Do you believe Obama's expression of faith was appropriate?

[Perky]

Poll question: Do you believe Obama's expression of faith was appropriate?

10 choices is probably not enough.

Choose your flamebait.

[Cobalt Violet]

1. What are you referring to?

The Obama-Hatch Tithing Bills, S.4044?

[Bluebear]

2. When he re-enacted the final scene from "King of Kings" after his last rally

:shrug:

[Bluebear]

11. edit

[Adelante]

3. Who cares?

Not I. If a candidate has a faith, that's fine to express, but it is not important. Policy is what matters in a political candidate.

[samq79]

4. He is a man of faith...so what?

It doesn't necessarily mean he's a nutjob like Bush. The majority of our presidents were strong in one particular faith or another, which is important to a lot of constituents. It matters just as much as if he's black...which is, not at all.

[etherealtruth]

15. Jimmy Carter is a man of faith

A man of strong faith.

[itsmesgd]

5. JFK was openly Catholic, so who cares

I personally think that someone with faith (and fear) in a higher power might be a change over a king who believes that he can trigger the rapture. I'd rather a pres have faith in a god, than believe he can control god's actions. (note the little "g" in god. I'm not sanctioning anyone's god or pushing my own beliefs)

[Cameron27]

13. Kennedy's faith

was presented as a question of loyalty to the Pope over loyalty to the Consitution. Kennedy probably would have kept it private if he didn't have to challenge that smear.

[JackRiddler]

6. I like this one...

"I thought it was great and shows the depth of his political instincts."

Yeah. It takes deep political instincts to know that as an American politician, you're supposed to posture about how God picked America to be The Best and Jesus is your personal way. No one ever figured that out before.

Obama's religion includes a parable about how the man who prays loudly in public is a hypocrite. It doesn't matter how real Obama's faith is to him. What does it tell us about how he'd raise revenues and apportion expenditures as opposed to Bush? Because that is what a government does. They're all running around talking about how they're God's best man and who cares?

[zalinda]

7. I'd like to see the candidate's choice of religion

excluded from the campaigns. He can say he is anything he wants, look at Bush. If he's Christian is he a right or left Christian, born again, tolerant or evangelical? The same with other religions, we don't know what TYPE of Muslim, Wiccan, Jewish or other he is. Does he believe every word or does he just have a slight relationship with the religion?

And, I think that putting your religion first before your volunteered duty to your country is wrong. I don't agree with Jewish politicians not working on the Sabbath. Our country is supposed to have a separation between church and state, and church shouldn't trump state.

zalinda

[Raffi Ella]

8. I missed it,

what did he say?

My general opinion about religion mixed with politics:Seperation of Church and State.Politicians pander to the religious and I don't like it.
Bushco. has left a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to militant christianity and so I am very sensitive to religious talk from any politician.I resent that I hear talk of religion on the news and from politicians,period.Every time I hear it I think Democracy!Not Theocracy!

[solara]

9. I have to be honest and say that it put me off,

although I was really impressed with him otherwise. He really has a lot going for him... but I guess I am just fed up and leery of fervent "praising" in political speeches.

[Blue_In_AK]

16. It put me off a bit, too...

It startled me, actually. I don't know, I guess I just have a problem with public declarations of faith in the political arena, but that's just me. This probably didn't hurt Obama any.

[solara]

19. Yeah, me too but at least it didn't seem that he was pandering or anything

although I am starting to feel like there is some kind of weird trend. Is it becoming a fad perhaps to "Praise God And Pass The Ammunition" ?...I don't know, maybe I am just being too wary these days, but I definitely feel as you do

[Perky]

10. It was fascinating.

What I found fascinating about it was that you do not hear this type of language from elected officials on the religious right or any of the old guard civil rights veterans who have gotten themselves elected.

As a liberal evangelical, I found it bothe genuine and politically extraordinary and thus I can't call it pandering. I certainly do not want his personal fervor to overshadow his campaign, but I think this speechcraft is seminal in deconstructing the GOP's hold on the Southern white Evangelical. You pull a third of those away and get a large african-american turn-out and you might be looking at not only an electoral lock but maybe even a landslide.

[Perky]

12. .

[baldguy]

14. Expression of faith are entirely appropriate.

Imposing those beliefs on others is not. (And no, mere displays of faith should not be considered an imposition.)

[Redbear]

17. I voted for "more inclined" to vote for him.

But, I agree with him. I am a Democrat BECAUSE of my christian faith.

Now,we will have to see if his policy positions match his professions.

[RiverStone]

18. I have mixed feelings about it...

I really like Obama, and from the list of "declared candidates" he is my top choice (though I'm still hoping for Gore and/or Clark to jump in).

That being said, I respect Obama's right to practice what ever faith he choses. I also respect his right to claim that faith as a guiding force for him personally and he strikes me as genuine in that regard.

My concern is that as well intended as he is, is it possible that somewhere along the way --- it would effect his perspective while excluding other views? Shrub does that to the extreme of course, and my ideal would be a candidate that approaches the Presidency in a totally secular way (and keeps his/her private faith out of it). Again, thats an ideal - though probably not realistic in today's world. Of course, that's what John Lennon sang about...I have no evidence at all that Obama has interjected his religion into policy as a Senator; though I'd be concerned if it did happen.

I want a government by the people and for the people - could Obama's Christain declaration affect his perception of how to govern? I guess I'm not sure. Would folks of a Muslim, Pagan, Jewish, Hindu, Atheist, or (anything not Christain) view care one way or the other? Time will tell. Its all in the walk - and if Obama truly honors the live and let live approach - I would vote for him easily.

[jonnyblitz]

20. appropriate or not it my opinion of him went down another few

notches a second time. the first time was when he endorsed Lieberman for CT DEM primary over Lamont last summer and called Lieberman his mentor. :puke: