Is it fair game to discuss a candidate's religious beliefs?

by Mopeder Posted 2012/05/19 00:46:49

Related Topics: Religious, Candidate, Fair

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157 votes
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	Yes	102 votes	65%
	No	55 votes	35%

+12

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Pat 2012/05/19 00:48:57 (edited)

No

+10
Religion shouldn't enter into the presidential race. I think even the Constitution says that religion will not enter into elections. I'll have to check it but I think there is a phrase that is designed to keep it out of elections.
Found it:
"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."
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Joel 2012/05/19 03:17:02

Yes

+1
The GOP sure seemed to think so in 2008 and they are about to inject religion into the campaign again this year. Where have you heard President Obama impugn Romney's Mormon beliefs even once? Don't like religion mixed with politics? Tell it to the Tea Party and the good folks of Liberty University.

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J-DUB 2012/05/19 03:16:49

No

+2
But if the right wing does it then it's ok to do the same back to them.

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Jo 2012/05/19 03:07:49

No

+3
my personal belief is no, but I also dont think a presidents religious beliefs should come into play while they're in office.

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Mr Marvin 2012/05/19 03:00:00

Yes

+1
A life without faith is like an unsharpened pencil, there is no point to it.

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Mamaknows 2012/05/19 02:29:40

Yes

It shows what kind of person they are....like Kerry who claimed to be catholic.....yet endorsed elective abortion which is a COMPLETE contradiction. If they are faithful to their chosen faith or flip flop or say they are but do whatever feels right at the time.
It's a very valid point in looking at politians.

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Jo to Mamaknows 2012/05/19 03:09:33

+1
there are alot of people that are part of a religion that dont support all apsects of that religion---it has no bearing on the kind of person they are.

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Mamaknows to Jo 2012/05/19 05:10:44

Yes there are....but I think it has EVERYTHING to do with what kind of person they are.
I have always wondered why someone would say they belong to a faith if they....don't agree with the basic things they teach.....like someone that belongs to PETA....but turns around and buys a mink coat or Minolos( I have know SEVERAL people who do this) or a ubber enviornmental nut...but does not recycle and refuses to buy used clothes(I can count 16 people that are like that). Saying you are something...but you are not. That says A LOT about a person...you know?

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Jo to Mamaknows 2012/05/19 05:26:26

i didnt say anything about not agreeing with the BASIC things they teach---just not everything that they teach; I think having your own opinions about certain aspects of a religion as opposed to blindly following them simply because you agree with the general concept is an indication of intelligence---and the opposite holds true for the contrary.

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Mamaknows to Jo 2012/05/19 18:02:08

Then it makes no sense to claim to be something when you are not...I don't see that as intelligence more like hypocrisy or misrepresentation. A cafeteria catholic that claims to be catholic yet accept plural or same sex "marriages" is like a

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Jo to Mamaknows 2012/05/19 21:13:34

I completely disagree; everybody I've ever known, no matter what religion they were, were less stringent about some aspects of that religion than others. thats just the way it is.

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Willie to Mamaknows 2012/05/19 20:39:57

+1
90% of married Catholic couples use or have used birth control, which is forbidden by the Catholic church. Nearly all religious people pick and choose the aspects of their religion that they will adhere and those that they won't.

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Jo to Willie 2012/05/19 21:12:09

exactly!!

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Mamaknows to Willie 2012/05/20 02:16:34

That does not make my point any less true....

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Dana 2012/05/19 02:28:21

No

+3
People are supposed to have freedom of religion in the USA,. so that means, it is really no one else's business what someone else believes or does not.

UNLESS they intend to push their religious beliefs on everyone else....as POTUS, then yes. But lets gets real here.... Obama has never pushed his Christianity on anyone and Romney has not pushed his Mormonism on anyone. So, for the 2 of them.... I say just leave it alone.

If it was Santorum, or Bachman, or Palin or anyone else who did not respect others rights to believe as they want to... then we would have a problem. But thankfully none of them are in this race.

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*K'eim*h3reg' *Peh2u *Meg' 2012/05/19 02:23:42

Yes

Sure. If he believes what he says he believes, as he interprets it, that is how he is going to vote. If you are asking because of Romney, I would say his Mormonism is fair game, but that he sure doesn't represent most Mormons. He has been on every side of every issue, and appears to not be guided by his faith.

On the other hand, I would vote for a member of any religion or lack thereof if I thought he was the right man for the job. Martin Luther put it rather bluntly: “I would rather be governed by a competent Turk than an incompetent Christian.”

