U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, D-Conn., reiterated his support for faith-based initiatives Thursday as he spoke outside the Second Star of Jacob Christian Church in New Haven and accepted the endorsement of a statewide group of Latino ministers.Abraham Hernandez, a spokesman for the group, said the ministers, as leaders in their community, "recognized him (Lieberman) as an integral, compassionate, experienced and, above all, a serious man that believes in the value of the family."
Lieberman, who interspersed his press conference with Biblical quotes in Hebrew and Spanish, said it was difficult in campaigns to talk about the relationship of church and state, but said America has found the right balance between the two. "I think anyone who tries to separate faith and God from America is trying to do something unusual. It is the source of our strength, even as we respect the diversity of ways people approach God," he told the group.
| Can't imagine another national Democrat saying anything like that. |
Hernandez said the ministers were impressed by LiebermanÂ’s immigration proposals and his stance against gay marriage, but mainly his experience. "We do not have the luxury of allowing an unknown novice to remove an experienced person who currently occupies such a vital position," he said.
Hernandez said the group also believes the country canÂ’t afford to "cut and run" in Iraq. Lieberman said servicemen he has met tell him Iraqis want U.S. troops there, and said retreating would not only be a "disaster," but "would dishonor the service and sacrifice" of the military.