Taco John
12-19-2007, 02:00 AM
Bad Reviews for GOP Field From Christian Group
By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Republican presidential candidates Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and John McCain may be winning praise from Christian conservatives on social issues, but they're not winning any raves from a Christian investing group.
The Biblically Responsible Investing Institute, a North Carolina organization that tracks corporate involvement in activities that Christians might find objectionable, has given a thumbs down to how these major Republican presidential candidates are investing their own money.
"We obviously come at the whole issue from an evangelical Christian perspective," said Rusty Leonard, who heads the institute as well as a money-management firm that advises investors on investing based on Christian principles. "You can't help but acknowledge that they have not...made sure that their investments don't stand in opposition to what they claim to stand for."
For its report, the institute combed through financial disclosure statements for the five major Republican candidates -- Huckabee, Romney, Thompson, McCain and Rudy Giuliani All five own stock, either directly or through mutual funds, in companies that "aggressively promote a homosexual lifestyle," the report says, because they either offer same-sex partner benefits or make significant contributions to gay-rights groups.
The candidates also get slammed for investing in casino businesses and for investments in companies that contribute to Planned Parenthood or make what the group considers abortion drugs.
Republican front-runner Rudy Giuliani also has significant holdings in these activities, the institute says. But, the report notes, Giuliani is at least not violating his principles because he is pro gay rights and pro choice.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/17/bad_reviews_for_gop_field_from.html
By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Republican presidential candidates Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and John McCain may be winning praise from Christian conservatives on social issues, but they're not winning any raves from a Christian investing group.
The Biblically Responsible Investing Institute, a North Carolina organization that tracks corporate involvement in activities that Christians might find objectionable, has given a thumbs down to how these major Republican presidential candidates are investing their own money.
"We obviously come at the whole issue from an evangelical Christian perspective," said Rusty Leonard, who heads the institute as well as a money-management firm that advises investors on investing based on Christian principles. "You can't help but acknowledge that they have not...made sure that their investments don't stand in opposition to what they claim to stand for."
For its report, the institute combed through financial disclosure statements for the five major Republican candidates -- Huckabee, Romney, Thompson, McCain and Rudy Giuliani All five own stock, either directly or through mutual funds, in companies that "aggressively promote a homosexual lifestyle," the report says, because they either offer same-sex partner benefits or make significant contributions to gay-rights groups.
The candidates also get slammed for investing in casino businesses and for investments in companies that contribute to Planned Parenthood or make what the group considers abortion drugs.
Republican front-runner Rudy Giuliani also has significant holdings in these activities, the institute says. But, the report notes, Giuliani is at least not violating his principles because he is pro gay rights and pro choice.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/17/bad_reviews_for_gop_field_from.html