Cross posted at Street Prophets
Let's start with this:
Exodus 20:16 (NIV) - You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
It's a Commandment...of the world-famous Ten Commandments. And while it may not be seen as applicable to everyone in the world, it is certainly applicable to everyone who follows the deity we call God.
In addition to that Commandment, followers of Jesus Christ are also called to live in the Spirit. Specifically, we Christians are told:
Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV) - The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: ...hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy... I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So why would a professing Christian in Ohio think these didn't apply to him in the heat of a gubernatorial campaign?
Meet Gary Lankford.
Gary is the President of
FamilyVision, an Ohio-based non-profit organization "committed to helping local churches develop strong family ministries."
Gary is also the Headmaster of the FamilyVision Schools, an organization of Columbus, OH area homeschoolers.
And, most importantly for our purposes, Gary is a paid "outreach coordinator" for the Ohio Republican Party. Gary was also a paid "voter contact coordinator" for the Blackwell for Governor primary campaign.
A few days ago, Gary sent out an e-mail from his e-mail account at the Ohio GOP to a list of GOP supporters - with instructions to pass it on. The Columbus Dispatch reports today on the contents of that e-mail:
Among other things, the e-mail says Strickland married his wife, Frances, at 46, has no children and lives apart from her. It also links readers to an Internet blog that directly questions the sexual orientation of both Stricklands and notes accusations he is "soft on those who sexually assault children."
The truth is that Ted and Frances Strickland do not live apart.
For example, Strickland said he and his wife do not live apart nor does she live in Kentucky as the e-mail said. When he is not in Washington, the couple lives in a rental property in Ohio or in a condo they own in Columbus.
"They're trying to use innuendo. That's what they do. It's political dirty tricks. It's an attempt to destroy the opponent rather than debate the issues."
So there we have it. In the name of Jesus and "protecting Ohio's families", a professing Christian resorts to a blast e-mail full of lies and vicious innuendo. Politics, religious right style.