Are you pimping the American religious community?

[tannybogus]

Pulpit Politics
I have one question I would ask both Senators Obama and McCain, if I had the chance, and that is, why? Why have you consented to sit in a church, an evangelical megachurch at that, to answer questions from that church's pastor, Rick Warren?

What's up?

Being "men of the system," as it were, and possessing some knowledge of the United States Constitution and its inference that there should be separation between church and state (that phrase is not actually used), why are you doing this?

Are you pimping the American religious community? Is your quest for the presidency so intense that you will do anything, even muddy the so-called separation between church and state?

Will you, or would you, consent to having a similar meeting in a synagogue? Mosque? An AME church? I guess what I'm struggling is ...is your purpose. No pun intended ... but why are you going to the church pastored by the man who is devoted to helping people find purpose in their lives? Is it because he's so famous and well known and you figure you will get a good chunk of the evangelical vote?

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/susan_k_smith/2008/08/politics_and_pulpits.html

[cynatnite]

1. K&R! n/t

[Bluebear]

2. Amen! (Said very secularly!)

[isentropic]

3. Not pimping, pandering.

It's just politics as usual. :shrug:

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Thank you for posting! I can't wait for this charade to end! n/t

[Sanctified]

5. Pimping???? Doesn't she mean whoring themselves. n/t

[Luminous Animal]

6. I view it more

as a tacit capitulation to a religious test, also unconstitutional.

[earth mom]

7. What people don't get is that Obama is using religious Christian code words to get his

flock to follow him. Read the bible and hear Obamas words. They are the same.

Separation of Church and State? My ass! Bush kicked that idea to the curb and Obama is following suit.

[cynatnite]

8. Oh, yeah, lets crap on the separation of church and state just like George!

:puke:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. I saw an interview with Warren today.

He seemed genuine about wanting to have a civil discourse about relevant issues. I don't see any constitutional issues here.

David

[Chovexani]

10. You know

There are a lot of Pagans who are deeply concerned, educated voters who would love to have a civil discourse about relevant issues.

Yet, somehow, I sincerely doubt either candidate would be caught dead at a Pagan gathering talking to Starhawk or Isaac Bonewits.

No constitutional issues my ass.

[cynatnite]

11. No atheist gathering with Dawkins either n/t

[magellan]

12. Warren's welcome to that civil discourse. So are the rest of us

...who don't happen to believe what Warren does and don't have huge churches to represent us. How do we get our questions answered?

The separation of church and state is about situations like this, and that IS a Constitutional issue.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

13. Sorry it's just not.

The constitution doesn't guarantee you access to candidates. Churches found to be pushing a certain candidate can lose their tax exempt status but there aren't any constitutional prohibitions against a candidate speaking in a church. I guess if you feel that strongly you could sue the campaigns though and see what SCOTUS says in 10 or 15 years.

David