McGovern faces fight over 'values'

[shawmut]

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/05/20/mcgovern_faces_fight_over_values/



McGovern faces fight over 'values'
By Joan Vennochi | May 20, 2004


THE NATION'S culture wars are coming to a new front: the Commonwealth's Third Congressional District.

Ronald A. Crews, an evangelical pastor, former Georgia legislator, and leader in the local and national charge against same-sex marriage, plans to challenge Democratic US Representative James P. McGovern of Worcester. Speaking by cellphone while waiting to take off for active duty in the Massachusetts National Guard, Crews said he expects to file the required certified signatures next week.

The race, he said, will give voters "a clear choice."

That it will. McGovern's office is already describing Crews as "a radical extremist on nearly every issue . . . and completely out of step with the traditional values of Massachusetts."

Crews contends that McGovern is the one who is "out of the mainstream" on issues like gay marriage, abortion, and national defense. Crews, 55, moved from Georgia to Ashland four years ago. In Georgia, where he was sworn into office wearing clerical garb, he successfully pushed a ban on same-sex marriage through the Legislature in 1996. He says one reason he lost his Georgia House seat in 1998 is the "homosexual activists who moved into my district just to be able to vote against me." He became a paid lobbyist for the Georgia Christian Coalition and undertook a campaign to revive an antisodomy law overturned by the state Supreme Court. He is strongly antiabortion and once launched a filibuster to get a bill banning late-term abortion out of committee.

To run for Congress, Crews says he is taking a leave of absence from the Massachusetts Family Institute, where he has been leading the fight against same-sex marriage in this state.


- more

[DRoseDARs]

1. He expects to be back?

"Speaking by cellphone while waiting to take off for active duty in the Massachusetts National Guard, Crews said he expects to file the required certified signatures next week."

[Killarney]

2. Should be a slam dunk, but

Should be a slam dunk because Crews is soooo far right, but we don't want to take anything for granted. Crews is getting TONS of out of state money from crazy anti-gay groups.

Why is it that the biggest nutjobs are always from out of state? (Romney, Crews, etc).

[Kat45]

3. Is that the new wingnut strategy?

To actually move into more liberal states to run for office and start other trouble. This is not good.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

4. Ron Crews needs to move back to his "Julip Farm".

:puke:

:mad:

I believe that McGoverns seat is safe.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. Former RW Georgia State Legislator Carpetbagger Motherfucker

he is a freak of nature...

[Rockholm]

6. Crews is a closet case.

[Beer Snob-50]

7. There are many nutjobs in this state

that live and breath Rush, Hannity, and Howie Carr who will get all fired up to elect this moron! A small voter turnout could cost McGovern this election.

[SenatorBulworth]

8. yeah dont forget

Jay Severin (sp?) :hurts: