Contact: Misty Allmond, Vision America Action, 936-560-3900, visionamerica1@yahoo.com

MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 17 /Christian Newswire/ -- Responding to a story in the September 16 Washington Post ("Christian Right's tea party?"), Pastor Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America Action, said the Post has it all wrong. "Religious conservatives aren't trying to take over anything. We're simply offering moral support to a movement that's fighting for America's survival."

The story, by religion writer David Waters, claims Scarborough said he wants to "merge the tea party (movement) and the Christian right." Scarborough responded, "I never said that and that has never been my intention."

Scarborough added: "The establishment media is surprised to find Values Voters involved with the Tea Parties. Apparently, we're supposed to care about abortion and marriage, and nothing else."

"The media has set up a false dichotomy," Scarborough observed, "the Tea Parties and fiscal conservatives on the one hand, and Christian conservatives, driven by social issues, on the other."

"But as citizens, taxpayers, businessmen and workers, of course Values Voters care about taxes, the economy and the galloping growth of government," Scarborough explained.

"At the same time, the Tea Party leaders and activists I've encountered are overwhelmingly committed Christians, regardless of the issues they choose to emphasize."

When Scarborough led a training session at the first National Tea Party Convention in Nashville in February, the event was standing room only and the Vision America president received several standing ovations. "The message I brought to Nashville is the Tea Parties need a Biblical worldview," Scarborough declared.

"We're also telling Christians that, for the sake of our nation, we must be active in the Tea Parties."

Vision America Action is part of the Save America Coalition, which is the sponsor of a conservative leadership "Petition In Support of the Tea Parties and Against Defamation." To date, 75 national conservative leaders have signed the petition, which may be viewed at www.visionamericaaction.us/cmedia/teapartypetition.pdf.

To schedule an interview with Pastor Scarborough, contact Misty Allmond at 936-560-3900 or visionamerica1@yahoo.com.