This afternoon Sojourners released Obama, Romney Answer Faith Leaders’ Call to Address Poverty in Election.
Christian leaders asked, and the presidential nominees answered. The poverty rate in America is still at a staggering 15 percent and 46.2 million Americans remain in poverty — what is your plan to address the problem?
The Circle of Protection, composed of Christian leaders from across the religious spectrum, released President Barack Obama’s and GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s video responses today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Statement from Obama:
Statement from Romney:
Joyce – I just got the Sojourners (I am a subscriber) in my e-mail. Does it strike you that Romney is in campaign mode here? Poverty is no joke in this country. It’s something we have to deal with on a serious level. It should transcend politics. As President Obama said “we are our brothers keeper.” I have learned a lot about poverty in America in the past two years. And the sad part of it is that people do not understand that the majority of those living in poverty want to be part of the system. They don’t want handouts or entitlements. Most of them are ashamed that they have no jobs, no homes, and no way to take care of their families. This comes across in the people that I meet through Family Promise, and the kitchen my husband and I operate every Saturday. More and more people are coming with their children because they know that we greet them with dignity and compassion. We don’t call it a “soup kitchen.” It’s actually set up like my home. Place mats, real plates and stainless steel utensils. We don’t use paper goods because we find that is demeaning.
I could go on and on about these experiences. My heart goes out to these people and I wish I could do it every day but age and funding have their limitations.
Thank you for posting this. It’s an important issue and I hope people understand that unless this country tackles poverty broadly and gladly we are going to lose our humanity.
I’ve thought a lot about how very different things seem now, as compared to the days of the “Great Society.” Not that everyone was in agreement with those efforts, or with efforts that came before and since. But the absence of “poverty” (and so the actual people included) from the political / public vocabulary, except in rare instances, is striking.
I love the description you provide regarding Family Promise, especially the emphasis on “dignity and compassion.” Obviously there are always people who do remember those living under the “poverty” label, and treat them with respect.
As for the videos, I agree that Romney comes off very much in “campaign mode.” It’s actually kind of odd to listen to him talking.
I have a very different take on poverty and people who are poor. I sometimes think that God loves them the best because they are poor, “the least of these.” I’m a Christian and I’m not ashamed of it. I work among the poor in my old age and to be truthful, I love them. I have come to know so many of them and have actually been able to help quite a few of them, even if it’s to provide them with clothes to go on an interview or baby clothes for a new baby, or school clothes for a child.
A theatre I work with shares its space with a food bank on Sundays. We put out a call during every Christmas show for donations to that food bank (in exchange for lower ticket prices). One year, we made the mistake of mentioning the town’s name in the call for donations. Donations were really off that year.
It’s as if people don’t want to admit that poverty exists, at least in their own neighborhoods.
From the Obama (English) transcript (PDF):
start quote
We can pay down our debt in a balanced and responsible way, but we cannot balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable.
end quote
and from the Romney (English) transcript (also PDF):
start quote:
A strong economy will reduce our budget deficits, and it will reduce poverty as well. But at this point, budget cuts are also going to be necessary and I intend to make them.
end quote
Translation: The voodoo (economics) will continue until the economy improves.
If I were a believer, I’d say praying was in order. Since I’m not, I’ll say it won’t do any less good than what these guys have in mind.
Ironic that the other day Romney was whining about the military cuts.
I think we should just set up work houses again; these people are depraved. I see nothing wrong with back breaking work 14 or 15 hours a day ( especially for children ) like the good old days in the big cities. Everybody wins, the poor get some religion and values beat into them and at the same time the sloth gets beat out. The government gets paid back for the bowl of slop they eat every day and health care is not a problem; if their too sick to work , we just put them outside.
fangio – your point is well taken.
> To all of you who have posted your thoughts they mean a lot to me because I know there are people out there who do care about the poor.
It’s always a good thing to read your thoughts — all of you — but I’ll say that with this post in particular, I particularly appreciated the reading