While I watched the Republican presidential hopefuls during the CNN/YouTube Debate I saw a trend emerging: Most of the candidates are eager to rid the world of Islamic fundamentalism and replace it with a superior, American form of Christian fanaticism.
I don’t mind candidates answering questions about their religious beliefs, but it disturbs me when people who would like to be president claim they would rely on religion in place of logic and reason when making decisions.
In order to avoid a pointed question from a viewer asking if Jesus would support the death penalty, Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado said he would “pray to (Jesus)” in order “to do the right thing.”
I respect his religious beliefs, but I really would prefer it if Tancredo did not attempt to have a question-and-answer session with a deceased person when making policy decisions. Imagine the audience’s horror if another candidate had said he would ask Buddha what to do when confronted with decisions, and then work from there. He would rightly be thought a lunatic ““ I don’t see why Tancredo should get special treatment.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was a champ at using his faith to dodge questions. When asked what he would do about inner city violence, Romney responded that the inner city needed more family values and that he would “get more moms and dads.”
Instead of establishing policy, like improving the public school system, Romney would establish a Mom and Dad factory. Soon all the shoddy, overworked inner-city parents will be replaced by gleaming, Bible-thumping new ones, magically ending conflict everywhere.
Retired Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr, who also happens to be gay, asked the candidates if gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military.
Rep. Duncan Hunter of California said no, claiming that it would be a “disservice” to the mostly conservative service members who have “Judeo-Christian” values. Yet in the same breath Hunter mentioned that gays serve openly in the British army with no problems. The Republican strategy for justifying unproductive policies is citing religion.
Even former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani, who tended to keep his answers grounded in reality, wouldn’t let himself be shown up in the religion department. “I think it’s the (greatest) book ever written,” he said in response to a question about the Bible.
I somewhat understand the candidates’ strategy of heavily emphasizing religion. President George W. Bush was able to get a strong conservative base to rally around him using the same techniques. He even claimed God told him to run for president. Yet his approval ratings, according to MSNBC.com, have dipped to an embarrassing 30 percent, and stayed there for most of this year. Perhaps it’s because the American people realized that voting for someone simply because they pander to your personal beliefs may not be best the way to elect a president.
The unspoken requirement that a Republican presidential candidate must not only be religious, but also use their religion when making decisions about our nation, is ridiculous.
This is not to say the nominees cannot maintain their religious opinions. But their reasoning should go beyond what they hear at church. Just as I find it laughable that someone would attempt to ban gays from marrying based on a text that is thousands of years old and of questionable origin, I would be equally skeptical if a Jehovah’s Witness attempted to outlaw blood transfusions based on religious beliefs.
The Republican nominees have an opportunity to redefine what their party is about. They could talk more about cutting taxes, for instance, or their strategies to manage the war in Iraq. Instead, they’ve chosen to render their primaries a contest of who’s the most religious, which is a dangerous game. Moral superiority can be used to excuse any number of unreasonable actions, such as attacking a country based on false evidence, or, as Romney said, keeping “folks at Guantanamo” while defying the U.S. Constitution.
It’s been 200 years since the Enlightenment. I hope it catches on with the Republicans soon.
Heard of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? E-mail Strickland at kstrickland@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments at viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.