I've never heard the general discussion of religion as it relates to politicians. I could be wrong, but as far as i know, it didn't really become a hot topic until someone in bush's camp decided that they were going to win the election by courting the evangelicals.

McCain appears to be following in bush's footsteps by courting Hagee. Even thou he's made disparaging comments about evangelicals in the past. If it was a group I belonged to I would call it pandering. But I'm not aware of any religious group that has the political power that evangelicals appear to have these days.

And I find that extremely dangerous.

>That leads us to the question as to which religion is safe for a presidential candidate to belong to these days?
>
>
>>Preach hate...nah. Never happen from the evangelicals. Hagee didn't make comments like Hurricane Katrina what "the judgement of God" because it was to punish gays in NO. He hasn't said the Koran is a "scriptural mandate to kill Christians and Jews". He hasn't call Catholicism a "godless theology or hate.
>>
>>He doesn't have a lobbying group called "Christians United for Israel". Whose main purpose is to try and push our govt into starting a major war in the middle east to bring on the apocalypse.
>>
>>Nope, nope. None of the above. I know. Preaching hate against gays is just doing Gods work, huh?
>>
>>
>>
>>>How could it be worse? I haven't heard anything even close to the Reverend Wright nonsense - what did I miss? Unless the evangelical preaches hate and racism and anti-americanism, I don't see how it could be as bad.
>>>
>>>
>>>>What do you think of McCain trying to get in good with evangelicals? What's the guy's name, Hagee? It sounds just as bad, if not worse then anything Obama's done. It hasn't been reported too much, but I would assume that it would become a hot topic in the fall.
>>>>
>>>>>I agree with you. McCain will get hit hard as soon as the democrat ticket is finally decided and it is a 2-man(?) race :o)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>To have his record analyzed in minute detail and everything negative, or capable of being portrayed negatively, dredged up. It's not like he is unblemished. Like being part of the Keating Five. Like the real estate buddy of his he has tried to help with land deals, on U.S. Senate stationery. I'm sure there's more.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Please understand I am not advocating that kind of attack politics. I am not. I hate it. But you can bet it will happen.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>What do you mean about his turn will come?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>McCain's turn will come. He has just been fortunate so far, first by a weak Republican field and now an extended mud fight between the Democrats.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Great post, Jake and I think you've hit the nail on the head. Obama can't survive McCain and Clinton is losing credibility.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I agree that McCain is the lesser of three evils, however, he's no more likely to really screw things up than Hilary. Let me explain.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>If Hilary is elected it will mean that she has 'stolen' the nomination from Obama in many eyes. She will have won a close battle with McCain, both popular and electoral, as many Obama supporters either hold their nose and vote Hilary, or more likely stay home. This result means that the Dems are not likely to get to 60 senators and thus the Reps can limit the damage in terms of big social issues. Hilary will still mess with our rights through environmental legislation, federal consolidation and the largest tax increase in history, but she won't get the big destructive items through.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I do not think Obama can win against McCain, in fact I think we're looking at an electoral landslide. Thus, if he does win, I believe that means something big has happened to shift a great deal of states to him. This likely means the Dems will get their 60 senators and then we see the greatest shift in power from the individual and the states to the federal government since FDR. Everything is on the table, property rights, gun rights, massive land grabs through environmental regulation, world-court, universal health care, ...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>The damage done by FDR has only recently been realized and it is nearly impossible to correct. Obama's policies will undoubtedly put the final nail in the coffin of the founders original intent for this country and the unintended consequences could put us on an irreversible path towards our own collapse. If that happens I just hope we get lucky, like we did following Carter, and the right person appears on the scene to right the ship.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Truer words were never spoken. Although McCain seems less likely to screw it all up than the two other knee-jerk socialists.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>Don't feel bad though, after all we all have a crappy choice to make this election. I'm just hoping none of these three stooges destroys the country before 2012.