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Follow us on TwitterGov. Kaine stumps for Obama at Liberty University
Photo by Chet White/The News & Advance
Gov. Timothy Kaine and Liberty Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. at today’s convocation.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine won scattered applause from Liberty University students Monday when he spoke as a surrogate for Democrat Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, but not much support for some of Obama’s positions.
A buzz rippled through students assembled for one of Liberty’s three-times-a-week convocations when Kaine called Obama “a person of strong moral values.”
After Kaine talked about Obama’s ideas for the economy and national security, he brought up “issues on which there are some concerns” — abortion and gay marriage.
Kaine explained that Obama hopes to reduce abortions through health care, education and abstinence, but “Senator Obama does not believe in outlawing abortion or overturning Roe. v. Wade.” A low rumble of voices went through the crowd, along with at least one barely audible boo.
On gay marriage, Kaine said he and Obama both believe “marriage is between a man and a woman. It is a sacred institution.” Cheers rose from the audience as Kaine sought to continue by saying, “but, but … he also believes that gay or lesbian individuals who make a commitment to each other should have basic rights.”
Both cheers and jeers greeted that comment, as Kaine went on to say those rights should include the ability to make contracts, share medical care and pass along property to one another. “Those rights should be respected by a civil society,” Kaine said.
Afterward, Kaine told reporters that “I knew what I was getting into” when he answered the Obama campaign’s request for a surrogate to appear at Liberty, which submitted 4,200 applications for voter registration to the Lynchburg registrar this fall.
Liberty has been host to two surrogates for Obama’s Republican opponent this year. Joe McCain, brother of John McCain, spoke to a Liberty convocation on Sept. 12, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., spoke to local Republicans and McCain volunteer workers last Tuesday.
Jerry Falwell Jr., Liberty’s chancellor, said he had invited Obama or someone from his campaign to speak earlier this year. The Virginia governor’s appearance was arranged hastily after Obama’s state campaign official Kevin Griffis last week indicated they could send a surrogate.
Falwell specified he wanted someone of national stature to represent the Obama campaign.
“I told him that I thought Gov. Kaine was comparable to the speakers who had appeared at LU on behalf of the McCain camp and that we would give him time” during convocation “as required by IRS rules.”
Falwell said that while it’s no secret who many people in the university’s administration support in the election, the school has not endorsed a candidate.
Kaine said he’s happy when people participate in elections, and he does not perceive those who support another candidate as an enemy. “It’s the ones who don’t participate that I have a gripe with,” he said.
Still, Kaine said, he knew more students would “support the other candidate. I don’t think it was a 50-50 crowd,” he said, adding that he didn’t know if he swayed any votes to Obama. “I’m not sure how many uncommitteds there still are” among voters, he said.
“I was pleasantly surprised when I said I was here as a surrogate for Obama that actually got some nice applause, so there are some Obama supporters here,” Kaine said. “This is a very engaged campus and I think that’s good.”
An Obama spokesman said Kaine flew to Lynchburg in a plane paid for by the campaign. One of the state budget cuts ordered by Kaine this month ended his use of state helicopters for travel.
Reader Reactions
Martha,
I completely disagree. I have found numerous student teachers from LU that have been remarkably well rounded. As far as PRAXIS testing, I have seen more students from LC Teach that have failed the Praxis II than from LU. Perhaps it is because LU has a bigger program and more students. Who knows? Also, LU is the only education program in the area that is NCATE accredited. I guess we have had quite different experiences.
Till I moved to this area, I had never heard of LU.
I did hear about the racist, gay bashing Jerry falwell long before I ever heard of LU.
Passing LU students in the stores it is quite evident that Martha is totally correct. They seem like they are being led to a slaughter.
What puzzles me is how parents could spend their money so foolishly as to send their children to LU?
To Cosmo Wafflefoot - They don’t talk in tongues at Liberty University.
oldman66; Can’t you read? The last paragraph says; “An Obama spokesman said Kaine flew to Lynchburg in a plane paid for by the campaign. One of the state budget cuts ordered by Kaine this month ended his use of state helicopters for travel”.
Did you go to LU? If you did it is understandable.
It’s one thing to be “known” worldwide and another to be respected worldwide. Research universities are respected for what they contribute to science and medicine.Other Universities are honored for great teaching, works of literature and art. A professor at Princeton just won the Nobel Prize for Economics.
Liberty University has a well known founder a National Champion Debate team and a record of having its Law students pass the bar w/ a high percentage. What has Liberty contributed in the way of letters, science, art etc.?
Some of the better student teachers I had were from LU.They followed directions and showed up when they were supposed to. They dotted i’s and crossed t’s but they were at a loss thinking on their own. Very little creativity. Some couldn’t pass the PRAXIS exam.
I know LU and what they do. For my money give me VA Tech or UVA any day.
damalama, Maybe if you got your head out of the collective liberal sand, you would see the light of the real world. Liberty is known WORLD WIDE! If you pay any attention at all to the demographic of people when school is in, you would notice the large influx of foreign students.
Quite frankly, you agreed to waste your tax dollars when you pushed the button for that idiot Kain.
Who is the political liar here. When Gov. Warner left office we supposedly had a “huge budget surplus” within a MONTH (I work for the state so I do know)Gov. Kain was saying we had a massive shortfall. That my friend only leaves 2 options.
1) The surplus was never there and Warner was cooking the books.
2) Warner put the cash in his pocket and took it with him.
Damalama, you must be kidding! LU is, on a national scale, at least as well known as any school in or around Lynchburg. It, and TRBC, puts Lynchburg on the map! You may not like it, but it is a fact. All the schools in Lynchburg are good, and some famous, but none more so than good old Liberty University.
why even bother showing up at Liberty University of all places it’s a nothing unknown school. don’t we have a budget crisis going on, and the governor is going to use tax money to travel to LU….WHAT!!!?? come on atleast go to a college that is going to get media attention, or have an affect on voters if you are going to waste tax dollars..those brainwashed losers will do whatever the lesser, wanna be powerfull, media attention wanting but will never get falwell tells him to.
Last I checked there were more than two issues to think about. How about war in two countries that are cost us lives and money for over 5 years now. I “betcha” we will not have more oil in 4 years than we do now so I don’t think drill baby drill is the right answer to that. The list goes on but I don’t have the time to list everything. Oh yeah…..Fun fact Mccain is older than Superman, he was born in 38 and superman did not see his first issue until 1939. Check youtube for the Rally where Mccain address the crowd as “my fellow prisoners” and look at Bush now and at the 2000 election. Looks like a vampire sucked the life out of him. Mccain is a smart guy but it just isnt worth the risk with who is in the on deck circle behind him.
Fire Law -
Talk about collective Kool-Aid… Anyone who belives a single drop of that socialist poison that B.H. Obama spews from his Marxist mouth, has no ability to think for themselves and only has a 30 second sound bite attention span. As far as your garbage, don’t count you eggs just yet. The polls tend to forget about many of the so called “clingers” that Obama detests.
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