[Slugman]

Kind of an X-post from the 'ignorant americans' thread...(

Unsubstantiated beliefs or unproven theories should not set national agendas whether as a means for dictating policies or inspiring public support of them.

) but I thought it should have it's own:

For Bush and Kerry, religion a powerful but tricky factor

By Alex Johnson
Reporter
MSNBC
Updated: 1:50 p.m. ET Sept. 14, 2004Although

He’s regularly asked to do so, God does not take sides in American politics. - Democratic former Sen. George Mitchell

Tell it to the Republicans, senator. They’re banking on Him.

President Bush, a United Methodist, built his meteoric national rise on his appeal to conservative white evangelical Christians.

Although Bush previously had made it clear that he was “born again,” he was reluctant to discuss the details of his faith before he ran for president. That changed in 2000, as the Bush campaign highlighted the candidate’s religious principles as the core of his proclaimed “compassionate conservative” agenda.

It paid off in 2000. Exit polls showed that Bush won 55 percent of the Protestant vote, which made up more than half of the electorate; among white Protestants, Bush beat Al Gore by almost 2 to 1. The support was crucial — Gore won among every other measurable religious group, from black Protestants to Catholics to Jews to non-believers.

For the president, paying close attention to his religious base doesn’t just make sense — it is imperative. Opinion polling shows that Americans’ votes most closely track their religious attendance. Voters who say they go to church every week vote Republican, by overwhelming margins. Those who go to church less frequently vote Democratic, by nearly similar proportions. Beginning with exit polls conducted during the 2000 election, the synchronicity has held across nearly all denominations and even faiths, appearing among Jews and Muslims, as well as Christians.

...(rest is at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5819171/)
******************************************************

So, does GW's policies really reflect Christian values? Growing up Catholic I remember this guy Jesus who was always trying to help others, and in todays culture he would be labeled a Liberal. So why is it that so many conservative GOP types use his name???

 

[Tenchiro]

It's like Clinton said on the Daily Show, "When you're a democrat, you win when people think.". I guess the opposite is true for Republicans.

ink:

 

[Skookum]

Is there any president that hasn't claimed Christianity as a religion in the history of the United States? It's funny we don't realize we live in our own little Taliban, a little easier to see when you look at old pictures and see how our culture has changed over the years. Born agains think this is all fine and dandy now, but just wait til a Mormon takes office....

 

[Westy]

There will be a black, asian, hispanic and women pres before there will ever be a non christian. Doesn't make sense seeing as though there is supposed to be that whole separation of church and state.

 

[BurlyShirley]

It makes sense to me westy. A leader of the majority of the people should share the most basic view IMO.

 

[Westy]

It makes sense to me westy. A leader of the majority of the people should share the most basic view IMO.

Do you think that a Christian pres can actually represents the christian majority better than say a Jew? Both have strong family values with a very similar moral base etc etc. Both still have to compromise their faith to do the job and have to answer to the same public. A christian voting for a christian just because he has the same faith is just like someone voting for them because the like the same football team or come from the same state. A non Christian can pander to the majority on issues like abortion and gay marriage as well as anyon else.

I am voting for Ham Sandwich because he likes mustard as much as I do.

 

[BurlyShirley]

I am voting for Ham Sandwich because he likes mustard as much as I do.

I think most people serious about their faith think that the faith of their leader is a TOP priority. If i took religion as seriously as politics, than that means Id view it the same way. We can "If" and "what if" all day long, but you aint gunna change peoples priorities westy. And im not arguing that an atheist would be a worse leader in a practical sense, but in reality, I can see why people want a religious man in charge. Its called empathy.

 

[Westy]

I think most people serious about their faith think that the faith of their leader is a TOP priority. If i took religion as seriously as politics, than that means Id view it the same way. We can "If" and "what if" all day long, but you aint gunna change peoples priorities westy. And im not arguing that an atheist would be a worse leader in a practical sense, but in reality, I can see why people want a religious man in charge. Its called empathy.

I'm certainly not trying to change the way people think about religion and the way they vote. It does not matter anyway, the majority of voters could care less about the issues and just vote the way they like to label themselves: Republican, Democrat or whoever will legalize pot.

 

[Lexx D]

or whoever will legalize pot.

Wait who's doing that? Nader?

 

[narlus]

I think most people serious about their faith think that the faith of their leader is a TOP priority. If i took religion as seriously as politics, than that means Id view it the same way. We can "If" and "what if" all day long, but you aint gunna change peoples priorities westy. And im not arguing that an atheist would be a worse leader in a practical sense, but in reality, I can see why people want a religious man in charge. Its called empathy.

it is funny though that in europe stuff like religion and abortion are not nearly as hot political litmus tests as they are in the US (and certainly france, spain, poland, italy, england, etc are fairly religious). i'm not sure why that is.

 

[Westy]

it is funny though that in europe stuff like religion and abortion are not nearly as hot political litmus tests as they are in the US (and certainly france, spain, poland, italy, england, etc are fairly religious). i'm not sure why that is.

From my limited experience there seems to be two types of devout religious types. Those who are happy to practice their faith as long as outside forces don't fvck with them, and those who have the need to force their beleifs on to others. The US seems to have more of the second type than other places. Maybe because the Europeans just try to kill nonbelievers while Americans try to save their souls, or at least brag to the hot chick in church you saved some souls.

As a side note I sicked my dogs on a couple of Mormons this weekend. This is the second time they have come around, the first time I was polite. Of course my dog is friendly, but he humped their legs like it was his job.

 

[narlus]

As a side note I sicked my dogs on a couple of Mormons this weekend. This is the second time they have come around, the first time I was polite. Of course my dog is friendly, but he humped their legs like it was his job.

LMAO!

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

it is funny though that in europe stuff like religion and abortion are not nearly as hot political litmus tests as they are in the US (and certainly france, spain, poland, italy, england, etc are fairly religious). i'm not sure why that is.

probably because from those countries you mention, 4 are latin countries whose religious preference have been basically catholic, thus more likely to give ground and make agreements around issues reatives to religion.

and protestant countries on the other side, have more drastic rights and lefts and usually is harder to make a compromise in them, between the hardcore protestant right, and the usually hard opposittion, in which both try to push their agenda, rather than make compromises in agreeements.

 

[narlus]

maybe so, but sweden is a highly protestant country and i'd say that it is a pretty laid back place.

btw, jack's got an "r" in his surname

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

maybe so, but sweden is a highly protestant country and i'd say that it is a pretty laid back place.

btw, jack's got an "r" in his surname

yeah, scandinavia is a place of a lot of interesting things. being lutheran and so laid back.... hmmmm...

and lol, i dont know how i missed that R for so long.

 

[Skookum]

As a side note I sicked my dogs on a couple of Mormons this weekend. This is the second time they have come around, the first time I was polite. Of course my dog is friendly, but he humped their legs like it was his job.

Barney craves Mormon flesh!