by Jill Zuckman
Hooksett, N.H. – A snowy Monday in the Granite State brought an interesting contrast in two presidential candidates' views on religion.
First, Mitt Romney said he planned to formally address how his faith would inform him as president. Following a Rotary Club luncheon at the Chateau restaurant in Manchester, Romney patiently told reporters that he would give a speech on the role of religion in a free society Thursday, though he had no plans of explaining his Mormon faith to voters.
"I'm not running for pastor-in-chief, I'm running for commander-in-chief," he said.
Then, a few miles away and a few hours later, John McCain was asked about his faith and how his character reflects that faith.
"I believe that one's faith is largely a private matter between an individual and his creator, or the one that they believe in," McCain said in response to an emailed question at the MySpace/MTV presidential forum at the University of Southern New Hampshire.
"I believe that it was faith in God, and faith in country, and faith in my fellow prisoners that is the reason why I am here today," McCain told the assembled college students. "As you know, I was shot down and captured many years ago and far away and I nearly died.
"There were times when I asked God for just one more day or one more hour or one more minute. I do have strong faith,'' he said, describing himself as "the most fortunate person that you will ever, ever encounter."
And he told the students about a North Vietnamese prison guard who acknowledged McCain's religion one Christmas Day when he was allowed to stand outside in the prison courtyard.
The guard walked over to him and, with his sandal, drew a cross in the dirt.
"He looked at me, and then rubbed it out," said McCain, who spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war. "I will never forget that individual.''
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Comments
I think we need to get the NEWS CORPORATIONS out of politics...let the people ask the questions with no interference from anyone. No wonder the youth is apathetic to these campaigns.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | December 4, 2007 8:20 AM
I love it. The Republicans have courted the evangelicals as their only salvation. Now their candidates are trying to fall all over themselves trying to prove which one is THE most religious.
How ironic for a country that was founded on the concept of being able to practice ANY religion that you wanted that we have now "progressed" to the point, where religion is a major litmus test for Presidential candidates.
I can only say to the Republicans, "You reap what you sew."
Posted by: dogjudge | December 4, 2007 10:04 AM
It's okay for media to challenge Romney about his religion but out of bounds to ask Clinton or Obama. At least in the eyes of some media. It's okay to blast Republicans for being hosted by a religious group, but not okay to challenge Democrats about campaigning in black churches across America. Double standard? Double cross is more like it.
Posted by: Casandra | December 4, 2007 11:45 AM
Cassandra-
Obama's religion has reqularly been questioned in the press. Here are but a few examples:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,300135,00.html
http://www.nysun.com/article/61600
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0716/p01s01-uspo.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0702060164feb06,1,5408274.story?coll=chi-news-hed
And that's without getting into the "Obama is a secret muslim" garbage from the right wing blogs.
Posted by: Luke | December 4, 2007 12:16 PM
"ROMNEY SPEAKS" GUILIANI SPEAKS" PAT ROBERTS SPEAKS"
NOW BOTH OF YOU JUST STOP IT, I TALKED TO GOD AND HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT TALKING TO YOU TWO.
BUT HE DID SAY, STOP FIGHTING, YOU BOTH HAVE YOUR HANDS IN THE COOKIE JAR WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME. RUDY, YOU STOLE FROM THE POOR TO GIVE YOUR TO GIRLFRIEND AKA MISTRESS, ROMNEY, YOU KNEW THOSE BROWN PEOPLE WERE NOT BLACK SLAVES FROM VIRGINIA, THEY WERE IMMIGRANTS WITH A JOB!
SO PLEASE EVERYONE SEND 5.00 AND ONE OF THESE THREE MEN WILL SEND YOU A COPY OF GODS HAND.
GIVE TO THE POOR, LONELY, AND THE HORNY!
Posted by: Roger Morris | December 4, 2007 12:47 PM
Cassandra,
If Republicans openly campaigns on their religion, as most do, they are going to be asked about that a lot. If a Democrat openly campaigns on something like universal healthcare, they are going to be asked about that a lot. The candidates are setting the conversation based on what votes they are courting. Its not some big conspiracy.
Posted by: kb | December 4, 2007 12:53 PM
With the advent of the computer and the rise of the internet, the public has become more informed; and people's views, once undisposed, and in the background will come under greater scrutiny. Truth always prevails so what are we so afraid of? I think the idea of faith has become infused with radicalism. People are afraid of that which they are unfamiliar with. Judaism, Christianity we are familiar with. Other religions that practice secretive rituals are a question mark in our minds. I don't think this is wrong. This is natural human curiosity to know what informs the decisons of those who are seeking the highest office in the land.
If Tom Cruise ran I bet his religion would be an issue-it's just the way it is.
Posted by: Tim | December 4, 2007 3:12 PM
CASSANDRA IS TOTALLY RIGHT ON THE DOUBLE STANDARD!!!!!
Posted by: Tim | December 4, 2007 3:14 PM
BTW - It's reap what you sow, we sew on cloth but we sow seed. Oh well, usage is a tough road to hoe.
Posted by: Dave Dorenbos | December 4, 2007 9:22 PM
I do not believe it is necessary for Mitt Romney to address what he believes in or what religion he belongs to in relation to the campaign. Isn't it written in the constitution that there is and will always be a separation of church and state? Or is it part of his campaign that he thinks religion should be involved in government?
Posted by: Denise S. Ru | December 4, 2007 10:51 PM
Interesting that his advisors are prompting Mitt Romney to make “The Speech” regarding his Mormon faith, much as Jack Kennedy did in 1959. Ironic, in that while Kennedy officially was trying to separate his religion from politics, many priests were telling their congregations, from the pulpit, to vote for him. Their excitement over the possibility of having the first Catholic President simply couldn’t be contained. Anyone who thinks that this scenario will not be repeated in Mormon Temples across the land doesn’t know much about the “LDS” church.
The issue is not how Romney’s faith would affect his governance; I believe it would not. The issue is how the election process itself would be affected. Let’s face it. Now that the religious right has had a whiff of power in the Republican Party, they have become just another special interest group. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for giving us George W. Bush.
Posted by: Margaret Fuller | December 4, 2007 11:44 PM