If you are supporting a candidate as a citizen and not a minister...

Then one wonders why the group would use the name "Clergy" as part of the title.

In reading this Akron Beacon Journal article this made me pause:

Bill Owens, director of the conservative Coalition of African-American Pastors, said he believes people can distinguish between his job as minister and his support for Blackwell. He said the coalition represents 20,000 pastors nationwide.

"I'm speaking as a person and we have that right to speak as an individual," Owens told The Associated Press. "Because I'm a minister, it doesn't take away my right as a private citizen."

Johnson said Thursday his support for Blackwell is as a citizen, not a minister.

Yet the group is named:

"Clergy for Blackwell"

It's obvious religion is going to play a role in the Gubernatorial race, from both Strickland who's clergy supporters have formed the group "We Believe" and from Blackwell.

Flashing back to 2004 a topic of conversation was termed the "religion gap". Interestingly enough this 2004 article states:

There are exceptions to the pattern. African-Americans who often attend church are as reliably Democratic as those who don't. Frequency of church attendance seems to have limited impact on the voting patterns of Hispanics.

Also written in 2004 is a piece by Amy Sullivan that it would appear some Democrats have taken to heart.

Something even more interesting from 2000 was when the ADL warned Lieberman and provided this as a part of their faqs:

Excessive religious discourse in public risks alienating some of the American people. While many Americans do feel comfortable with such speech, ADL is not satisfied if even one person is made to feel outside the political or electoral process.

Infact part of what they wrote to Senator Joe Lieberman:

...in particular, we were troubled by your suggestion that, "As a people we need to reaffirm our faith and renew the dedication of our nation and ourselves to God and God's purpose" and your argument not to indulge the supposition "that morality can be maintained without religion." To even suggest that one cannot be a moral person without being a religious person is an affront to many highly ethical citizens.

So, as individual citizens? Everyone does have the freedom to decide for themselves, but if you are truly speaking as a citizen? Then take off the minister collars, take off the minister garb, come out from behind the pulpit and? Be a citizen and if you are a candidate? I think the ADL's advice to Joe Lieberman might be worth taking a look at.

:-)