Elections as 'crusade'

RUTH SOLOMON

I'm concerned that Arizona's 2002 general election for statewide office has turned into a religious crusade. Let me explain.

In the Republican primary elections, the religious right managed to successfully elect a number of candidates. This far-right element wants to impose their views on all of Arizona.

Don't take my word for it. Just take a look at the statements of Len Munsil, spokesman for the far-right Center for Arizona Policy, a "think tank" whose goal it is to advocate the views of the extreme right. When he and three of the Republican candidates for statewide office appeared on the Trinity public access cable show, Munsil declared that the results of the GOP primary "are nothing short of miraculous. I believe," he said, "they are the direct result of God's intervention in the public affairs of our state."

So what is the result of their taking control of the Republican primary?

A Republican gubernatorial candidate, Matt Salmon, who believes that the Almighty wants to deny women control over their own bodies.
A Republican candidate for attorney general, Andrew Thomas, who as the state's top cop wants to impose his version of proper morals on all of Arizona.
And my Republican opponent for treasurer, David Petersen, who wants to use the treasurer's office to send out religious praise cards, which according to Petersen, would contain messages that "could be preached in the classroom today."

The religious right has worked hard to hide its agenda, but as the CAP's Munsil warned, "After the media figured out what happened (in the primary), the CAP will be targeted. ... We must continue to pray for the election of godly leaders committed to righteousness in November."

Petersen, my opponent, has alleged that there is no religious agenda behind his "praise card" idea, but his hidden moral agenda was made clear when he appeared on a Christian cable television show, told the audience that his idea "was inspired by the Holy Ghost," and that he believes it resulted from his evening prayers for inspiration.

Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with holding strong religious beliefs. I am proud of my own faith in God, and I am proud that my husband, Arthur, and I have passed these views on to our son and our grandchildren.

But I think that religious belief is a personal matter, and I value the U.S. Constitution and its guarantee of freedom of religion and the requirement that church and state remain separate.

I also believe that as treasurer, my responsibility must be to focus on managing and investing the taxpayer's resources and not promoting my religious beliefs.

Solomon is a state senator (D-Tucson) and the Democratic nominee for state treasurer. The other candidate is Republican David Petersen.

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