God and politics mix well at NCF

Thursday, July 31, 2008, 10:20 a.m.:

By Fredie Carmichael
editor@themeridianstar.com

The podium at Founders Square might as well have been a pulpit when congressional candidates Gregg Harper and Joel Gill spoke at the Neshoba County Fair.
The issue of God was heard loud and clear.
Gill got religious first, saying that he "knew Jesus Christ." He later encouraged others to get to "know him" as well.
"I stand here covered in His blood and I'm not ashamed to profess His name," Gill said, drawing a few cheers from about a handful of his supporters in the crowd. Harper's supporters who covered the outside of the pavilion, however, never shouted or jeered during Gill's speech, some even applauded Gill's discussion on faith.
Harper got a rousing applause when he was introduced to the crowd. He also talked about his Faith on multiple occasions, even mentioning his friendship with Carl White of Meridian, pastor of Highland Baptist Church.
He also talked about conservatives getting back to their roots in Washington.
Republicans didn't fall from power in Washington because they weren't liberal enough, "they fell out of power because they quit being conservative," Harper said, drawing a bolt of applause.
"It's time we get back to that," he said.
Both candidates also talked about gas prices.
While it's no secret Harper likely will demolish Gill in November, it was nice, for once, to hear cordial speeches in which neither candidate bashed the other (or their respective supporters for that matter).
House Speaker Billy McCoy, as mentioned in my blog last night, has arrived and his making his rounds along with other state Democrat leaders. They're scheduled to rebut the governor's speech in about 30 minutes. The governor is up in a few minutes.


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