Replies

Hey CC:

Wolfstar said:Bigotry against any political candidate based on his religion has no place in our Constitutional Republic. The former colonies were founded largely by people escaping religious repression and persecution in Europe. Their descendants, our nation’s founders, ensured that our Constitution guarantees both freedom from state sponsored religion AND that there shall be NO religious test for candidates to federal elective office.
Much of the opposition to Romney among self-described Christian conservatives is due to bigotry about Romney’s religion. Oh, it’s hidden behind excuses disguised as policy differences, but the naked, irrational hatred for him reveals the truth. And the MSM, loving divisions on the right as it does, plays up Romney’s religion just to get under the right wing’s collective skin.

I did not read this as "Letter of the law" statement as others have analyzed, but a general statement that the Founding Fathers probably disapproved of religious bigotry, which I agree with. Of course voters can use any reason they want to decide on a candidate; fat, tall, stupid, Mormon, bible thumper, talks funny, whatever.

As far as "weird" religions go, it depends on the candidate. I think YEC evangelicals are nutcakes, but if they have good conservative credentials and it's not in their platform to force all students to believe the earth is 6000 years old, so what? Same with Muslims, Jews, Hindus, et al. Mormons believe weird stuff, Christians believe weird stuff. Just keep it out of policy.

If you can: Cut spending. Cut taxes. Reform Medicare & Social Security. Get us out of 3 wars. Restore the 2nd Amendment.
I don't care what creed you are. I don't need a Chief Religious Leader.

Jews think Christians are deluded and the entire Christian faith is false. Does that mean you wouldn't vote for a Jew?

If you can: Cut spending. Cut taxes. Reform Medicare & Social Security. Get us out of 3 wars. Restore the 2nd Amendment. I don't care what creed you are. I don't need a Chief Religious Leader.

Exactly, Magritte. Bringing religion into any political debate is a recipe for potential disaster, in my opinion. There are plenty of policy-oriented issues that we can evaluate Romney (or any candidate) on without resorting to pointing fingers at his religion.

Much of the opposition to Romney among self-described Christian conservatives is due to bigotry about Romney’s religion. Oh, it’s hidden behind excuses disguised as policy differences, but the naked, irrational hatred for him reveals the truth.

You must be at the head of your mind-reading class.

I did not read this as "Letter of the law" statement as others have analyzed, but a general statement that the Founding Fathers probably disapproved of religious bigotry, which I agree with. Of course voters can use any reason they want to decide on a candidate; fat, tall, stupid, Mormon, bible thumper, talks funny, whatever.

What was the purpose of the Constitution? To define the powers and roles of the federal government. It was not directed to the individual. A person can't be ruled unconstitutional for voting for using a religious test.

Same with Muslims, Jews, Hindus, et al. Mormons believe weird stuff, Christians believe weird stuff. Just keep it out of policy.

A lot easier said than done when someone has deeply-held views. A person's religious views can give you a lot of information about how a person thinks.

If you can: Cut spending. Cut taxes. Reform Medicare & Social Security. Get us out of 3 wars. Restore the 2nd Amendment. I don't care what creed you are. I don't need a Chief Religious Leader.

I'd be careful with that kind of thinking. Italy got stuck with Mussolini because he could make the trains run on time. I don't have to tell you what was going on in Germany at the same time because someone seemed to be able to solve political problems despite his odd creed which he had already spelled out to anyone who had read Mein Kampf. (BTW I'm not implying that Mitt Romney is of that ilk.)

Jews think Christians are deluded and the entire Christian faith is false. Does that mean you wouldn't vote for a Jew?

While I believe that Jews are mistaken, I would vote for a conservative Jew. (Personally, I couldn't name one.) I'm opposed to Mitt Romney because of his policies, not his Mormonism. I used to live in Idaho. I have voted for Mormons in the past.

Still with the anti-Christian meme I see. Get you knickers all knotted up over the Christian BIGOTS but no comment on the following:

Mormons “exercised” their mormon bigotry in the 2008 primary to the tune of 90+% for Romney. Real conservative ain’t they? Sure looks like Romeny passed a “religious test” for the mormons.

The lds church lobbied state representatives to pass a form of amnesty for Utah. Reals conservative ain’t they?