http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/breaking_news/15326885.htmIn Senate race, family values campaign tested by real life
Randall Terry doesn't run away from "family values issues" in his state Senate race.
Among the conservative Christian's pledges are preserving traditional marriage and opposing gay adoptions. He has touted efforts to stop abortions. His campaign mailers sum up the value he puts on family: they show a picture with his wife, a daughter and three grinning young sons taken before a fourth was born this summer.
But Terry's adopted son Jamiel says the picture is missing two people: he and his sister Tila, also adopted. Both have been estranged from Terry since Jamiel came out as a gay man and Tila had a child out of wedlock.
Jamiel Terry said the self-image that his father is crafting and the campaign message about strong families ignores part of his own family history. He said voters have a right to know about that.
"He is very big on image," Jamiel Terry said. "In a large way Tila and I mess up that image."
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Randall Terry said he's upfront about his whole family and has never tried to hide anything about his children, even those with whom he has deep disagreements. He said voters don't care anyway.
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Terry persuaded a woman not to have an abortion in 1987. When the child - Tila - was born, Terry took care of her and then adopted her older brother Jamiel. They grew up with Randall Terry, who was famous as a leading religious conservative voice.
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