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This was the topic of a Talk Of The Nation show on NPR today that I only caught the last few minutes of. So, to continue it here, what do you see as the role of relgion in politics?
My personal take: I don't subscribe to a formal religion, but I know many do, and for them, they're most comfortable having someone of their own faith running the country, because it implies (true or not) that that person shares a common set of beliefs with them.
I think if a politician makes a point of their religion then they are fair game to be quizzed on it, and if there's hypocrisy it's proper to call "bullshit" on it. If they keep it private, though, then it shouldn't be our concern. Unfortunately I also think various groups are MAKING it an issue when it really shouldn't be one.
I hate to drag Bill Clinton into this, but I think he demonstrates the dividing line. I didn't vote to elect a Pope, I was trying to elect a President. I want a good PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR for this country. George W Bush might be the holiest guy on the planet (probably unlikely) but he's a crappy administrator. I don't care if the President calls an escort service at 2 a.m. as long as he keeps our country at peace, keeps the economy flowing and growing, and generally works to improve our lives. Some Presidents fool around (e.g.: JFK), some probably don't, but I really don't frickin' care, as long as they do the job they were elected to do, any more than I would want my employer being all so concerned with what I do at 2 a.m. as long as I get my job done.
Clinton was no Pope, but at least he was a President. Bush, unfortunately, is no President, although he thinks himself a Pope. When the hell did this become the litmus test for becoming President? Everyone's so afraid of offending the "religious right" but they're not a huge majority, but everyone's scared into thinking that they are. The good thing about them (from a candidates point of view) is that if you can convince them you're "the one" then they'll vote for you en masse, so you get a whole bunch of fervently religious people advocating for you and voting for you at once, but why should that be the determining factor in electing a President?
I have some friends who are devout Christians, but they hate Bush and are smart enough to distinguish between Pope and President. Why is this so hard for everyone else?
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