I concede your point(s)!

This is a first.

Now, about those “moments of silence” in K-12?

Ah, you understand MY point! Nobody is “cloaking” themselves in anything! And nobody agrees 100% with their political candidates!

This is an election isn’t it!? It’s about votes. Period. Since when does ANY candidate really care where the votes come from? Obama’s not telling anyone, especially the Farakan folks, NOT to vote for him. And McCain need not do the same.

This whole issue is a non-issue. It is ridiculous to assume that just because someone supports a candidate, that the candidate somehow must “embrace” their ideas.

Its a subtle point, but the key to the reasonableness of JT’s statement lies in the word “cloak”, and the unreasonableness of your question lies in your inclusion of “100%”

It is fair to judge a candidate by his own words and deeds (or lack thereof.) McCain was very grateful for the support of Hagee. In fact, he solicited the endorsement.

It is my observation, McCain merely said he didn’t agree with some of the “Pastor’s” ideas, but he fell short of identifying those ideas of which he didn’t agree. Not a particularly brave clarification.

Under those conditions he could seek the Al Quaeda endorsement, which I’m sure he’d get, considering his affinity for promoting their business agenda.

Why not?

Are you saying that Presidential Candidates must only accept votes and/or support from individuals with which they agree 100%?

As one who considers herself a secular humanist, or non-religious if you will, I am deeply concerned about the opposition to the church-state separation coming from the “religious right” and have been for quite some time. I am even more concerned when I hear Mitt Romney say things like “freedom requires religion” or Mike Huckabee say “we need a Constitution that meets God’s standard.” In fact, I shudder when I hear these things said publicly. Yes, I know they have the right to say them, but hearing such extremist views expressed still gives me the creeps.

Thankfully, Romney dropped out, but Huckabee remains in, and even his views are cause for worry. The fact that John McCain is “honored” by some of the extremists in that religious crowd is yet another reason why he will not get MY vote in this election. But I would be happier still if Senators Obama and Clinton would start acknowledging that Americans have the right NOT to “believe” as the religious have to believe. Contrary to the snarky remark George I said about atheists some years ago, those of us who choose NO religion are citizens and patriots too. And we still VOTE at election time.