Everything that makes up a presidential candidate should be fair game in politics (except their families). But, those calling for civility in society are often the very ones using forked tongues. Hate talk is with us for good, I suppose, however, where there’s a down side, there’s an up. And, the up part of dragging different faiths through the slop is: The attacks tend to unite diverse churches. Overall, God worshipers can relate to one another.
As we know, President Obama has taken on Catholic doctrine, thus the church itself, thus the more than 40 percent of all church-goers here in Maricopa County who are Catholic. (Source: Jones, Dale E., 2002). I guess we can assume this is some kind of political strategy, but why would Obama rile-up the largest church in America? (68 million members as per Wikipedia).
Some say it’s about the female vote, but truth is, women are highly faith-based so now he’s put them in conflict with themselves. Of course, they desire affordable health care, but statistics show most American women also believe in God (94 percent; see Gallup Poll 6.6.11) and we know how women are: They will want the same for their children. Let’s see, physical health, spiritual health. Hum. The charismatic president has created war within a woman, herself. Let’s see how that works out.
Actually, it’s a distraction from what matters most at this time: Bringing home a paycheck. But, let’s look at religion in politics for a little longer here.
Recently, Cardinal Timothy Dolan visited Face the Nation. (See the New York Times 4.8.12). He said, “We didn’t ask for the fight, but we’re not going to back away from it,” referring to the contraceptive mandate issued by Obama’s administration. (Note: The president’s later compromise did not appease the church.) Then Bob Schieffer raised the question over religion in politics.
The cardinal insisted it has its place: “I think the public square is impoverished when people might be coerced to put a piece of duct tape over their mouth, keeping them from bringing their deepest-held convictions to the conversations.”
With Romney, pundits are predicting a nuclear explosion over his faith. We know John Kennedy weathered that storm as a Catholic, Obama over Reverend Wright, and now Romney gets his turn. With this precedent in the “land of the free,” we can assume the progressive party, which feigns extreme concern over the lack of civility, will lead the way in example: civility amid serious search for insight.
Of course, that discussion of a candidate’s religion being fair game came up in the Schieffer interview. The cardinal said, “There may be reasons not to vote for Mitt Romney … that he’s a Mormon cannot be one of them.” Then Dolan told of the recent reaction to that statement at the Anti-Defamation League conference. It received a standing ovation.
I remember a decade ago when critics were offended that President George Bush admitted he prayed in the White House. I wrote then that apparently his critics would prefer that he confine his information gathering to mere humans who may or may not have done their homework or who rely on faulty sources. Or, they would rather that he watch the polls, which are generally skewed, or defer to the highest bidder in the world community. Go figure.
Avenues to truth are most often a maze. Some people fall far short, choose evil, and bloody the earth. Some are fence-sitters developing saddle sores. And, some of us deeply, deeply believe in spiritual reflection and seek devotion to access our highest selves. Those who fear that process, a process that is available to all, deny themselves by omission.
But as earlier mentioned, religion as a qualification in this election season is another distraction from the most critical of all issues. To borrow from an old mantra: It’s the economy, stupid.
East Valley resident Linda Turley-Hansen (turleyhansen@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist and former Phoenix veteran TV anchor.
mnjcpa posted at 5:10 pm on Thu, Apr 19, 2012.
Cerulean- until something other than oil can lift a 747, then nothing else is financially feasible or important enough to advance. The ONLY reason we have the gas prices we do & foreign dependency is liberalism has blocked exploration, period.
Not sure your point fae4now. Love the city of Chicago, but Obama's a thug.
VofReason posted at 1:05 pm on Thu, Apr 19, 2012.
Everyone should learn something new each day. I have just learned that Chicago politics are not the corrupt, bullying, selfish sort that all other texts and channels have purported them to be. Also that Obama was really a minor player their, even though this was his start and evolved to a State Senator and then the Presidency. Perhaps the coup de grace, President Carter was really a visionary. Now I wonder if we really did land on the moon?
fae4now posted at 9:23 am on Thu, Apr 19, 2012.
So Turley-Hansen says it about the economy, not religion, yet she proceeds to write her entire article about religion, offering nothing on the economy.
For the record Linda, I don't believe that women are in conflict with themselves OR that this is the President's objective - and I am a Catholic and a 'God worshiper'.
But I, like the majority of Catholic women, can distinguish between my relationship with God and my relationship with the church.
And I can exercise sound personal economic policy and choose to have babies only when I am prepared to raise and support them properly.
