By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Even as we watch the violent collision of politics and religion at American embassies around the world, here at home Presidential politics took a decidedly religious turn. Mitt Romney, trailing in several decisive purple states, has resorted to the “God Card.” Capitalizing on the omission (and later reinsertion) of God into the Democratic Party platform, Romney has recently added God into his stump speech, “I will not take God out of my heart, I will not take God out of the public square, and I will not take it out of the platform of my party.” [Insert Amen! here].
Here in Virginia, Romney raised the specter of a “godless” Obama removing “In God We Trust” from the currency and from the Pledge of Allegiance. Standing before the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach amid throngs of veterans and their families (mostly all white and very conservative), Romney remarked, “Our pledge says ‘under God. I will not take God out of the name of our platform. I will not take God off our coins. And I will not take God out of my heart.” Never you mind that Obama wears his religion like a ribbon or that the President never suggested removing “God” from the Pledge or off of US currency, God is good politics.
Romney’s strategy appears to fit hand-in-glove with his new-found anti-abortion policy. In 1994 while running for office in deep blue Massachusetts, Romney extolled the virtues of guaranteeing women their reproductive freedom under Roe v. Wade:
“One of the great things about our nation … is that we’re each entitled to have strong personal beliefs, and we encourage other people to do the same. But as a nation, we recognize the right of all people to believe as they want and not to impose our beliefs on other people. I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a U.S. Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years, that we should sustain and support it, and I sustain and support that law, and the right of a woman to make that choice, and my personal beliefs, like the personal beliefs of other people, should not be brought into a political campaign.“
However, Romney’s position has “evolved” and by 2005 he said:
“I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate.”
At the Republican Convention he furnished new red meat to anti-abortionists saying he would nominate Supreme Court justices who would overturn Row v. Wade. While it’s fairly obvious that Romney has no firm convictions on the issue, he does firmly believe that the issue is a winner among the religiously conservative base that now grips the Republican Party.
But the question remains about how well this strategy of placing God squarely on your side will do among the general voting population. Polls show Americans are more and more rejecting traditional religion for something spiritual but less dogmatic. Atheists/agnostics are the nations’ fastest growing “religion” category even though their numbers are still quite small at 15%. There is no reliable data showing that a candidate’s religious beliefs sway voters one way or the other. If they did, Romney’s Mormonism would be more of a handicap to his election bid.
But there remains a more fundamental question highlighted by violent religious protests from Libya to Australia. Will Americans, seeing the carnage that religious fanaticism has wrought at America’s foreign outposts, begin to question the wisdom of electing leaders who pursue political goals through religious rhetoric?
Source: CNN
~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
“Will Americans, seeing the carnage that religious fanaticism has wrought at America’s foreign outposts, begin to question the wisdom of electing leaders who pursue political goals through religious rhetoric?”
Now, that’s just silly. Sure, we’ve got our fringe wackos in America but we’ve always had our fringe wackos. And honestly, we’ve always done just fine with plenty of religious talk in the public square. In fact, the idea that elected leaders pursuing political goals through religious rhetoric is a new thing is just plain wrong. Obama, has done it, (certainly Mrs. Obama has in the last few weeks http://www.inquisitr.com/267890/michelle-obama-theres-no-place-better-than-church-to-talk-politics/), and so has pretty much everyone else pretty since this country’s inception. Sometimes its pandering, sometimes it’s genuine. But it’s usually been pretty harmless in this country. Come on, you’ve read your de Tocqueville. You should know better.
Romney is professing a belief in “God”, not playing a “CARD”
Remember the Democrats did try to remove reference to “God” from their platform but it caused such a stink they put it back. I’m sure they realized this was a huge vote loser.
Incidentally , if you think that was “playing a “Card”, At the return of those killed in the embassy attack, Obama referred to God more times in his address than in his in his addresses during entire administration. Is he trying to get votes???
The Democrats (” I am registered as Democrat “) are not what they used to be. This administration is leading America toward “Socialism. What did Obama’s open accidental open mike comment of a message to Putin “that he could be more flexible after the election mean”??? You have to wonder!
Socialist governments do not like religion. It promotes morality, something politics has long ago lost.
This nation was founded on christian principles with tolerance for everyone. Read the Constitution.
