Jesse insults religion, approval ratings suffer

Glenn Nycklemoe, bishop of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, reacting to Gov. Jesse Ventura's statement to Playboy that organized religion is "a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers":

‘I invite you to come to southeastern Minnesota and visit the people in the 185 congregations in our synod. I believe you would gain insight and a new appreciation of how important the church is in our society.’

1,118,783 Number of Lutherans in Minnesota

24% Percent of Minnesotans who are Lutheran

73% Jesse Ventura's Minnesota approval rating in July 1999

54% Ventura's Minnesota approval rating after saying in a Playboy interview that organized religion is "a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers"

68% Percent of Minnesotans who think Jesse Ventura might use better judgment about when to keep his opinions to himself





1,118,783 Number of Lutherans in Minnesota

24% Percent of Minnesotans who are Lutheran

73% Jesse Ventura's Minnesota approval rating in July 1999

54% Ventura's Minnesota approval rating after saying in a Playboy interview that organized religion is "a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers"

68% Percent of Minnesotans who think Jesse Ventura might use better judgment about when to keep his opinions to himself