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Ignorance is disqualifying
Former Arkansas governor and 2012 presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee found himself in hot water this week after he called Islam the "antithesis of the gospel of Christ" and said that churches that share worship space with Muslims are caving to a religion "that says that Jesus Christ and all the people that follow him are a bunch of infidels who should be essentially obliterated."
In an analysis of how Islam may shape campaign politics, Politico's Bryon Tau wrote: "As Republican candidates define their national security stands in the 2012 elections, conservative discomfort with Islam in America will be a feature of the debate."
Should Islam be debated on the campaign trail? Are religious issues in danger of being exploited?
Debate Islam? Why not debate Christianity and Judaism? Why not make Buddhist meditation a matter of contention, or subject Hindus to specific electoral scrutiny?
The answer is in the Bill of Rights. There is no religious test for office and no official testing of religion. And anyone who is a candidate for office that requires an oath to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" ought to know that. If they do not, then it is only one of what I suspect are many ways they are not qualified for office.
By
Jack Moline
|
February 22, 2011; 3:27 PM ET
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Posted by: eezmamata | February 26, 2011 5:16 AM
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Unfortunately, only government imposed religious tests are prohibited. The populace is completly free to impose their own xenophobic religous test when deciding for whom to cast their vote. This is the problem. There is a large vocal minority in this country who not only support Mr. Huckabee's comment, but will not vote for anyone who disagrees.
Posted by: whyyesbrain | February 23, 2011 4:55 PM
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Try debating atheism on the campaign trail, it makes more sense than believing in supernatural gods - for which there is not a scrap of evidence. Don't you guys ever check for evidence? Islam is a made-up religion just as silly and just as made-up as Christianity is.
It was religious thinking that removed the World Trade Center on 9/11. Yes, it was TRUE BELIEVERS who blew it up. Religion does this to people. It can make you crazy.
Time to assess the reality of atheism, which says there are no gods and never were. This is almost certainly correct.
Posted by: Rongoklunk | February 23, 2011 9:06 AM
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Ignorance is disqualifying
Our government requires 435 representatives in the House, and 100 senators in the senate.
If we are to take your assertion at face value, we wouldn't have enough qualified people to fill out those positions.
At least we can feel assured that our government does represent the people.