CHICAGO, IL (November 5, 2004) – A concern over values on the part of voters in Tuesday’s presidential balloting surprised pollsters and pundits alike as they evaluated results from the just-concluded general election.
One media analysis reported that 22 percent of voters ranked concern for values, however defined, as the number one priority as they entered voting booths. Just two weeks earlier, a TIME magazine poll found only 12 percent of likely voters citing values as an important election concern.
For Glenn Palmberg, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, it is the lack of discussion of certain core values during the presidential campaigns that concerns him deeply. He believes more attention must be paid to issues of poverty, hunger and justice, topics that were largely missing from the debates and campaign speeches.
Palmberg became a focus of media attention the day before Tuesday’s election as he was interviewed on a Fox News program telecast live from New York City. He was asked to participate by Jim Wallis, president of Call to Renewal, a faith-based movement to overcome poverty. Palmberg is a member of the 23-member Call to Renewal Board of Directors. (To read an earlier story on the interview, visit Fox News.)
Advised in advance of the desired topics to be covered in the interview, Palmberg said he carefully prepared detail-rich responses to anticipated questions of hunger and poverty. It was expected that up to 20 minutes of time would be devoted to various areas of concern. Because of breaking news stories that interrupted programming, the interview concluded after just under four minutes – and Palmberg never was given the opportunity to pursue the topics so near to his own heart.
With the assistance of Joel Pearson, Covenant Internet Services manager, and the media center at North Park University, a video interview with Palmberg was conducted by Don Meyer, executive minister of Communications for the Covenant. The interview includes remarks by Palmberg explaining how the Fox interview originated and the importance of a full-page newspaper advertising campaign he supported prior to the election; the news clip from the Fox News interview, and concluding remarks by Palmberg as he addresses the need for Christians to take seriously the challenges faced by those living in poverty.
The interview is available for viewing online. If you are using Internet Explorer on Windows, click here, and say “yes” when asked if you want to install the software. Otherwise, you will need to download and install the free program RealPlayer Basic, and then click here.
Copyright © 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.
