Posted on 04/22/2011 7:58:35 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
Call them "born again" undecideds: Republicans exploring bids for the presidency in 2012 have ramped up their religious fervor and sharpened answers to questions about faith in an effort to court social conservative voters in key early primary states.
"I believe in God. I am Christian. I think the Bible is certainly, it is 'the' book," real estate mogul Donald Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network last week after catapulting to second place in a poll of unofficial GOP presidential contenders.
But as voters begin to scrutinize the lives of a wide-open field of unofficial GOP presidential contenders, several personal histories might raise red flags in some religious circles.
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's transition from the Catholic Church to evangelical Protestantism in the 1990s after marrying his wife, Mary -- a move he explains in his book "Courage to Stand" as an effort to "merge my faith and my church life" -- could hurt his appeal among some Catholic primary voters, several Catholic political activists said.
"To the degree that Catholics know about Pawlenty's conversion, they won't like it," ABC News political contributor Cokie Roberts said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
At this point I care a lot more about their views on the economy than Jesus and I am one that usually votes for the more religious of the candidates.
I’d settle for honesty.
Another example of ABC promoting Vichy Republicans. “If don’t mention Sarah Palin, maybe she’ll fade away.”
- JP
IOW pushing for the Huckster...
If the focus is not on upholding and reestablishing the Constitution and the economy then our other freedoms including freedom of religion will be in jeopardy or gone. This in not a battle of religious ideals, it is a battle to maintain our freedoms. If a candidate is firm on the defense and reestablishment of the Constitution and the rescue of our economy then I don’t care if he/she has never stepped into a church.
Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:16
If they don’t know Jesus, they are likely comfortable telling a lie, in any case, they will likely disappoint you. I feel it is impossible to be a conservative who is not socially conservative. Look at the last few years of Barry Goldwaters life.
How would you feel with a Muslim President?
Right now at this point in history (imo) it is far more important a prospective candidates views on the economy and how to fix it than wether he is a Protestant or a Catholic or a Mormon.
I will say this, if a candidate declares him or herself a member or an adherent to a religion and then they do not follow that religions’ edicts in their lives, I would have a hard time voting for them in the primary no matter their views on the economy.
“I feel it is impossible to be a conservative who is not socially conservative.”
I feel that is is possible to both be a conservative without being a Christian and that it is possible to be socially conservative without knowing Jesus.
Aside from the fact that we already have one and that a devout muslim would not be likely to meet the Constitutional support criteria with any rigor; it is immaterial. I really don’t care if the candidate is agnostic or atheist either. Religious litmus tests only balkanize conservatives because nobody will ever meet all conservative religious points of view. I haven’t attended any church service other than weddings and funerals in over 40 years yet I spent a career defending and supporting the Constitutional freedom of every citizen to believe and worship as they please. And no, I am not an agnostic or an atheist. I am adenominational and I don’t care for any denomination telling me what or how I should believe in God or telling me that I will go to hell or not be saved if I don’t believe as they do. My beliefs are between me and my God. I don’t want any politician of any religious persuasion imposing any specific religious precepts on our way of life. This is what democrats attempt to do by trying to do away with general references to Christmas, the Ten Commandments or the “one nation, under God” phrase in the pledge. We who believe in the Constitution and who swore to support and defend it are at war with the National Socialist Democrat party of the U.S. and it is a war we had better actively get into if we want to defend and retain our Constitutional freedoms, our economy and our nation. If we revive and retain our Constitutional Republic then we will survive as a nation with religious freedom. That won’t happen if we let personal and sometimes petty denominational differences take us away from what is needed and important.
I never suggested a religious litmus test, but I would like to think that I am supporting someone who doesn’t think he can supplant God.
Church denominations exist because people disagree on usually small things, I am okay with that, I don't care much for the arguments either. But there is a huge difference between a Christian and a Muslim. Agnostics and Atheists may make great businessmen, I don't think they make great or even good leaders.
You have not served by yourself.
Nope, not in this life, not in mans nature, not once he has power over others.
That is the whole point, I wouldn't support them either.
“...2007 ABC News-Washington Post poll that they’d be less likely to support a presidential candidate who’s a Mormon.
But experts say that sentiment could be changing, similar to a shift in public opinion toward Catholicism and politics that has evolved since more than 50 years ago.”
I think we know the REAL reason “that sentiment” about Mormons “could be” changing - because it’s far more tolerable than the other M “religion”, which is being crammed down our throats and overtaking our country from the White House on down.
Just sayin’.
“I feel that is is possible to both be a conservative without being a Christian”
Right you are. Tammy Bruce is politically conservative yet an atheist. S.E. Cupp is both politically and socially conservative yet an atheist. Cupp stands up for Christianity, at least to protect our right to practice it, in her last book. You’d never know she was atheist if she didn’t say so (which she rarely does).
I had a very nice best friend for many years who was an agnostic (but was fine with his daughters going to church with their mom) and have had many Jewish friends. I want people who treat others with respect and kindness, follow conservatism and will do everything possible to defend against those who would KILL us for not believing as they do.
Of course I prefer a Christian President, but the Muslim thing is a real deal-breaker for ANY political office in my book.
“If the focus is not on upholding and reestablishing the Constitution and the economy then our other freedoms including freedom of religion will be in jeopardy or gone. This in not a battle of religious ideals, it is a battle to maintain our freedoms.”
Well said - I agree, and feel strongly that if we don’t get this, we’ll guarantee four more years of b. hussein obama.
And this republic just can’t survive that.
“a devout muslim would not be likely to meet the Constitutional support criteria with any rigor”
That’s an understatement.
A DEVOUT Muslim could never honestly swear allegiance to the Constitution or our Republic and its values. True Islam requires utter submission (on threat of violence or death), hates and forbids individual freedom. Muhammad also advocates the use of taqiyya - lying whenever, to whomever, necessary - to further the spread of Islam - where there is no separation of Church and State. The “Church” IS the State and demands enforcement of Sharia law, not our laws and freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. Muhammad also commands ALL good Muslims to kill every Infidel (Jews and Christians head up the list) until Islam reigns supreme over the world.
All the “moderate” Muslims we keep hearing about simply choose to cherry-pick the agreeable, more benign parts of the Koran to fit with their westernized, comfortable lives. And almost ALL of them are too fearful to protest or speak out against the violent (devout), radical hate that strikes our world with growing frequency. So, despite what the ignorant, politically correct media say, we shouldn’t hold our breath waiting for the “moderates” to come forward in any meaningful way. There have been pretty scary surveys that showed - of the Muslims who aren’t, or would never be, suicide bombers - 25% secretly approve of same nevertheless.
Great patriots who are also experts in radical Islam, like Brigitte Gabriel, have often warned (at great personal risk) that we should NEVER allow Muslims to hold any elective office, for the above reasons.
I don’t mind some of the old-time democrats such as Pat Caddell. He’s a good guy and actually conservative compared to these far-left, radical, marxist progressives, of whom he’s highly critical, by the way - particularly of BHO.
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