Wednesday night Republican candidates for President held their own YouTube debate. We've now experienced 7 years of God-talks-to-me, faith-based, Jesus-is-my-favorite-philosopher, science- smyence, governance of George W. Bush. And look where it's gotten us. Which is why, in the future, I really want to start getting some specific questions posed to any candidate, Republican or Democrat, who wears his/her faith like an American flag lapel pin and/or tosses around references to their "faith" as though it's some kind of UL certification of righteousness.
Bush keeps telling us we have to take terrorists at their word, and act accordingly.
Fine. Then let's also take the candidates at their word too. Let's listen to what they say they believe in and then connect that to the job they are applying for, President of the United States of America.
Overtly religious candidates, particularly Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, have been allowed by the media to flash their religious "gang signs" to like-minded voters without challenge, without digging, without context or exploration of the consequences that might flow should that candidate become our next leader.
Which is why I submitted a YouTube question for Mike Huckabee. (See also: Mike Huckabee is Not a Sane Man.) It wasn't accepted, but I figured I'd have, at best, one shot at a YouTube question so it was hard to pick between Huckabee and Romney, the two candidates I think have gotten away with the most god-pimping. Both men belong to Christian sects with core beliefs so out of the political, social, scientific and intellectual mainstream that it's breathtaking. But even more breathtaking is the media's refusal to confront them with pointed questions about those beliefs and how they would shape their presidency should the win.
Since Huckabee, a minister himself, adheres to the most fundamental of Christian fundamentalist sects, can we assume he would favor teaching the creationist's anti-evolution pseudo-science in our public schools? We don't know because no reporter has yet forced him on to explain his beliefs about creation on the record.
That lack of journalistic curiosity and courage is even harder to excuse in the case of self-described devote Mormon Mitt Romney. Mormonism (Church of Latter Day Saints, LDS) is, like Scientology, a belief system created by a modern-day "prophet," Joseph Smith. Unlike Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard who invented an entirely new school of superstition, Joseph Smith borrowed liberally from the old and new Testaments as well as mis-translated Egyptian papyrus fragments.
When those sources of inspiration failed to distinguish his sect from the dozens of Christian spinoffs, Smith simply made up entire civilizations complete with competing tribes living in city-states here and abroad, civilizations that archeologists say never existed.
Smith, a half-educated, failed treasure hunter, claimed he could translate ancient languages because he possessed a "seer stone." This mystic stone not only allowed him to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics decades before scientists were able to do so, but showed him where to find treasures his made up civilizations had buried during times of turmoil. Among those alleged treasures were the gold tablets off which he claims to have transcribed the Book of Mormon.
It's all pretty weird stuff if you can stick to it and read the whole BoM. (Mark Twain tried, describing the Book of Mormon as "Chloroform in print.") But, since Romney states he's proud of his faith then he should have no problem having his beliefs probed.
For example, does he really believe, as the BoM states, that that American Indians ("Lamanites" as described in the BoM,) were one of the lost tribes of Israel, and were direct descendants of pre-Columbian Judeo-Israelite colonists who fled to the American continent around 400 AD? Does he believe this central tenet of the Mormon faith? And if so, how can he believe it since DNA testing has proven beyond doubt that America Indians actually descended, not from Semitic lines ,but rather Asian and Eurasian linage? I want to hear him reason that one through.
http://www.newsforreal.com
Stephen Pizzo has been published everywhere from The New York Times to Mother Jones magazine. His book, Inside Job: The Looting of America's Savings and Loans, was nominated for a Pulitzer.
Apply religion filter to all then - not just a couple
If you insist on religion being an issue for these candidates, then it must be an issue for all candidates. Otherwise, your application of religion as a question is capricious and arbitrary.
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Tom Murphy (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 1263 comments)
on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at 6:23:01 PM
Huckabee get Creationism taught in a public school when kids aren't even allowed to pray? You harken me back to the days when people were terrified of Kennedy taking his marching orders from the Pope. You really need to get out more.
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larry booth (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 252 comments)
on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at 6:31:16 PM
The media does not want to appear intolerant or judgmental when it comes to religion. There seems to be a policy of exceptionality, or that by claiming beliefs to be religious that they are sacrosanct and beyond the realm of rational inquiry. Question such beliefs and you quickly get labeled judgmental and a bigot. As to questioning JFK being Catholic, I think it is necessary to question any potential leader of a nation about possible conflicts of interest. The threat of excommunication has been made way too many times over the centuries and is still used in attempting to affect political decisions, such as abortion. Does it concern me that the five most conservative judges on the Supreme Court all are conservative Catholics who apparently believe that the Pope is the number one moral authority on the planet and who has threatened excommunication for politicians supportive of abortion? Yes, it does. Is that religious bias? I would like to think that it is a reasonable concern based upon 1600 years of precedence of the Holy See playing politics.
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Richard Mathis (126 articles, 103 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 121 comments)
on Friday, November 30, 2007 at 8:32:41 AM
Yes, Rick, it is strange how folks on the religious right differentiate between how their beliefs are questioned and how they question other's beliefs. Fundamentalist Christians are the first to scream "foul" when they feel their beliefs are not being respected by government policies. But they are also the first to force their beliefs on those who don't share them -- such as prayer in schools, women's choice, etc..
They have no problem quizzing candidates on those kind of "values" issues, but bristle when they are quizzed on how one of their "faith" candidates are quizzed on their beliefs and how they might apply them to their job as a public official.
All you have to do is look to the backward nations of the Muslim Middle East to see where that kind of thing leads when religion is above criticism -- a raped women sentenced to 200 lashes in Saudi Arabia, a teacher thrown in jail for naming a Teddy Bear Mohammed...the Taliban.
Which is why when confronted by candidates like Romney and Huckabee, I have questions. And I want answers.
Steve
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Stephen Pizzo (77 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 22 comments)
on Friday, November 30, 2007 at 9:23:58 AM
Why haven't asked Harry Reid the same bigoted questions you are asking Romney? He is a Mormon. There are probably others in the House and Senate but I haven't bothered to check it out because it doesn't matter. If being a Mormon is a really big issue to you then you should be working to get Harry Reid to resign. Oh, but wait. He is a Democratic Mormon. I see. That is different. Is there is respectful why to say BS?
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Mad Jayhawk (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 197 comments)
on Friday, November 30, 2007 at 1:30:29 PM
I for one have had a belly-full of religious fanatics who believe that their “feelings” and “faith” carry the same weight as educated thinking people’s knowledge and understanding.
Just think of all the hypochristians or Christo-fascists there are out there promoting their goofy, nonsense. A man living in the belly of a fish. Ya, please say hello to the Easter Bunny also.
I can’t help but believe that if we could prohibit “Christians” from voting that we would be much better off.
Here is but a short list of the Bible banging hypocrites I’m talking about.
Jimmy Swagart James Baker Tammy Fey Baker Amy Semple McPherson Jessie Jackson Richard Roberts (son of Oral) G.W. Bush The Clintons 10,000 Catholic priests Numerous Popes Numerous Catholic Bishops Etc. Etc. Etc.
Give me an educated doctor, engineer or scientist any day. They understand the difference between fairy tales and reality.
A man living in a fish… Holy cow!
Give me a break.
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Mark Bennett (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 47 comments)
on Friday, November 30, 2007 at 1:54:45 PM