Please stop trying to speak for all women. You really haven't a clue.....
fae4now posted at 9:09 am on Thu, Apr 19, 2012.
Jimmy Carter attempted to do the same 30+ years ago. He could foresee no lasting peace, never ending war and economic disaster ahead if we didn't reduce our oil dependence. And here we are....
They called him the worst in history and overturned ( Reagan) his efforts to use less oil, clean the air, water , control the population etc. Funny that the same ones who preach the free market mantra don't seem to understand supply and demand. More babies (hey, let's outlaw birth control!) and increased demands of developing countries (developing due to the jobs the 'free market' sent) will diminish oil supplies at an even faster rate while we continue to give billions to oil companies and criticize subsidies to alternative energy companies and label it " cronie politics"
Ten dollar a gallon gas is in your future and it has nothing to do with the President.
Time to rewrite history and call President Carter what he really was - a visionary!
Cerulean posted at 6:36 am on Thu, Apr 19, 2012.
President Obama has tried to persuade our “addicted to oil” (Bush) country to move toward alternative energy sources. People like chatman and mnjcpa can put their collective heads in the sand and pretend that oil is the cure to all our health problems - they are wrong! The U.S. currently gives tax breaks to oil companies that amount to $24 billion ( the oil industry have our balls). To regain our 'strength' we must reduce our dependence on oil! That is what President Obama has attempted to do.
FYI - Senate Republicans and four Democrats filibustered to protect $24 billion in tax breaks for Big Oil.
[sad][sad][sad][sad]
fae4now posted at 10:22 pm on Wed, Apr 18, 2012.
Ahem.... Those who don't know the meaning of 'Chicago politics' would do well to refrain from using the term.
Ditto for those who haven't a clue what Socialism is. Hint: not just a scary and inflammatory word.
For the record, our President was never much of a player in the Chicago political scene, but if it makes you feel better in your desire to demonize others..........
Guess I gave myself away - a chi- town native!
mnjcpa posted at 12:38 pm on Wed, Apr 18, 2012.
Shout it chatman!
I never understood what Chicago style thug politics were about until Obama fooled America. The left's approach to governing is identical to Hayek's "Road to Serfdom". This election has nothing to do with racial inequalities or religion - it's about Obama's abysmal record. And it's not enough to gain the presidency, Congress needs to be void of these spending maniacs. When you see how liberalism play out, it's always a shambles. November can't come soon enough to get this crew out of Washington. I predict a landslide greater than Fall 2010.
VofReason posted at 12:14 pm on Wed, Apr 18, 2012.
Chat, this is what is refferred to as Chicago style politics. The administration knows at plays it well.
Mike, I don't think that those against Obama were as worried that he maybe a Muslim as the fact that he was a Socialist. That is still what I am worried about. Don't care what religon he happens to be.
chatmandu002 posted at 11:22 am on Wed, Apr 18, 2012.
For me it's not so much about the economy, it's about the policies and misuse of power by this administration. The use of federal agencies to go after political opponents (sheriff Joe, Gibson guitar) or to favor certain political friends (labor unions and green energy companies). The general attitude and philosophy that government knows best and should take over our personal responsibilities. The continued misuse of our treasury and federal reserve. The policy of pitting one part of society against another. The constant 3 1/2 years of campaigning for re-election. The ability of this president to blame everyone but himself for our problems. And what can we expect if he is re-elected, well just ask the Russian president. Obama will become the Imperial President.
Mike McClellan posted at 10:31 am on Wed, Apr 18, 2012.
I agree with Ms. Turley-Hansen's final comment: "But as earlier mentioned, religion as a qualification in this election season is another distraction from the most critical of all issues. To borrow from an old mantra: It’s the economy, stupid."
I don't recall, however, that she made the same argument in 2008, when the canard that Obama was a Muslim was passed along by the folks she supports.
I believe that's called a double standard.
Accuracy posted at 10:12 am on Wed, Apr 18, 2012.
Rev. Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas, backed Texas Gov. Rick Perry before he dropped out of the GOP presidential race earlier this year, and criticized Mitt Romney's faith, telling reporters, "It's not politically correct to say but it's true, Mormonism is a cult."
Now, Jeffress, the Southern Baptist pastor, is endorsing Romney, saying voters must choose between, "a Christian like Barack Obama, who embraces non-biblical principles, and a Mormon like Mitt Romney who embraces biblical principles like the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage."