US 2008 Presidential Campaign Thread - Part 2

[martha]

Originally posted by phillyfan26


And then we get nitwits like Laura Ingraham saying that anyone who would disagree with him is trying to destory religion altogether.

Poor persecuted thing.

[deep]

Jews - need not apply.

McCain "I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles.... personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith."

[deep]

Originally posted by martha


Don't judge men of 200 years ago by modern standards. It can't and shouldn't be done. They were men of their time. No amount of revisionist history can make them modern men.

are you serious?

[diamond]

Originally posted by martha


That's not what he said though, is it.

So.
We know his intent.

Only a dishonest person would claim that John Mccain is an antiSemite.

And as far as Mr deep trying to dance around the word "judaeo" last time I checked the 10 commandments were from derived from Judaeo principles which many of our laws are founded on.

That said our country is founded on Judaeo-Christian principles, John McCain is not an antiSemite but you my brother are noting more than a gutter sniper in attempting to paint him as such.

dbs

[phillyfan26]

It's not that he dislikes Jews, he just made a statement that is insensitive to the diversity of religion in this country.

[Irvine511]

McCain isn't an anti-Semite.

but he did say that they aren't the most qualified to lead our country.

i'm not prejudiced. but those puerto ricans just can't be trusted to clean my house (they steal).

[deep]

The McCain from 2000

would not be in this mess


it is his sucking up to the Conservative Christians that has gotten him in this jam

[deep]

Originally posted by diamond


last time I checked the 10 commandments were from derived from Judaeo principles


dbs

go check again

[diamond]

Originally posted by deep


go check again

The 10 Commandments were contain in the Law of Moses, contained principles which Jews followed anciently, which we as a nation have incorporated a lot of those precepts into law, therefore you can say that the USA is founded on Christian and Judaeo Priciples much more than you can say John McCain is intolerant to ppl of religious beliefs different from his-as you tried to do.

dbs

[yolland]

In context, McCain was responding to the hypothetical of a Muslim presidential candidate. The "Jewish groups" who criticized his remarks knew that perfectly well, and weren't arguing that he's anti-Semitic, but rather condemning the fact that someone of McCain's stature would endorse preferentially voting for Christian candidates on the grounds that they're more fit to lead this country than others.

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/220/story_22001_1.html

(Beliefnet): Has the candidates’ personal faith become too big an issue in the presidential race?
(McCain): Questions about that are very legitimate.... And it's also appropriate for me at certain points in the conversation to say, look, that's sort of a private matter between me and my Creator.... But I think the number one issue people should make [in the] selection of the President of the United States is, 'Will this person carry on in the Judeo Christian principled tradition that has made this nation the greatest experiment in the history of mankind?'

It doesn't seem like a Muslim candidate would do very well, according to that standard.
I admire the Islam. There's a lot of good principles in it. I think one of the great tragedies of the 21st century is that these forces of evil have perverted what's basically an honorable religion. But, no, I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles.... personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith. But that doesn't mean that I'm sure that someone who is Muslim would not make a good president. I don't say that we would rule out under any circumstances someone of a different faith. I just would--I just feel that that's an important part of our qualifications to lead.

Mostly, I think this is the result of McCain not having thought through as well as he should have how to appeal to Christian voters without alienating non-Christian ones, not of any particular prejudice towards non-Christians. However, they were right to criticize him for saying what he did. There's a reason why the Constitution explicitly forbids religious tests for public office, and while one can perhaps understand the 'average Christian voter' feeling inclined in a sentimental way towards candidates of his or her own religion regardless of the particularities of their platforms, it's another thing altogether for a veteran politician running for president to publically say 'I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith.' That is alienating to many non-Christian voters, who needless to say couldn't get away with making equivalent statements if they were running for public office.

[Irvine511]

Originally posted by yolland
and while one can perhaps understand the 'average Christian voter' feeling inclined in a sentimental way towards candidates of his or her own religion regardless of the particularities of their platforms,.

it's true.

for example, i'd never let a heterosexual cut my hair.

[martha]

Originally posted by deep


are you serious?

Yes. So many people think that the "Founding Fathers" were worthless because they're not men of the 21st century. I don't mean we can't be critical, but to dismiss all that they did simply because they don't think like you do is ridiculous. It was 200 years ago.

[Irvine511]

Originally posted by martha

It was 200 years ago.

no -- don't you see?

based on those quotes, they thought exactly like the politicized conservative protestants of today.

[AEON]

Originally posted by Irvine511




it's true.

for example, i'd never let a heterosexual cut my hair.

Now THAT is funny...lol

[MrsSpringsteen]

McCain criticized for religious remarks
By LIZ SIDOTI
Several Jewish organizations criticized John McCain on Monday after the Republican candidate said he would prefer a Christian president over someone of a different faith.

In an interview with Beliefnet, a multi-denominational Web site that covers religion and spirituality, the White House hopeful was asked if a Muslim candidate could be a good president.

"I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles ... personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith," McCain said. "But that doesn't mean that I'm sure that someone who is Muslim would not make a good president."

Later, McCain said, "I would vote for a Muslim if he or she was the candidate best able to lead the country and defend our political values." He added that "the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation."

The interview was published Saturday.

The American Jewish Committee, an international think tank and advocacy organization based in New York, issued a statement criticizing the Arizona senator, arguing that McCain should know that the United States is a democratic society without a religious test for public office.

"To argue that America is a Christian nation, or that persons of a particular faith should by reason of their faith not seek high office, puts the very character of our country at stake," Jeffrey Sinensky, the group's general counsel, said Monday in a statement.

A partisan organization, the National Jewish Democratic Council, also called McCain's comments repugnant.

Amid the criticism, Democrat Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, an Orthodox Jew, came to the defense of his Senate colleague.

"I have known John McCain very well for many years and I know that he does not have a bigoted bone in his body. I know that he is fair and just to all Americans regardless of their faith," Lieberman said.

Over the past few days, McCain has sought to clarify his remarks.

While campaigning in New Hampshire on Sunday, he said that the most qualified person could be president, no matter his or her religion.

"It's almost Talmudic. We are a nation that was based on Judeo-Christian values. That means respect for all of human rights and dignity. That's my principle values and ideas, and that's what I think motivated our founding fathers," McCain said.

Also Sunday, in a statement, his spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said: "The senator did not intend to assert that members of one religious faith or another have a greater claim to American citizenship over another."

[martha]

Wow. Great backpedaling job!

[MrsSpringsteen]

play the USA Today/ABC candidate match game

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politic...match-game.htm

my results

1. Dennis Kucinich

2. Mike Gravel

3. Joe Biden

[verte76]

1. Mike Gravel
2. Dennis Kucinich
3. John Edwards

[verte76]

I don't like McCain's comments about this being a "Christian nation" and the country being founded on Christian principles. It was not. The Constitution clearly forbids the establishment of a state religion. I don't blame the Jewish groups for being upset. There goes the Jewish vote.

[2861U2]

1) Mitt Romney
2) Fred Thompson
3) Tie between Huckabee and Giuliani