17 December 2007
Do we really want a Baptist Minister leading our country? Let’s keep religion out of the presidential campaign. What has happened to the “separation of church and state”. There seems to be a real blurring of what that really means. I’m looking for an honest, honorable man or woman to vote for, no matter what their faith or lack thereof. It also needs to be a person who does not have to resort to backstabbing to earn my vote. Does such a person exist in politics? I sure hope so!
The House of Representatives just passed a resolution “recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.” What does that tell the world? Our country now has a large population of non Christians. Our founding Fathers established a secular nation and no one has to publicly defend his or her beliefs. The IRS is looking at churches and other charities, which can lose their tax-free status if they engage in partisan political activity for a particular candidate. Christian activists are rallying around Huckabbe in Iowa and that will draw attention. Outside Iowa, complaints have been filed with the IRS accusing Huckabee’s religious backers of violating their tax-free status. Huckabee has been endorsed by more than 60 Iowa pastors. Let’s see if charities and churches become directly or indirectly involved in campaigns of political candidates.
Churches and religious leaders can engage in some political activity. What can they do? They can hold voter registration days as long as they are nonpartisan. They can advocate government policies. They can pass out voter guides on issues, if they fairly represent all candidates’ views. Only two candidates have strong religious ties that have come forth in the campaign. Can a candidate with a strong religious background lead the country without his religious convictions affecting issues like stem cell research, homosexuality, and a woman’s right to choose, issues that affect a large number of people with differing beliefs? We need to find a person to lead our country, who can rise above religion, have a secular viewpoint and unite people rather than divide.
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