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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... 1999
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| FEBRUARY
9, 1999 3:15 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Americans United for Separation of Church and State |
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| Statement Of Barry W Lynn On Resignation Of Donald Hodel As President Of The Christian Coalition | ||||
| WASHINGTON
- February 9 - Americans United Executive Director Barry W.
Lynn issued the following statement today concerning the resignation of Donald
Hodel as president of the Christian Coalition:
"When Pat Robertson announced the appointment of Don Hodel and Randy Tate to run the Christian Coalition in June of 1997, he said their assignment was to double the group's membership, train twice as many political candidates and double the organization's legislative initiatives in Congress and in state legislatures. "A year and a half later, none of this has happened. The group's membership is stagnant, and it suffered serious setbacks during last November's elections. In addition, the group's tax-exempt status has repeatedly been called into question, and evidence indicates that the IRS may finally be ready to deny the organization the right to operate as a non-profit. "Hodel had an impossible task in trying to make the extreme views of Robertson palatable to the American people. His failure indicates that the Christian Coalition has finally hit a wall as more and more Americans reject religious-political extremism. "The American people do not want Robertson, through his hand-picked henchmen, meddling in their religious and personal lives. They reject his politics as extreme. Don Hodel did the smart thing: He got out before his reputation was irreparably tarnished by the mean-spirited, exclusionary politics of Pat Robertson." Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization represents 60,000 members and allied houses of worship in all 50 states. -30- |
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