LAUREL – Many Mississippians say faith and values are shaping their votes in today’s election, and on questions from abortion to war, people are reaching different conclusions about who should lead the country.
An approximately15-by-2-foot banner on the side of Jon Swartzfager’s downtown Laurel office building last week proclaimed: “Democrats are Christians, TOO.”
The trial attorney and his wife, real estate broker Helen Swartzfager, are supporting Democrat John Kerry for president. They said they put the banner up several days ago to respond to Republicans they think are trying to dominate discussion of faith in politics, particularly on issues like abortion.
Jon Swartzfager said he believes abortions should be performed only in “exceptional cases,” and he’s frustrated because he thinks President Bush is appealing to members of “the extreme right” who oppose abortions in all cases.
“I’m as concerned about children after they’re born as before,” Jon Swartzfager said. “I’m very concerned about these soldiers, these young men and women who are heroes fighting in Iraq who are giving their lives and being maimed for George Bush’s war.”
During a separate interview in downtown Laurel, Alicia Griffith-the office manager for another law firm-described herself as “Republican through and through.”
“My biggest deal with the Democratic Party is abortion,” said Griffith, 22. “That’s one of my biggest concerns, is how lenient they are on that.”
She said she approved of Bush signing a law that bans a late-term procedure that abortion opponents call “partial-birth abortion.”
“I’m a female and I want rights, but I just feel like that baby’s got just as many rights as anybody else,” Griffith said.
Helen Swartzfager said some drivers stopped to stare while the “Democrats are Christians, TOO” banner was being put up. She said many gave her thumbs up and said they’re also supporting Kerry. The Swartzfagers have had a few calls of complaints.
The presidential race is one of several items on ballots Tuesday in Mississippi.
There’s also a congressional race in each of the four districts. Four Supreme Court races are on the ballot. Each county will choose five election commissioners. Some places will have local questions, such as legalizing liquor in Rankin County or approving convention center taxes in the city of Jackson and Harrison County.
Mississippians also will vote on a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
Republican Gov. Haley Barbour said last week he hopes the amendment passes with at least 80 percent of the vote-enough to beat the 78 percent margin by which Louisiana voters passed a similar measure that has been challenged in court.
“We Republicans are working hard in favor of the amendment to ban same-sex marriage,” Barbour told The Associated Press.
It passed the Legislature with strong bipartisan support.
Mississippi has had a state law since 1997 banning gay marriages, but supporters say an amendment would solidify the state’s position in case a lawsuit is filed.
During a news conference Friday, Nsombi Lambright, executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi, called the amendment “a silly attempt to continue the state’s legacy of hatred and bigotry.”
“I’m very upset that churches all over the state mobilized around this issue when we have children that are not getting the resources in public schools that they are supposed to be getting,” Lambright said. “We have elderly and sick people who are getting cut off of their health benefits, but churches have chosen this issue to mobilize and take a stand on.”