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To: Enosh
"... the Constitution clearly says there will be no Religion litmus test!"

Care to point that one out for us?

***

The no religious test clause of the United States Constitution is found in Article VI, section 3, and states that:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States

411 posted on 12/01/2009 6:35:33 PM PST by restornu
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To: restornu

THank you for quoting the COTUS...

Now we wont see any complaints from you about Barry’s religious beliefs or connections will we ???


415 posted on 12/01/2009 6:37:59 PM PST by Tennessee Nana
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To: restornu; Enosh
The no religious test clause of the United States Constitution is found in Article VI, section 3, and states that: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States

Just as you misconstrue so much, Resty, you've also misconstrued candidacy eligibility (all the constitution says is that an eligible candidate cannot be kept from running on religious test grounds). I mean, even Lds apostle Dallin Oaks conceded reality on this when he said:

"...but it of course leaves citizens free to cast their votes on the basis of any preference they choose."

(You don't think your "apostle" was wrong on that point, do you, Resty?)

Point 1- RELIGION: Religion IS NOT a qualification or disqualification for public office; but it's certainly one quality of voter discernment among many others...namely, voting record, present position statements & rampant inconsistency of past position statements, social issues' stances, character, viability, scandal-free past, etc. Article VI, section 3 of the Constitution is aimed at the candidate (must be of a certain age and must have resided in our country for a certain number of years) and the government so that religion does not become a disqualification to keep somebody otherwise eligible for running for public office. Article VI, section 3, is not aimed at the voter. Otherwise, voters would have to 100% disregard character, beliefs, other-dimensionly commitments, and spiritual discernment in weighing candidates.

POINT 2 - ELIGIBILITY: Newsflash!! Every person on the ballot, & even most write-in candidates, have proper "qualifications" to not be excluded from office consideration (based upon religious grounds). Of course, millions of us have the "qualifications" to be considered a potential POTUS & shouldn't be excluded outright from a ballot because of the religion we hold! Nobody has a "Religious Ineligibility" tattoo on their forehead!

POINT 3- BOTTOM LINE: Resty, you confuse "qualifications" (language within the Constitution) with "qualities." (language that’s NOT in the Constitution). I focus on what voters base their votes on in the "real world": Qualities

Otherwise, Article VI says absolutely nothing...nada...zero...about how voters must weigh--or not weigh--the "qualities" of a candidate...So, nowhere does Article VI say that voters MUST 100% disregard character, beliefs, other-dimensionly commitments, and spiritual discernment in weighing candidates!

"Qualifications" have to do with what gets a man on a ballot. "Qualities" has to do with who gets elected.

432 posted on 12/01/2009 7:27:12 PM PST by Colofornian (If you're not going to drink the coffee, at least wake up and smell it!)
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