Presidential hopefuls pander to religion

[rug]

September 13, 2016

The two presidential candidates from the major parties are doing little to court the growing secular vote.

Hillary Clinton took to religious pandering on the campaign trail. She asserted to the 136th annual National Baptist Convention on September 8 that:

We need a president who understands the powerful role that faith — and communities of faith — have always played in moving our country toward justice . . . A president who will pray with you, and for you . . .. Yes, we need a president who will do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.

FFRF disagrees. We've long said that we don't need pious politicians who spend valuable time on their knees. We need politicians who will get off their knees and get to work. Prayer doesn't fix anything, but it does waste time and energy. And it also lets pandering public officials congratulate themselves on accomplishing something, when they are really just talking to themselves. Prayer doesn't heal the sick or rebuild cities after natural disasters. As Robert Ingersoll said, "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray."

Donald Trump, appearing at the Values Voters Summit on Sept. 9, promised that "our Christian heritage will be cherished, protected, defended, like you've never seen before." He also reiterated his call to overturn the Johnson Amendment, part of the GOP platform:

The first thing we have to do is give our churches their voice back. It's been taken away. The Johnson Amendment has blocked our pastors and ministers and others from speaking their minds from their own pulpits. If they want to talk about Christianity, if they want to preach, if they want to talk about politics, they're unable to do so. If they want to do it, they take a tremendous risk that they lose their tax-exempt status.

All religious leaders should be able to freely express their thoughts and feelings on religious matters. And I will repeal the Johnson Amendment if I am elected your president, I promise. So important.

https://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/27522-presidential-hopefuls-pander-to-religion

One-issue voters are as bad as third party voters.

[napi21]

1. I confess I herd The Con's speerch but not Hill's.

I can't comment on Hill's until I can see it, but as to the Con...he's his usual jackass self. NOBODY is taking the voice away from any religious leader or person. They can say anything they want to, on the sidewalk outside the Church, or almost anywhere else, just not from the pulpit! Hell, they can even do political advocacy from the pulpit, they just heave to give up their tax exemption if they do.

[rug]

2. Yeah, trump is a complete charlatan, especially about religion.

Hillary has been clear about her religious beliefs for years.

FFRF's smarmy comparison of the two is completely unwarrented.