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'Zedd 2012/05/19 01:54:37
Chanch 2012/05/19 01:49:57

Yes

+1
There are few things that will give insight to a person's character than their religious beliefs. A person's religious beliefs, or lack there of, can be a strong influence on their decisions as a person or leader. It MUST be considered in politics. Not a viable choice not to. Especially in the case of Presidents. It will in most cases be a factor in abortion, marriage, finances, honesty, and hundreds of other situations. It is a major factor !

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☠ Live Free Or Die ☠ 2012/05/19 01:47:07

Yes

While people are individuals, their religious beliefs DO speak volumes about their morals and ethics, and when you are talking about politics, a politicians religious views are just one set of rules and ethics that they will refer to when they are writing a bill or voting on a bill or signing/vetoing a bill or writing an executive order or declaring war.

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SW 2012/05/19 01:40:00 (edited)

No

+1
...but what if tbeyre hale bop cultists? Or worse if their religion says the Rapture is coming so why worry about the environment or the future of America? Or tbat African Americans can only get into heaven as slaves or they need magic underwear?

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Mog of War 2012/05/19 01:39:32
Cyan9 2012/05/19 01:35:41

No

+2
It shouldn't matter.

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Gracie - Proud Conservative 2012/05/19 01:34:07

Yes

I think it's an integral part of the man that speaks to their character.

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Blackjack 2012/05/19 01:32:29

Yes

+1
Historically, it gets talk about if the presidential candidate isn't a Protestant.

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Nam Era Vet #1 DNA TLC 2012/05/19 01:29:38

Yes

+1
Kinda yes and no. If it's effecting their judgment in a bad way for the office they will hold, then yes. Otherwise NO

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Kai-Neko 2012/05/19 01:27:49

No

+2
I'm not big on politics, but if there is one thing I stand strong on, it's keeping religion THE HELL AWAY FROM POLITICS! Politics and religion do not mix.

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Elz 2012/05/19 01:25:32

No

+2
because no one isn't going to want to hear it.

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RogerCoppock 2012/05/19 01:22:28 (edited)

Yes

+1
If those religious beliefs might effect their behavior on the job, yes, it is fair to discuss a candidate's religious beliefs. It is unfair, however, to block all candidates of any one religion.

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Centrist_Bill 2012/05/19 01:22:24

No

+2
I am a firm believer is the separation between Church and State. If I was a Candidate and someone asked me about my relationship with God Ide flat out tell that thats between me and MY GOD.

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wildcat 2012/05/19 01:20:49

No

+2
enuff said

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apachehellfire65 2012/05/19 01:20:47

Yes

if people are discussing them then they are important to them. or at issue.

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Mopeder 2012/05/19 01:20:17

No

+1
Unless something the other candidate says that crosses the line. Turnabout is fair play.

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**StarzAbove** 2012/05/19 01:20:15

No

+1
I don't think it is. But that didn't stop the cons from trying to make something out of the president's religion or what church he belonged to. So if they can do it, then Romney's religion should be fair game.

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luvguins 2012/05/19 01:18:39

No

+4
No, but if Karl Rove wants to revisit Obama's church in Chicago and Jeremiah Wright, then we should publish the dirty little secrets of Mormonism.

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**Starz... to luvguins 2012/05/19 01:20:31

+3
Amen.

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Mopeder to luvguins 2012/05/19 01:23:06

+3
You never know, there may be some dirty little secrets about Mitty that we are unaware of as yet. Everything on him is going to be dug up.

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Giantfan to Mopeder 2012/05/19 19:39:23

He does walk funny doesn't he.....LOL

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Charge 2012/05/19 01:16:54

Yes

If the religion preaches hatred for America....

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Bibliophilic 2012/05/19 01:15:44

No

+2
Irrelevant at all times- unless he or she mentions it specifically.

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Mog of War to Bibliop... 2012/05/19 01:18:19

Maybe so, but so long as there is not open discourse, there is no democracy. It is up to the people if they want to hold discourse to higher standards. If the people do not want the candidate's personal life discussed then the people need to make outcry on the matter, and punish those who violate what they see as honorable protocol with their very votes.

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Bibliop... to Mog of War 2012/05/19 01:44:32

+2
Well, technically yes- it can be discussed. I just believe that it ought not to be. As a culture we should be above such things.

Sensationalism fuels the media, therefore the candidates personal lives will probably become even more relevant.

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