When God Collides with Race and Class: Working-class America’s Shift to Conservatism

The Knights of Columbus are . . . defending the values of faith and family that bind us as a nation. I appreciate your working to protect the Pledge of Allegiance, to keep us “one nation under God.” I want to thank you—I want to thank you for the defense of the traditional family. [The Family] is a most fundamental institution for our society. I appreciate the fact you’re promoting the culture of life. We’re making progress here in America. Last November, I signed a law to end the brutal practice of partial-birth abortion. This law is constitutional; this law is compassionate; this law is urgently needed; and my administration will vigorously defend it in the courts. We’ll work together to strengthen incentives for adoption and parental notification laws. My 2005 budget [sic], I proposed to more than triple federal funds for abstinence programs in schools and community-based programs above 2001 levels. I’ll continue to work with Congress to pass a comprehensive and effective ban on human cloning. Human life is a creation of God, not a commodity to be exploited by man. I look forward to . . . defend[ing] the sacred bond of marriage. A few activist judges have taken it upon themselves to redefine the institution of marriage by court order. I support a constitutional amendment to protect the sanctity of marriage by ensuring it is always recognized as the union of a man and woman as husband and wife. George W. Bush August 3, 2004 122nd Knights of Columbus Convention Dallas, Texas