Hi Gang:

I believe that I have watched every televised Presidential Debate,both Republican and Democrat,to date.

How come the moderators and other talking heads only ask Republicans about their religious beliefs ???

Is it because all Americans already know the religious beliefs of every Democrat candidate ,or is it because they don't have any???

Seems a little biased to me.

hippolips

Sounds more like a total lack of bias to me!, I think most democrats couldn't care less what a candidate for political office's religious affiliation might be. We're trying to elect a head of state, not a pope or ayatollah. IMHO.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by frankvan:
Sounds more like a total lack of bias to me!, I think most democrats couldn't care less what a candidate for political office's religious affiliation might be.
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Hi Frank:

You may be right about Democrats not caring.

But why are the moderators and talking heads so concerned?????

That's the bias I'm talking about.

hippolips

I think it's more a question of "newsworthy" there are a couple, at least, of the republican candidates pandering to the religious right. With Romney and Huckabee trying to 'out-holy' one another, even atheists are paying attention.

The Republicans have a couple of candidates that are rather unusual. A Baptist minister and a Mormon. The only other minister I recall ever attempting a run for the White House was Pat Robertson.

Pat Robertson's lack of political experience eventually done him in. Mike Huckabee on the other hand, has served in elective office. So he knows first hand how dirty political campaigns can get.

I do not ever recall someone of the Mormon faith ever being in contention for the Presidency. And being a Republican Governor in what is considered a Democrat state makes Mitt Romney very unique as well. And naturally comparisons are made with JFK because he had to over-come the religious hurdle due to being a Roman Catholic.

The Democrats, while we know their church affiliations, there is really nothing about any of them that stands out where the subject of religion is concerned. No ministers in this group, no unusual religions.

I think the religious right is a sizeable constituency and one alienates them at one's peril. Romney, it seems to me, has to allay their fears, while Huckabee has to woo them, while not scaring the immoral majority away. I think Pat Robertson was too much of a certifiable nut case to appeal to any but the most rabid fundamentalists among the churchgoing voters.

Hi dg:

You know everything ...what is the religious preference of each of the Democrat presidential candidates ???

Clinton,Obama,Edwards,Richardson,Biden,Dodd,Kucinich,did I miss any one???

Just curious...none of the Moderators or talking heads seem to be the slightest bit curious.

hippolips

Sojourner's Presidential Forum

This is a transcript of a religion, faith and politics forum with John Edwards, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

quote:

Originally posted by frankvan:
I think the religious right is a sizeable constituency and one alienates them at one's peril. Romney, it seems to me, has to allay their fears, while Huckabee has to woo them, while not scaring the immoral majority away. I think Pat Robertson was too much of a certifiable nut case to appeal to any but the most rabid fundamentalists among the churchgoing voters.

Personally I believe there is a mistaken notion that the religious right will go and vote for the same party, same candidate. I do not believe this to be the case. Just like with Union power brokers promising support & votes from their union membership.

I would be interested in knowing what a real percentage of these groups actually vote the way their leadership recommends to them.

DEMOCRATS:

Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden: Roman Catholic

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: Methodist

Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd: Catholic

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Methodist

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Catholic

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Christian

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Catholic

___

REPUBLICANS:

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: Catholic

California Rep. Duncan Hunter: Baptist

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Southern Baptist

Arizona Sen. John McCain: Episcopalian

Texas Rep. Ron Paul: Baptist

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Mormon

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo: Presbyterian

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: Southern Baptist

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071206/ap_on_el_pr/candidates_religion_glance

quote:

Originally posted by Lighteningrodd:
I would be interested in knowing what a real percentage of these groups actually vote the way their leadership recommends to them.

LR, because of several moves I have been a member of three different evangelical churches over the past 16 years. I have never had church leadership suggest a candidate to me.

Generally it is people like James Dobson or organizations like the Christian Coalition who will endorse a candidate.

Over the years, I've known people in churches, both Republicans & Democrats. Which is why I question how a whole group of voters can be determined to vote one way.