James Broadwater

Reverend James S. Broadwater was a Republican candidate for U.S. Congress from the state of Mississippi in its 2nd District.

Broadwater is staunchly conservative and an evangelical Christian. He is unabashed in promoting his personal belief that Christianity is the main source of American values.

Da Ali G Show

Broadwater is perhaps most famousfact|date=September 2007 for his appearance on the "Rekognize" episode of "Da Ali G Show". One of the show's characters, Borat, asked which religion he must choose to get to Heaven. Broadwater answered that according to the Bible, Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Borat, played by the Jewish entertainer Sacha Baron Cohen, asked if Jews will go to Heaven or Hell. Broadwater replied, "I would have to say that they would go to Hell."The interview with the fictional Kazakh journalist (filmed just before the March 2004 congressional primary, in which Broadwater was also a candidate), caused Broadwater to receive some hateful emails after the episode aired. [ [http://www.webgeordie.co.uk/borat/broadwater.htm Behind the Scenes: James Broadwater] ] He was told that the interview would be played in foreign countries to teach others about the American political system. Broadwater never expressed an opinion that he had not already openly discussed in his campaign, but his views were deemed to be far more intolerant to a national audience than they had been by his Mississippi electorate.

Broadwater later posted a letter on his website denouncing "Da Ali G Show," explaining that his statement referred to a theological belief that anyone who "accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will spend eternity in Heaven, while everyone who rejects Him will spend eternity in Hell." Broadwater also demanded that "the liberal, anti-God media needs to be brought under the strict control of the FCC, and that as soon as possible."

2004, 2007, & 2008 Elections

Rev. James Broadwater ran for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives in Mississippi's Second Congressional District against Clinton B. LeSueur and Stephanie Summers-O'Neal in the 2004 Republican Primary (held on Tuesday, March 9, 2004). Clinton B. LeSueur won the Republican primary, but he ultimately lost to incumbent Democrat Bennie G. Thompson.

In 2007, he ran against incumbent Republican State Representative Jim Ellington for the District 73 seat in the Mississippi State Legislature. Broadwater received 27 percent of the vote.

In 2008, James Broadwater ran again for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives, this time in Mississippi's Third Congressional District, in a field of seven candidates vying for the open seat left when Rep. Chip Pickering decided to retire. Broadwater again lost, mostly due to the lack of money for the campaign.

References

External links

* [http://www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/Candidates/2004candidates.asp Mississippi Secretary of State - 2004 Qualified Candidate List]
* [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004//pages/results/states/MS/H/02/index.html CNN 2004 Election Results]