Religious leaders say faith won't alter voters' choice

By Tim Hearden

August 9, 2000 Web posted at: 12:55 PM EDT (1655 GMT)

REDDING, California (Redding Record Searchlight) -- North state religious leaders said Monday that Vice President Al Gore's selection of U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut to be his running mate marks a positive step for the nation.

But they don't believe Lieberman's being the first Jew to be named to a presidential ticket will, or should, have much of an impact on the election.

Lieberman is "an extraordinary candidate, one of great personal courage and high moral character," said Rabbi Jacqueline Brodsky of Temple Beth Israel in Redding. "He votes from a position of human righteousness more than a political party position."

Al Weissberg of Redding, a retired teacher who was one of the temple's founders, said Jewish people have been very prominent in public life and that it's time they are represented in presidential politics.

But Jim Mark of Shasta Lake, the president of Temple Beth Israel, said religion shouldn't be considered in a person's qualifications.

"My personal opinion is that Gore chose him because of the way he handled chastising Clinton" during the Monica Lewinsky controversy, Mark said. "I think Gore is trying to break away from the darker side of the Clinton administration, and I think that's probably an appropriate move."

Gore's selection of Lieberman won't matter to Christians as much as his association with Clinton, said the Rev. Bill Gillis of First Baptist Church of Redding, adding that "Jesus was Jewish."

"I really have a non-religious opinion in the sense that as Americans we need to realize . . . the country includes a variety of people, and if a person has the intelligence, experience and integrity to do the job, that should be the primary issue," Gillis said.

Some north state Democrats said Monday that they think Lieberman's Jewish background could be a plus for Gore.

Barbara Cross of Redding, a member of Shasta County's Democratic Central Committee, said "for too long the country's been run by white, Christian gentlemen" and that it's time for diversity.

Mainly, however, local Democrats said Gore's willingness to choose a party member who spoke out against Clinton proves he's stepping out from the president's shadow.

"I think he's a man with high integrity and is well-respected," Ellis Martin, the Democratic Central Committee chairman, said of Lieberman.

"He's a bright, articulate fellow, and I think the vice presidential debates will be more interesting because of him," said Diane Grettum of Redding, another central committee member.

Not surprisingly, the selection of Lieberman did not sway Frank Parrish, who chairs Shasta County's GOP Central Committee.

"I still think George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are the best choices by far," Parrish said. "The reason I say that is they're not looking out for an individual political party, they're looking out for the American people. They have the ability to unify both Republicans and Democrats and bring this country together to fix some of the social problems that we're facing."

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