Note that reference to “GOD” has been removed from our currency, the Pledge of Allegiance, prayer in our classrooms,etc. Where is our religious freedom. Anybody that doesn’t believe in “GOD is not forced to take part, yet they seek to and we allow them to subvert our liberty.
If you can’t pledge your allegiance to America than go somewhere you can.
This administration is guiding America toward “Socialism”
Read about Hitler, Mussolini and other dictatorships, and look at the following steps
.
First disarm civilians.
Hillery Clinton has signed an agreement with the UN which can mean the end of the rights of civilians to own guns, thus eliminating your 2nd amendment rights.
Make everyone think you are going to get rid of the “rich” upper class by redistributing their wealth to the poor. (absolute power corrupts guess who will really end up with the money)
Take away individual rights. Recently the president signed an order which was subsequently struck down by a federal judge as being unconstitutional which would allow you to be detained indefinitely on suspicion of supporting subversion. This was a blatant attempt to remove your first amendment right to free speech.
Why are we bending over to kiss the ass of extremist around the world because someone exercised their first amendment rights and produced a film. We should be more concerned about the videos produced and posted on the internet, by those seeking to bully the US and other country’s through violence such as cutting off an “Infidels” head publicly, and dragging mutilated and burned bodies through the streets.
As far a a couple of Marines that urinated on some Al qaeda corpses, I would be glad to send them a quart or two if they need more to finish the job.
Why do we apologize for this stuff when subversives have no respect,
why should we. We lose because we fight wars with rule books and wussy politicians. If you are going to fight let the military handle it and keep the politicians out of the decisions.
I an 72 years old and served this country which I dearly love. It saddens me to see where the liberty my generation and others have fought and died for destroyed by a government which promises everything to everyone, and cannot deliver. How high can the National Debt get before people realize their government is failing. The greedy, lazy me only generation of this country deserves what they get, wake up and save your own ass. I won’t be around to suffer, when you reap the rewards of your complacency.
@Elaine: I want you to know I just emptied the Bisquick mixture which was left in its carton. After seeing Gary Bauer’s association with this brand I vow to make my own pancake mix, even if it takes more time. Gary Bauer is a national tragedy.
I enjoyed the article Mark. I do not expect to see God removed from our politics as long as Politicians think it will get them votes. The wall of separation has been eroding for quite some time now, with no hope on the horizon.
Elaine,
That video was the first confirmed evidence of a politician Flip Flopping in public!
Mike S.,
I hope your 25% figure is high. I think it is a much smaller number, albeit a very influential and politically loud group. I am amazed that so many uber-religious people want God in our government in light of what we have seen here and overseas.
In addition to the First Amendment, there is one other reference to religion in the Constitution, and it is in Article IV:
“. . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”
Even before any amendments were added to our Constitution, the framers of the Constitution wanted to be sure “no religious test” would “ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”
I just wish some of our politicians would stop using religion as some sort of measuring stick for suitability to hold public office — especially considering our founders and framers strenuously sought to stop that nonsense.
God has been good politics since the founding of our nation. Why is this so surprising?
“The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time.”
Jefferson 1774
“On the contrary. I hold
(without appeal to revelation) that when we
take a view of the universe. in all its parts,
general or particular, it is impossible for the
human mind not to perceive and feel a conviction
of design. consummate skill. and indefinite
power in every atom of its composition.
The movements of the heavenly
bodies, so exactly held in their course by
the balance of centrifugal and centripetal
forces; the structure of our earth itself. with
its distribution of lands. waters and atmosphere;
animal and vegetable bodies. examined
in all their minutest particles; insects. mere
atoms of life, yet as perfectly organized as
man or mammoth; the mineral substances.
their generation and uses; it is impossible. 1
say. for the human mind not to believe
that there is in all this, design. cause. and
effect. up to an ultimate cause. a fabricator of
all things from matter and motion. their preserver
and regulator while permitted to exist
in their present forms, and their regeneration
into new and other forms. We see, too. evident
proofs of the necessity of a superintending
power. to maintain the universe in its
course and order.”
Jefferson 1823
And many other politicians over the last 236 years.
Romney didnt invent God nor is he the first one to hold or seek political office who invoked God and admitted we owe thankfulness for His bounty.
