On Sunday, October 10, Kerry joined the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton at a Bush-bashing Democratic political rally not even thinly disguised as a religious service at the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Miami.
According to the Palm Beach Post, Sharpton shouted from the pulpit: "Mr. Bush, we couldn't get the recount right in 2000, but payback. We watched you give a tax cut to the rich at the expense of the middle class, but payback. . . . Get ready Mr. Bush. . . . Early November 2, we're going to get up, and we're going to go to the polls for the big payback." Former Rep. Carrie Meek (D.-Fla.) said of Kerry: "He's fighting demons and liars." Observed the Post: "Pastors generally walk a fine line regarding politics in their churches for fear of losing their tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service. But . . . the Rev. Gaston Smith appeared unconcerned with that restriction, opening the morning service by introducing Kerry as "'the next President of the United States.'"
