I had every intention of watching–or at least recording–NOW on PBS this past Sunday. It was to feature the report entitled “God’s Country?”, which profiled the “Patriot Pastors” group that is working to elect Ken “Diebold” Blackwell governor of Ohio. It also included an interview with Rev. Eric Williams, one of the Ohio ministers who signed onto the IRS complaint against Blackwell-boosting Reverends Russell Johnson and Rod Parsley. Fortunately, George at Buckeye State Blog pointed out this video, available online at Brad Blog. (George found the link via a comment at Bob Fitrakis’s new blog, FraudbusterBob.com.) You can also read the transcript here. (Be very afraid.)
Some excerpts from the transcript, with accompanying screen captures from the video.
For Johnson, this coming Tuesday is d-day. That’s when Ohio holds it’s primary for governor. The real battle is on the republican side, between two candidates: Ohio attorney general Jim Petro, widely recognized as the establishment’s choice, and Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a conservative Christian.
Blackwell is the only candidate pictured on Johnson’s website. And on the day we visited, a newspaper published by Johnson’s group was hot of the presses, to be mailed to half a million homes across Ohio. These newspapers provide a guide to the candidates’ stand on issues important to conservative Christians.
BRANCACCIO:
And there is more. Look at this videotape, obtained by “NOW.” It’s of a rally Johnson held in February outside of Canton, featuring Ken Blackwell.
BLACKWELL:
“Our times demand your engagement. Our times demand your prayers.
BRANCACCIO:
Hundreds of local religious leaders listened as Johnson praised Blackwell in no uncertain terms.
JOHNSON RALLY:
“When it came time to look for a leader, we found one, Ken Blackwell, who said yes, it’s the right thing to do, marriage is defined by the bible as one man and a woman, and I will stand with you.”
BRANCACCIO:
Johnson finished by giving candidate Blackwell what the Ohio restoration project calls its “courageous leadership” award.
