scarborough is a close friend of Tom DeLay and also endorsed Huckabee for president. One of his books is titled “Liberalism Kills Kids.” In a recent news release on the Vision America Web site, Scarborough expressed sympathy for Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family over her daughter’s pregnancy and praised “their godly response to this tragic circumstance.” In an earlier release, he criticized Obama’s “breathtaking lack of experience” and his “inveterate liberalism.”

The group’s Web site specifically targets two states, New Mexico and Kansas. In addition to the Thursday rally in Albuquerque, the group plans a rally on Friday at a second Albuquerque church, a rally and pastor dinner in Roswell on Sept. 24 and a rally on Sept. 25 in Las Cruces. Click here for details.

A prior version of this posting incorrectly stated that Boykin is a brigadier general.