Ga. Christian Coalition to change name, split with national group

<p>Georgia's branch of the Christian Coalition announced plans Monday to change names and split from the national group _ making it the fourth state to leave the socially conservative political group.</p><p>Director Sadie Fields said the Georgia branch's board voted about two weeks ago to make the change, saying the national group's focus has shifted away from the core issues the Christian Coalition was founded upon.</p><p>"It's really a sad moment," Fields said Monday. "I deeply regret we have been compelled to take this action, but we felt like we had no other choice."</p><p>Last month, Alabama followed the lead of Iowa and Ohio organizations in separating from the Christian Coalition of America.</p><p>The state groups have cited several issues that prompted them to split _ including the national organization taking stances on issues like the minimum wage, the environment and Internet law instead of core issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.</p><p>But the national group also has faced financial and public-relations problems.</p><p>The Christian Coalition is $1 million in debt and has suffered negative publicity over the past year. Among the bad press were revelations that former director Ralph Reed, who ran for lieutenant governor in Georgia, had close ties with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and worked with him on a campaign funded by casinos.</p><p>Fields said the national group's recent lobbying on "net neutrality" made some Georgia members uncomfortable. The Christian Coalition joined with several groups, some of them liberal like the web site MoveOn.org, to fight an effort to let Internet companies give preferential treatment to customers who pay more.</p><p>"They were taking a liberal position on net neutrality compared to what the conservatives are saying should be done," Fields said.</p><p>After the Alabama group announced its split in August, Christian Coalition President Roberta Combs insisted her organization would survive.</p><p>The coalition, which claims more than 2 million members, was founded in 1989 by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson.</p><p>Fields said the Georgia group has not yet chosen a new name. She said she expects on by Nov. 1 and that the group's well-known voter guide will be handed out as usual for November's general election.</p><p>___</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x1cdc320)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/9/116155