 | John McCain Considers 2008 Election a Religious Test |
The Constitution of the United States of America clearly states that there shall be no religious test for any public office. John McCain seems to have forgotten that. Campaigning to become the next President of the United States, McCain says that he thinks that the most important test of a presidential candidate’s worthiness ought to be whether the candidate will promote Judaism and Christianity.
In a 2007 interview, McCain said, “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?’”
Consider this issue in the context of all the important issues Americans are dealing with today. As John McCain sees it, war, global warming, the dwindling of American liberty, economic crisis, health care, Social Security, education, crime, diplomacy, and any other political issue that you can think of, should take a back seat to religion. No matter how well a presidential candidate represents you on all of these issues, McCain says, you shouldn’t vote for that candidate unless the candidate is Jewish or Christian.
If you really believe, as John McCain does, that a politician’s religion is more important than their policies, then perhaps you ought to vote for McCain for President. If, on the other hand, you can see that the Presidency is a public office that must be equally accountable to all Americans, regardless of religion, try to find a more progressive candidate who remembers that the White House is a seat of secular power, not a pulpit for a Priest In Chief.
(Source: BeliefNet.com, September, 2007)
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Please tell me where the Constitution of the United States clearly states there will be no religious test for any public office. The clause that most people, who haven’t read the Constitution, would find applicable would be:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Of course, Congress and/or the government can not pass a law establishing or endorsing a religion. But there sure as hell isn’t an inalienable human or Constitutional right to being elected to office if voters don’t agree with a person’s beliefs. The voters can set up religious tests, progressive tests, economic tests, spirituality tests, sexuality tests, and whatever other tests they want. Sure, you can make the case that “religion shouldn’t have anything to do with public office”, but when people, by their nature, tend to like people who are LIKE them, and will vote for people that are LIKE them, and want people in office who mimic THEIR beliefs, one of the easiest ways to tell/manipulate that belief is by looking at a candidate’s religion.
Good luck having that test go away any time soon, since in the end, a “religious test” is simply a test of a person’s beliefs, and that’s key for any election and candidate, progressive or otherwise.
Comment by Joseph — 10/11/2007 @ 10:23 pm
Joseph, that is the dumbest thing I ever heard of.
Article VI, section 3.
Comment by Iroquois — 10/12/2007 @ 12:02 am
Joseph, for someone who insists up and down that he isn’t a right winger, you sure talk like a right winger and support all of the stupidest right wing talking points.
Have you ever actually read the Constitution, Joseph? For Pete’s sake, how can you come on here and get all preachy when you don’t even know enough to tell the difference between the First Amendment and the original main body of the Constitution?
Comment by Fruktata — 10/12/2007 @ 4:59 am
Um…article VI section 3 has been interpreted to mean that the GOVERNMENT will not give a religious test to a candidate (which flows perfectly with not endorsing a religion). That still does not prevent the population from giving a candidate a test. They have done so since the beginning of time, as i’ve said, in order to elect people who share their beliefs.
Again, it’s not going to disappear any time soon, because the vast majority of people want it. Sure, it might be nice if no one cares about a candidate’s religion, but that would also mean that people would be caring less about a person’s stance on any number of issues, since religous beliefs are often good indicators of a person’s beliefs on topics that are relevent to voters.
And I apologize for coming across in such a strong manner. I’m most familiar with the bill of rights and amendments and not the original body of the Constitution. Regardless, both clauses set up tha the GOVERNMENT wont endorse a religion. The American people can do whatever they want to disqualify candidates prior to not voting for them.
Comment by Joseph — 10/12/2007 @ 5:03 pm
Joseph, you’re not even admitting that to do so, to take this approach, is profoundly unwise.
You strike me as someone who doesn’t want reform at all, but wants to exploit divisive politics for gain.
Comment by Junga — 10/12/2007 @ 5:22 pm
Maybe Joseph really does have friends who are that stupid. He does strike me as the kind of person who would want to cram his religion down someone else’s throat.
Comment by Iroquois — 10/12/2007 @ 11:50 pm
Pre Ample to the Constitution
We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Article VI Section 3
The senators and representatives before-mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
First Amendment to the Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Joseph, I strongly suggest you do more reading before you state the people have the right to impose any test they choose. The Government is all the people that reside in the United States. Congress is chosen by those people to act on their behalf. Start reading the Pre Ample to the Constitution.
Further the Article VI Section 3 does not exclude the people when stating No Religious Tests. The First Amendment goes further to protect a person’s right to believe as he or she chooses. Article VI Section 3 protects anyone that wants to hold public office from Religious Persecution.
After you digest the above, read published letters of the Frames of the Constitution. Once you can grasp their mind set, read the Debates on the U.S. Constitution. If you are not confused read a book called The Creation of the Constitution.
I have not mentioned you read The Federalist; it can be a very difficult read. An easy read for anyone is The Biography of Roger Williams, incase you have not heard of him, Roger Williams was a persecuted minister. I should add he was the first person in the colonies to establish a government separating church and state. He bought land from the Indians and founded Providence Plantations. The location is now called Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
I mentioned MR Williams only because Thomas Jefferson wrote; Roger Williams was the most influential person in the creating of the First Amendment.
Here is a little general information; the only man to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, was a diplomat, authored Little Richard’s Almanac and he was an Inventor, was not a Christian as you were taught in School. Other historic figures to research, 3rd President Thomas Jefferson, Author Thomas Paine, 17th President Andrew Johnson, each were either Deists or no religious affiliation. In Case you cannot figure out the first man I talked about is Benjamin Franklin.
If the Christian Collation had been in existence at the time these men were active in politics, they probably would not have been the influence they were on the formation of the United States. The United States might still be under England’s Rule.
BK Mitchell
Comment by BK Mitchell — 10/29/2007 @ 11:12 am