Mexico's Calderon marked by struggle for religious freedom

[Rose Siding]

snip>
Calderon's father was among the many who took up arms in defense of the church, and it was that sense of persecution that led him in 1939 to join with other conservative Catholics to found the National Action Party, or PAN in its Spanish initials, the party whose banner Calderon appears to have carried to victory....

Calderon doesn't openly discuss his faith, and in an interview in March he said he wouldn't pursue a religious agenda. He described as "adequate" Mexico's existing abortion laws, which permit terminating a pregnancy in the case of rape, incest or risk to woman or fetus and said he opposed any liberalization. He also opposes the "morning after" contraceptive pill.

His deeply religious background makes him unique among Mexican presidents. He was clearly marked by the struggle of his father and the PAN for religious expression.
....
Calderon's father didn't live to see his son's success; he died in 1989.

And perhaps he wouldn't have been all that pleased. He withdrew from PAN activities in 1980, upset about the growing role of big business in the party and its decision to accept public financing for its campaigns......

"The rich every day get richer and the poor every day poorer," Calderon Vega said then.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/15094228.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. Isn't this appalling? Not willing to leave anything to chance, spinners

are putting on a full court press, building up that Calderon profile EVERY DAY before the election verdict comes in, in case of potential riot. They just want everyone to love him too much to make a scene.

You remember the first day afterward, he promised Andres Manuel Lopez Abrador could have a job in his cabinet. Immediately after, he started thinking of concessions he could make to the poor folk.

Just Friday he announced he planned to fix it so everyone had access to RUNNING GODDAMNED WATER! Hot damn! He also announced he plans to start work on seeing if he can't make home ownership more affordable, and work on the infrastructure.

Prior to that, he had another list of goodies he rattled off.

So NOW the powers that be want us to see him as a man of enormous religious conviction and courage, whose dear papá was one, as well. Hell, he's just too good for this world. The least people can do for this hero is to let him steal the election, don't you think?