DAVID SKOLNICK | Politics The God factor in the presidential race

"The left wing hates George Bush the most because he believes in God, and you better believe that."
The comment made Tuesday by Youngstown Mayor George M. McKelvey, a Democrat, to the Ohio caucus at the Republican National Convention about President Bush completely stunned some people, while others said it was about time someone mentioned it.
"We're supposed to be uniting and not dividing," said state Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st and an Air Force Reserves major. "He should come to church with me Sunday and pray with this Democrat."
McKelvey certainly hasn't endeared himself to the local Democratic Party faithful with his support of Bush, and frequent criticism of the political party he calls his own and John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee.
McKelvey took time from a family vacation Tuesday to fly to the GOP convention, not at his expense, to speak to the Ohio caucus, and then returned to the Caribbean. During the speech, McKelvey said one key reason he supports Bush is because he's a man of faith. It's not a stretch to conclude McKelvey doesn't believe Kerry is a man of faith or he wouldn't have brought up the topic.
Youngstown Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th, said she never had much respect for McKelvey, a fellow Democrat.
It certainly didn't improve after McKelvey crossed party lines to endorse Bush last month, and any ounce of respect she had for her mayor is now gone after the God comment.
"That is something he should retract," Rimedio-Righetti said. "I take offense to that. It's way off base. That offends all of us. Where is he coming with that?"
McKelvey was well-received by the Ohio caucus at the convention during his speech, receiving two standing ovations. David W. Johnson of Salem, one of the state's most prominent and influential Republicans, said McKelvey "hit a grand slam" with his speech and expects the mayor to be used as a Bush surrogate.
The opinions of Johnson and two other Valley Republicans who heard McKelvey's speech in New York City about his "God" remark are diverse.
Trumbull County GOP Chairman Craig Bonar of Cortland, who was an alternate convention delegate, said he didn't hear McKelvey utter the line.
Eugenia Atkinson of Youngstown, another alternate delegate who heads the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority, said she didn't want to interpret McKelvey's remarks. [By the way, her husband, Richard W., serves as the city's 3rd Ward councilman.]
"It was just a remark made off-the-cuff, and I don't think George meant anything by it," she said. "Sometimes the media and people take things out of context."
Apparently Atkinson, who said McKelvey is a frequent churchgoer, plays the "blame-it-on-the-media" game, which usually plays well with the public.
Johnson, who never minces words, said McKelvey is 100 percent correct with regard to the controversial statement.
Johnson said the Democratic Party has been "hijacked by the Whoopi Goldbergs, Michael Moores and Jerry Springers of this world. I think what the mayor said is true. I think Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Moore and the Hollywood crowd are amoral and despise George Bush because of his religious beliefs."
Apparently Johnson plays the old "blame-it-on-the-Hollywood-types" game, which usually plays well with the public.
"The left wing has taken over the party and their nominees -- John Kerry and John Edwards -- are two of the most left-wing senators in the country," Johnson said.
When asked if he felt Kerry and Edwards believe in God, Johnson said, "Draw your own conclusions. Look at their leading supporters, and who's championing them. McKelvey is calling it as he sees it, and I agree with him."
Brendon Cull, spokesman for the Democratic Coordinated Campaign in Ohio, said the accusation is despicable.
"During this campaign, we've seen Republicans attack John Kerry's honorable service in Vietnam, John Edwards standing up for American families, and now they're attacking their faith in God," he said. "Both John Kerry and John Edwards are extraordinary men of faith. This is stooping to a new low for the Republicans. But I can't say I'm surprised. Republicans are continuing to stoop to new lows."