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Christian Conservatives Rally At Tampa Church

Quincy Walters
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WUSF News

On Sunday, Christian conservatives rallied at Church of God Pentecostal to talk about the coming election. 

Former NFL player Burgess Owens was among those telling about 50 attendees that Democrats like President Barack Obama don't reflect his values. 

"We've had a black president who's not once told our kids 'pull up your pants, get an education'," he said. 

Here's video of Obama telling people to pull up their pants, saying "Brothers should pull up their pants:"

And here's video of Obama's speech at a high school last week, where he told students at Washington D.C.'s Benjamin Banneker Academic High School to not only graduate high school, but to also go to college: 

Owens, who wrote the book "Liberalism or How to Turn Good Men into Whiners, Weenies and Wimps," said he thinks Donald Trump will be a better president for the black community than Obama has been. 

Credit Quincy Walters / WSUF News
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WSUF News
Former NFL player Burgess Owens autographing pictures

Owens joined Bishop E.W. Jackson on the Vote Your Values tour which provides candidate guides reflecting anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage stances. 

Credit Quincy Walters / WSUF News
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WSUF News
Bishop E.W. Jackson

Jackson is the founder of Staying True to America's National Destiny (S.T.A.N.D.). 

Events almost always end with the Virginia pastor leading a prayer. 

"And Lord God, we pray for our enemies, for those who hate us," he said. "For the LGBT community and the abortionists and those folk who hate us." 

While Jackson's guide doesn't endorse a presidential candidate, it does align with Trump's stances. 

Jackson said he's not convinced that Hillary Clinton is "a Bible-believing Christian." He said her stances on social issues is indicative of that. 

"The Bible condemns homosexuality and you say 'I don't think any of that is right,' then my question becomes 'Well, then, what is right?'" he said. "So then you just pick and choose? Which means now you're making up a smorgasbord of your own religion." 

Jackson said Trump is "a young Christian," but said, unlike Clinton, there's hope for him to be a better Christian. 

Quincy J. Walters is a junior at USF, majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing. His interest in journalism spurred from the desire to convey compelling narratives. He has written for USF’s student paper, The Oracle and is currently the videographer for Creative Pinellas. If he’s not listening to NPR, he’s probably listening to Randy Newman.
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