Rudy quotes scripture at Latino church
Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2008 1:07 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger
MIAMI, Fla. --
Giuliani told a Hispanic evangelical church that “faith can transform lives” and quoted scripture before a crowd of 7,000 people.
“If all the churches were this full in Florida, in the United States …
we’d be a better America,” Giuliani said at the 7,000-seat theater of
El Rey Jesus Church.
Giuliani quoted Joshua 10:25 repeatedly through his remarks, saying,
“Fear not, be strong men and of good courage.” He said that faith could
make families stronger and communities better.
“I believe we have in each of us to build a better future, with God’s
help,” he said. “I believe we can build an America that is even safer
and more secure than the America of today.”
The Sunday morning service, streamed live on the Internet, was lavish,
with a full band and flag-wavers on stage before Giuliani’s speech.
Giuliani was reserved in his movements while the congregation was
swaying and rocking. But he clapped and seemed to be enjoying the
atmosphere the whole time.
The room was rocking and rolling to church music when we walked in. He dialed back a lot when they started introducing politicians. Giuliani got a warm response as he made his way on stage.
When he began to speak about immigration, though, he received a somewhat cooler response. Giuliani advocated for an end to illegal immigration as a precursor to expanding legal immigration. But he did not include his usual refrain that new immigrants should read, write and speak English, as his remarks were translated into Spanish.
Giuliani said he did not come to the church to ask for their votes, saying it was not the right place for politics. “I’m asking for your prayers,” he said to strong applause. He also said that to God, there were no Republicans, no Democrats, no liberals and no conservatives.
“For the most important thing in our life, our relationship with God, we are all the same,” he said. “You and me, the person next to you, we are all the same.”
Also in the audience was former Rep. Katherine Harris. Giuliani campaign aides said Harris had been invited by the church and she did not meet with Giuliani.
Giuliani drawing bigger crowdsYesterday, in Port Charlotte, Fla., Giuliani continued to draw some of his biggest and most enthusiastic crowds as he criss-crosses Florida and the campaign appears more optimistic about their chances in the Sunshine State. About 700 people -- a crowd number the campaign boisterously promoted throughout the evening -- chanted Rudy's name as they waited for him at a retirement center in Bradenton, Fla. There, he called for a federal program to assist people affected by national disasters.
“(The money is) gonna be there because of the kind of people we are," he said. "We might as well try to organize it in a sensible way."
Later, reminding the Charlotte County Young Professional Republicans that early voting started on Monday, one woman shouted that she had already cast her ballot absentee. "Do I have a vote?" Giuliani asked as the woman nodded. "At least I won't be wiped out, that's great."
Asked about the state of the economy, Giuliani said a president had to understand his limits. "The most important thing a president needs to know about the American economy is you don't manage the American economy," he said. "You can have a big impact if you do the right thing."
The campaign tried to showcase its viability in Florida in a conference call with state reporters Saturday, seeking to minimize the impact from news that the campaign had asked senior staffers to go without pay for January. Campaign aides said they have spent more than $1 million on television ads in Florida and are now spending upwards of $350,000 per day.
Giuliani embarks Sunday on a three-day bus tour that will hardly miss a part of Florida. It will tour the Miami area Sunday, the West Coast Monday and visit Orlando and Jacksonville Tuesday. Campaign aides said Giuliani would tour the Panhandle later in the week.
