LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY rechan)

Oy. Debate between Democrat and his five challengers in Colorado:

Bentley Rayburn spoke of opening Iraq to the word of Jesus. He and Duncan Bremer said they had been called by God to campaign for Congress.

An exchange on abortion between Democrat Jay Fawcett and Jeff Crank was illustrative of the event.

Fawcett explained his prochoice stance by saying: "I have no desire to dictate your faith to you, and I hope you have no desire to dictate mine for me."

Crank, who supports outlawing abortion, shot back that votes on abortion always are based on the faith of the member deciding them.

"We need to stop this phony baloney about not bringing faith into the public square," the former Chamber of Commerce vice president said. "We absolutely need to bring faith into the public square." [...]

Rayburn, a retired Air Force major general, framed several answers in terms of what "we as Christians" would do. As he has throughout the campaign, he described the war in Iraq as a battle against radical Islam and said establishing a democracy in Iraq would send a message.

"That will open up hope within these countries for the gospel of Jesus Christ to change hearts," he said.

Rayburn and Bremer, a former El Paso county commissioner, said they believe God had called them to run for office.

"I want to be God's man in Washington," Bremer told the crowd. "I want to represent the heart of this district . . . whether people who are saved and working side by side with you or whether people who are unsaved."