Faithful Hope to Sway King (Newsday)

This was in the Newsday a few days ago....

BY MONTE R. YOUNG
STAFF WRITER

August 24, 2005


About a half-dozen Long Island religious leaders prayed outside the Massapequa Park office of Rep. Peter King Tuesday, asking the congressman to oppose efforts to privatize Social Security.

The group, representing multiple faiths, said that King (R-Seaford) has spoken favorably about proposals to dismantle the federal retirement system. During the 45-minute gathering, the religious leaders said King is a spiritual man who should understand the need to help those less fortunate.

"It's our duty as Christians to take care of the elderly, widows, orphans and persons with disabilities and Mr. King knows that," said Mary Dewar, of the Long Island Council of Churches. "It is this deep moral concern for maintaining and building a compassionate society that brings us together."

King, who was in Washington, offered this response to the religious leaders: "God forgive them for they know not what they do. I base my decision on facts, reason and informed social conscious and not left-wing pseudo-theology."

For months local activists have pressed political leaders to oppose President George W. Bush's proposed changes that would reduce retirement benefits, raise the retirement age and increase the federal deficit. King said he believes personal privatized accounts "could be helpful, but I have to see the entire package."

Richard Goodman, a member of Religious Society of Friends in Westbury, also called Quakers, said government should "provide for the common good. Privatize Social Security and the people will become selfish."

Rabbi Michael Kramer, of Temple Judea in Massapequa, said Social Security is a "covenant that one generation has with the next to take care of those in need."

Agnes Kelly of Massapequa and a member of Pax Christi, the Catholic peace movement group, said Social Security is not just for the elderly. She noted that she was 42 with five children when her husband died. "I couldn't have made it without Social Security. My kids wouldn't have had food or clothes."




Peter King is OUT OF TOUCH with the people who voted for him

Is his public support wavering?

[Disgruntled Taxpayer V]

The simple answer to your question is "no," Pete King's public support is not waivering. This article is a typical example of ill informed and propagandistic reporting by Newsday. Pete King was well in touch with the issues presented by the protesters when he characterized their complaints as being premised upon "left wing pseudo theology." For example, Pax Christi is an ultra liberal organization which speaks for a very small and insignificant faction of those Roman Catholics who support "liberation theology." Similarly, the Council of Churches and Society of Friends are noted for their leftward leanings. Please read the article more carefully before trying to make a point. M ost of the ardents of left wing theological organizations tend to be operating out of convictions based upon a genuine social concern. Nevertheless, there is a tendency by such people and groups to make broad knee jerk, social pronouncements without fully engaging and understanding the policy issues presented in a particular discussion.

King is a lying sack.
See www kingwatch dot blog spot dot com for the inside scoop on his many lies.
He lies to constituents left and right and figures he still has support. More and more constituents are fed up with his arrogant attitude.
Now King is going to face some real questions... As Chairman of the Emergency Preperadness sub-committee, King was the chief over-sight person for FEMA and DHS planning.


The simple answer to your question is "no," Pete King's public support is not waivering. This article is a typical example of ill informed and propagandistic reporting by Newsday. Pete King was well in touch with the issues presented by the protesters when he characterized their complaints as being premised upon "left wing pseudo theology." For example, Pax Christi is an ultra liberal organization which speaks for a very small and insignificant faction of those Roman Catholics who support "liberation theology." Similarly, the Council of Churches and Society of Friends are noted for their leftward leanings. Please read the article more carefully before trying to make a point. M ost of the ardents of left wing theological organizations tend to be operating out of convictions based upon a genuine social concern. Nevertheless, there is a tendency by such people and groups to make broad knee jerk, social pronouncements without fully engaging and understanding the policy issues presented in a particular discussion.

As a member of Congress, Mr. King will undoubtedly be at the forefront of investigating the roles of the various levels of government, from municipal authorities in New Orleans through State agencies in Louisiana, and ultimately the federal authorities, to see just where the breakdown in response did occur. Be careful what you wish for, Mr. Guest. A thorough investigation of this disaster by the appropriate authorities may very well place the lionshare of the blame upon the Democratic Mayor of New Orleans and the Democratic Governor of Louisiana. Agencies under the jurisdiction of the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana should have been the first responders to the incident. Again, much like your blind criticism of Mr. King seems misplaced. Good like fighting windmills and chasing waterfalls, my dear friend. And in the immortal words of Ali Mirza, "you loose [sp 'lose']."

[Pat Cox]

All newspapers lie