What does it matter as long as no religion is established by the US?
John Locke has a good work on toleration. It concerns religion but can be used for politics as well.
Swarthmore mom, Frankly, Nick, & Blouise,
Speaking of Gary Bauer–do you remember this incident in New Hampshire when he was campaigning for president in 2000?
“Will Americans, seeing the carnage that religious fanaticism has wrought at America’s foreign outposts, begin to question the wisdom of electing leaders who pursue political goals through religious rhetoric?”
Mark,
“Aye, there’s the rub”. We’ve got a core population of perhaps 25% fundamentalists, who arguably are religious fanatics, or can be goaded into being active religious fanatics. That 25% casts a long shadow as we have seen in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade. In the media for instance when was the last time any of us saw a movie or TV show, where the solution to an unwanted pregnancy was abortion? I see this phenomenon in Judaism, where a real minority of Ultra Fundamentalist Jews, due to their purportedly strict
religious observance are able to influence traditionally faithful Jews, who feel that their own observance/dedication is less, to adopt beliefs that have only recently been implemented. I use this to illustrate that the effect of religious fundamentalism reaches farther into penetrating the surrounding societies mores than we may think.
“Will Americans, seeing the carnage that religious fanaticism has wrought at America’s foreign outposts, begin to question the wisdom of electing leaders who pursue political goals through religious rhetoric?”
I’d add the following edit, Mark.
“Will Americans, seeing the carnage that religious fanaticism has wrought at America’s foreign outposts, begin to question the wisdom of electing leaders who pursue political goals through religious rhetoric or who pursue religious goals through political rhetoric?”
And the answer is “I certainly hope so before we all end up slightly to completely radioactive.”
I dont think it is smart for a gypsie (Roma, Romani, Romeny) who belongs to the Mormon cult, who dont know who is granma is amongs eight candidates, should play the God Card. Those who play the God Card get judged by those who are used to other games of chance like Catholics, Baptists, Evangelicals, Scientologists, Jews, Muslims, Hindus. I leave out Bhuddists because they seem to be less fanatical and strive for a Way as opposed to a way to suppress others. For The Willard to trot this card out at this late date to rein in the anti abortion vote is a bit dumb.
But he went in dumb come out dumb too. Prep school that is. Yes, Prep School Boy With Cheeks of Tan. Atta Girl.
nick,
lol … that’s a visual I could have done without.
Gary Bauer needs an extreme makeover. I always expect to see his long tongue shoot out and catch a fly.
Thats pretty funny coming from a putz who’s religion is considered a cult by most of the other religions based on Jeshua of Nazareth.
As a devote Pastafarian I try to be understanding of people who want to bring their faith into what they do. It can be a positive force as long as believers understand they are not getting directions directly from His Noodley Appendage and that they could be mistaken. But thats not what Willard is talking about here. What he is talking about is imposing a peculiar subset of beliefs on everyone because they have been somehow mandated on an incomplete & fairly inconsistent reading of parts of stories told by sheepherders and retold over 4000 years – and in Willards case updated by a psychotic megalomaniac in the early 1800s.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/romney-tells-values-voters-he-wont-abandon-life Romney won’t make his “redmeat” speech to Value Voters available on YOU TUBE.
The dogma his religion espouses has a quirky portion to it that may explain all the furor over “dishonesty and lies” that has caused media trepidation:
(The Homeland: Big Brother Plutonomy, quoting “Lying For The Lord”). That dogma might be found to be criminal should one of them lie for the lord to a federal investigator.
“Even as we watch the violent collision of politics and religion at American embassies around the world, here at home Presidential politics took a decidedly religious turn.”
That is what we have been told in the propaganda, but my comment on Nal’s Post today shows it to be rank propaganda.
There is more than meets the eye.
“I will not take God out of my heart, I will not take God out of the public square, and I will not take it out of the platform of my party.”
If an Iranian said that, we would hear a chorus of ZOMG! They won’t rest until Sharia Law is imposed world-wide!
If you have to rely on the God Card….. You are really hollow within…. We are ALL created in his/her likeness……. Mother Earth…..to ground control….. From something I’ve read is each planet is assigned masculine and feminine qualities……