Lead Stories
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At a September meeting of Christian Coalition leaders in Atlanta, founder Pat Robertson said the religious group should heighten its influence by modeling itself after the notorious political machines of Chicago and New York’s Tammany Hall and that God will personally select the Republican best suited to advance the coalition’s agenda in the next presidential campaign. At the beginning of his remarks Robertson had said he assumed he was talking only “in the family” and if any members of the press were present, “would you please shoot yourself?” The speech was recorded without his permission and leaked to the press.
Compelling Explanations
In July Ricky Wassenaar, 34, was convicted of assault and robbery in Tucson, Arizona, after being apprehended in a car chase and found to be carrying stolen money, guns, a ski mask and a bulletproof vest. Wassenaar, acting as his own attorney, said a man named Jim had slipped a pill into his drink at a bar, dressed him in the vest, and placed him in the car. As for the chase, Wassenaar said he was just trying to get out of the officers’ way.
Robert T. Spiers, director of the Lancaster High School marching band, was detained and handcuffed at a parade in Warsaw, Virginia, in October after he twice ignored Sheriff Gene Sydnor’s demand that the band march faster. Sydnor said he was concerned that the Lancaster band was so far behind that people might think the parade was over. Spiers was released after about 15 minutes, and the band eventually won first prize.
