Is a person’s religion political fair game?

[Sterling]

Is a person’s religion political fair game?

If that person bases their political beliefs primarily on their religious beliefs and promotes an agenda based on those beliefs is it ok to scrutinize that persons beliefs and even challenge them with those beliefs as a matter of political discourse?

[eddiebrowns]

1. Simply put, YEP

[Catch22Dem]

2. Religion is ALWAYS fair game with me!

:evilgrin:

[dogtag]

3. Personally, I think the mere mention of religion

should be outlawed from all campaigns! Not a peep or you're disqualified from the race.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Some candidates are wearing their religion on their sleeves

The Repuke Senate candidate for AR has the fish sign on his posters. I feel that since he has put his faith up front, as it were, it is legitimate to question his beliefs and to ask serious questions about them, such as whether he is interested in starting a theocracy here.

[camero]

5. If they put themselves on a pedestal through religion

Then yes, they're fair game. The burden of proof is on the person making the claim.

[fdr_hst_fan]

9. Absolutely!

If they want to parade it like a Rose Bowl float or a Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon, then , YES, it's OK!

[Anakin Skywalker]

6. That's an Easy One.

OF COURSE IT IS! If you try to make public policies based on your own personal beliefs, then prepared to be scrutinized on them!

[Robbie67]

7. Yes

which is why religion should stay out of politics

[stepnw1f]

8. This Year, It's Become Target

Notice the Lunatic Fringe supporting the end of all time.

[fdr_hst_fan]

11. The "Lunatic Fringe" in this case

being Smirk and his crowd!

[napi21]

10. It depends on what you mean by challenge their beliefs.

It's fair to challenge a Catholic for supporting shrub because he's againse abortion, but ask why they can still support him because he's in favor of the death penalty, and the Catholic Church is against the death penalty too.

I don't think it's fair game to challenge someone's beliefs just because you disagree with them.

[Sterling]

13. I specifically meant these people, but it could cut both ways, maybe?

According to Tim LaHaye, the Apocalypse is now

http://www.vandea.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=324

(a little bit down the page)

[Ardee]

12. two sided coin

As everyone has a right to believe or disbelieve I think that their personal religious beliefs should be above criticism. I also believe that those who shamelessly pander to certain religious based groups in order to win elections, who attempt to wrap themselves in the shroud of religion, just as they attempt to wrap themselves in the flag, should be mercilessly showed up as hypocrites and liars.

[RichardRay]

14. Challenge their politics, NOT their religion

If they want to base their political perspective and choices on their religion that's OK and the issue of their faith is strictly off limits. OTOH, the issue of the political choices they make based on their beliefs is fair game in all cases. If their own political speech opens the door to contrasting their religious statements to their political statements that's a clean shot, too.

Just going after them for their religious beliefs is unacceptable.

Richard Ray - Jackson Hole, WY

[vpigrad]

15. If someone believes in something that doesn't exist...

that they can't prove, then you should question their sanity. After all, this is why so many of those people believe in the insanity of supply-side economics.