DAVIS

Why do you want to be governor?

I believe I have the ability and desire to bring our state together and help us fulfill our enormous promise.

What is your personal religious faith?

I was raised, James, as an Episcopalian, but I currently attend with my family a Presbyterian church.

What is the name of the church? Are you actively involved in that local church?

I actively attend. I do not currently have a leadership position or a formal responsibility. When I'm not immersed in a campaign I'm there virtually every Sunday for the worship service. It's First Presbyterian Church of Tampa.

Some day all of us have to give an account before God. When you die, when I die, do you know for sure that when you stand before God that you're going to be with Him for eternity in Heaven?

I sure hope so. I try every day to earn that. But you know I think we're all judged by the sum of our lives. I'm far from perfect. I've made a lot of mistakes. I've tried to learn from them. But I always try to put the Lord first and put people first. But I've got to do it every day.

If God were to ask you after you die, "Why should I let you into My Heaven," what would you say?

The same thing I just said.

How does your faith impact the way you would govern, or the way you have governed?

As you know, James, I'm a Member of Congress, obviously a candidate for governor; in either case I think power should be used for a greater good, a greater glory. I've always tried to use and always will try to use the power entrusted me to do what I think is right and to serve people I represent.

What role do you think people of faith should play in politics and government?

I think it's important. People of faith care about the community, they care about the future. They're focused on the values and principles on which our country was founded, makes our country great. And I think it's very important they're active in politics and government.

Do you support civil rights protections on the basis of sexual preference or orientation?

I think if somebody is gay or lesbian they should not be discriminated on that basis.

Would you care to elaborate on that?

No.

Do you support repeal of the Florida ban on adoptions by homosexuals?

I do, Jim. I know these things are controversial, but I want you to know where I stand out of respect for your readers. We are one of just a handful of states that do not allow a judge to decide if a couple is fit to adopt a child and I think we ought to let the judge make that decision.

So then you would favor continuing the current practice of the foster care system in Florida which permits [homosexuals to serve as foster parents]?

Based on what I know, I think it has worked. Actually, we have a huge backlog of kids in foster care. We need other ways to find a loving home for foster children.

Do you support or oppose the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment?

I do not think we need to amend the constitution. I do, however, believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I think marriage is a religious sacrament and I don't think the government should ever dictate the terms of any religious sacrament, including marriage. But I do not think that should be put in the constitution. I believe the law in Florida is that marriage is between a man and a woman. I believe that is the federal law and I support that law. And I would support that law as Florida's governor.

Setting aside the public policy BodyCopyrelated to abortion for a moment, I want to ask first, is abortion a moral evil?

I think any abortion is a terrible tragedy for everyone involved. And I think we should work together to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.

Some states, most prominently South Dakota, have started to press for limitations on abortion at the state level. Do you support or oppose such efforts if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned by the Supreme Court?

I oppose what was proposed in South Dakota. I oppose it.

What limits on abortion at the state level would you support?

I support Florida law as it stands now. The one thing I would do differently, going back to my earlier point, is when Lawton Chiles served as governor he worked with people who had a range of opinions on the abortion issue to develop programs to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. And I would do that, too. And I think those programs have had success in reducing the number of unintended pregnancies, particularly among teenagers.

What is your view of Governor Bush's efforts on behalf of Terri Schiavo?

I disagreed with Governor Bush's position to intervene. I support the Florida law and we enforce the Florida law and I think when there are BodyCopyabout how the law applies to particular circumstances that decision should be made by the courts and not by the governor or legislature.

There's nothing then wrong with Florida's statutes when a severely brain-damaged woman who's not dying ñ which was Terri's Schiavo's case-can be starved and dehydrated by her husband with the assistance of the court system?

