New York, August 11 – On this Sunday’s “State of Belief,” The Interfaith Alliance Foundation’s show on Air America Radio, Rev. Welton Gaddy examines the role that religion played in Senator Joe Lieberman’s defeat by Ned Lamont in Tuesday’s Connecticut Democratic primary. Welton also speaks with David Kuo, BeliefNet.com columnist and former deputy director of President Bush’s unconstitutional White House Office of Community and Faith-Based Initiatives.

Former Connecticut House Majority Leader David Pudlin, a prominent Lamont supporter, joins Welton in discussing the Lamont victory, and more specifically, how religion played a role in the Lamont campaign.

With the recent appointment of a new director of the president’s faith-based initiative — which has illegally established government-funded religion — Welton welcomes the input of former deputy director of the office, David Kuo, who in 2003 resigned in protest.

“The White House named a new director to the office, and sent out a press release at 7 p.m. one Thursday evening, and demoted the person’s position in the office, and I think that speaks volumes on what they intend to do with the initiative going forward,” Kuo says.

Kuo also expresses his frustration with the partisan lines that have been drawn around religion. “I’m deeply disappointed that Democrats haven’t been more explicitly embracing of people of faith, and I’m very disappointed that Republicans have been continually dismissive of programs to care for the poor.  Nothing changes, it seems.”

Also, Welton launches State of Belief‘s new segment, One Nation, Many Faiths, Vote 2006 — an in-depth look at the role religion is playing in various campaigns across the country.

Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, Interfaith Alliance brings together members from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition to protect faith and freedom. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.