Deciding who to vote for has always been one of my most difficult tasks during elections, because I never agree 100% with any candidate. As a responsible voter, it is my duty to rank the issues by importance, and try to find the candidate who will best represent my views. It's no easy task, and is often an exercise in frustration. Yet I take it seriously, because that's what makes Democracy work.
Apparently, the evangelical Christian community has a much easier solution: Vote for any candidate who is the "most Christian." Never mind the candidate's qualifications, or actual voting record, or inconsistent past ... if the candidate goes to a conservative church, and mouths the correct buzzwords, they're in.
According to this article at alternet.org (a liberal webzine), the selection of Sarah Palin brought more than pigs-and-lipstick jokes to the campaign. It brought money. Lots of it. The Swift-boaters, the ones who successfully besmirched the reputation of an American patriot, poured over 10 million dollars into McCain's campaign immediately after Palin was selected.
What's amazing is the statistics on evangelical Christians. Before McCain selected Palin, white evangelicals favored McCain over Obama by 68% to 24%. Palin's selection pushed it even further, to 71% / 21%, apparently due simply to her religion.
Do these people even think? Could they tell you the detailed positions that the four candidates hold? Or is the abortion / creationism debate all they care about? What about the trade deficit? Global warming? Nuclear proliferation? Overpopulation? AIDS and other international health problems? What about the candidates' experience, credibility, statesmanship?
I find it hard to believe that there is something in Jesus Christ's teachings that makes it clear that McCain/Palin is a better choice than Obama/Biden. All four of these potential presidents are good Christians; to an Atheist, their views about God and the supernatural are virtually indistinguishable. Yet, evangelical Christians apparently believe that being evangelical is the only qualification for the job.
That's irresponsible.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
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3 comments:
Dear readers -- I am no longer blogging and after leaving these blogs open for two years have finally stopped accepting comments due to spammers. Thanks for your interest. If you'd like to write to me, click on the "Contact" link at the top. Thanks! -- CJ.
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Another interesting post I see!
ReplyDeleteAt times I'm glad that I live in the UK. Sure we have lousy weather and bad teeth, but our last prime minister could only 'come out' as a christian after he'd left office.
The only people who take religion seriously in this country are Muslims and 'born again'. I'm also proud that we have Charles Darwin on our bank notes and not some nonsense about god.
apparently due simply to her religion
ReplyDeleteCraig,
Where is the empirical evidence that evangelical voters are just voting for McCain/Palin just because Palin is an evangelical Christian?
I would think that an atheist would use...you know...actual evidence to back up his claims.
Could it also be the case that Palin and evangelical voters share the same worldview? This means that many of the issues that Palin is passionate about are the same issues that evangelical voters are passionate about.
Is this really that difficult for you to understand?
You are absolutely right! I was just on Facebook, and I read a comment left from one friend to another that said "remember what our pastor says: vote with your heart, not your wallet". I know who to blame when the shit hits the fan.
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