The reason I'm answering the way I am is because I would not describe the situation the way you described it. And I respect that point of view. This issue came up in Congress and it was debated and I was very actively involved in that debate. And I tried very hard to treat people on both sides of this issue with respect. But I believe the Florida law is appropriate and reserving some personal freedom for somebody to refuse to be artificially or forcibly administered food and water against their wishes. And I believe the Florida law is a very limited law, as it should be. And I have opposed measures in Congress that would allow for what would be referred to as assisted suicide. I think Florida has a good law.

Just to be clear then, food and water, in your view should or should not be defined as extraordinary care?

I'm not familiar with the way the courts have used that term so I think I would just say it sounds to me like that would be the way to undo the statute. So I think I would just say the law has been used for many, many years in an appropriate fashion and I think that ought to continue. ... I'll just say I think the law is a good law.

What is your position on federal and state funding of embryonic stem cell research?

Let me start by saying I voted to override the president's veto because I thought the bill in Congress had an appropriate balance against protecting against commercialization of embryos or somehow encouraging the development of embryos for stem cell research. The bill in Congress that I supported and the president vetoed said that if embryos were developed for in vitro fertilization and would otherwise be discarded than it was appropriate to use them for stem cell research. I thought that balance was very important and appropriate. I would like to further add, James, that there were people on both sides of the abortion issue, Democrats and conservatives, who supported that bill because they believed as I did that it struck an appropriate balance. So I think it's important to have a standard like that and having said that, following that standard I would support state funding for embryonic stem cell research but only in accordance with those very specific standards and if those standards weren't present I would not support the funding.

What is the moral status of an embryo?

My personal belief is-nobody's ever asked me that question before. An embryo-we're talking about something outside the womb. You're asking about an embryo outside the womb of a woman-right? ...

Whether or not it's used for stem cell research, what is the moral status of the embryo itself?

Let me try to answer your question this way, because I want to try to be as respectful and specific as I can. When an embryo intended for in vitro fertilization is about to be discarded I think it is appropriate that that could be used for stem cell research in that particular circumstance.

On the issue of gambling in Florida, do you think there's too much, too little or just enough?

I voted against the Amendment, James. This is not an industry that I'd like to see expanded in Florida.

Just to be clear, you're referring to Amendment 4 in the last election [which permitted the possibility of slot machines in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, subsequently which Broward has approved and Miami-Dade has rejected]?

Yes. Let me add two further points. One is that as governor of Florida I take an oath to uphold the constitution of Florida. And the voters have amended the constitution to include this, so I have an obligation to uphold the will of the voters. And so I have to as governor work with the legislature to administer that law and including its implications which extend to other pari-mutuel facilities and to the Miccosukee and Seminole Indian tribes. One of the reasons I voted against it is that it has a broad implication. But this is not something I would want to take any further than that. My vision for the state is to promote and support the types of jobs that I think are more beneficial to our state. I want to give everyone the opportunity to fulfill their God-given potential.

If there was an effort in the legislature to repeal Amendment 4, put that back before voters, would you support that?

I think the voters have spoken on that.

Do I understand you then to be saying that you oppose further expansion of gambling?

Yeah, but I want to be very clear with you, too, that I think that [the adoption of] Amendment [4] has also resulted in the need to deal with the implications of gambling in Broward as to other pari-mutuel facilities and to the two tribes. ... Having amended the constitution triggers a federal law that applies to the Seminole and Miccosukee Indians and I have to deal with that. And I don't know the details of that yet. There's a lot of details in there, but there's a federal law that applies to this situation. Again, this is one of the reasons I voted against it.

What message would you have for Florida Baptists about why this election matters?

I think that our greater resource is our people. And I think we can do better in improving our schools to give each and every one of children to fulfill their God-given potential. I think that we're going to be tested as a state as to how we support and care for our most needy, our sick, our disabled and seniors. And I think many Florida families are facing a dramatic increase in the cost of living, especially rising property taxes and home insurance costs that are a threat to Florida's families. And I think we need a strong leader who's going to stand up for what they believe in and bring us together to tackle these challenges. And that's the kind of governor I intend to be if I'm blessed to serve.