John Edwards is the latest White House aspirant to appear on the Christian Broadcasting Network, prompting God-o-Meter to wonder if CBN has supplanted Air America as a popular venue for Democrats. Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Christian ministers supporting Hillary Clinton have all granted recent interviews to CBN’s David Brody.
Nothing groundbreaking in Brody’s Edwards interview, but it reminds God-o-Meter that the former North Carolina senator is making little attempt to parlay his Southern Christian roots into a play for cultural conservative Democratic votes, as he promised to do as John Kerry’s running mate in ’04:
Brody: Here’s the CBN question – the faith question. You’ve talked about your relationship with Jesus, and I’m wondering if you could expand a little bit on that and tell me how your faith really defines some of the stuff you do in your life – specifically as it relates to the campaign.
Edwards: Well, my faith is hugely important to every aspect of my life and it has been for a long time. I’m not going to lie to people. I was born and raised in the Southern Baptist church, baptized when I was young. I went to church on Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night. It was the center of our lives. My father was the deacon in the Baptist church.
And then I went away to college, law school and to some extinct strayed from my faith.
And like a lot of people, my faith came roaring back when I needed it the most, when tragedies began to strike.
I lost my son 1996 — and then of course more recently Elizabeth’s development of cancer and recurrence of her cancer. The truth is I don’t know how I could have ever gotten through these struggles plus the day-to-day stresses of being a candidate for president without my relationship with the Lord. It’s hugely important in every part of my life
Brody: I’m assuming some of those conversations with God, when you were going through that tragedy with your son must have been pretty heart wrenching.
Edwards: They were heart wrenching and painful because it was hard for me to understand, it was hard for Elizabeth to understand. But finally I just had to put my faith in him which is what I did.
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posted November 28, 2007 at 6:39 pm
As a Republican I wish more of my guys would go to audiences that are generally less favorable to Republican candidates. I admire Edwards for doing it.
posted January 23, 2008 at 2:54 am
Sen.Edwards is very active at his church including being a leader of it’s prayer group which he has been doing for many years.Does this remind you of past Great President?Jimmy Carter was/is a Sunday school teacher but Sen Edwards has chosen not to wear his faith on his sleeve instead he walks the talk!