Religious politicians

[memphis]

Of politicians that make a big deal about their religion, which ones are for real and which are just faking it to get votes? In the for real column, I put Jimmy Carter, Sam Brownback, Joe Lieberman, and Rick Santorum. Big fakers include George W. Bush, Tom Delay, and the Blunts. I can't put my finger on why, but I know these guys are full of crap.

[??????????]

Of politicians that make a big deal about their religion, which ones are for real and which are just faking it to get votes? In the for real column, I put Jimmy Carter, Sam Brownback, Joe Lieberman, and Rick Santorum. Big fakers include George W. Bush, Tom Delay, and the Blunts. I can't put my finger on why, but I know these guys are full of crap.

I think your right about Delay but I disagree with you on Bush. I honestly believe he has a strong faith in God.

[afleitch]

I would agree absolutely with Jimmy Carter; his faith was strong when it came to issues of poverty and social jsutice.

[dazzleman]

I think Jimmy Carter is sincere about his faith.  His problem is that he is overly sanctimonious, and he applies his beliefs in ways that are destructive rather than helpful.

The funniest thing was when Howard Dean tried to pretend he was religious in some way.  That was a hoot.

Hillary Clinton is also full of crap with her Jesus talk.  To paraphrase a great American, Harry Truman, 'that woman don't know any more about religion than a pig knows about Sunday.'

[Mr. Paleoconservative]

The funniest thing was when Howard Dean tried to pretend he was religious in some way.  That was a hoot.

I would have laughed, but then I realized just how insincere and ironic it was that such a religion bashing liberal extremist would by bathing in Holy Water.

Apparently he valued votes over his dignity and his moral foundation (if he had one)...

[PBrunsel]

I know of three Presidents who were quite religous and prayed to God before they made any decision:

George Washington
William McKinley
Jimmy Carter

The Adamses were religous as was Reagan, but no where to the extent of the three listed above.

[Beet]

Of politicians that make a big deal about their religion, which ones are for real and which are just faking it to get votes? In the for real column, I put Jimmy Carter, Sam Brownback, Joe Lieberman, and Rick Santorum. Big fakers include George W. Bush, Tom Delay, and the Blunts. I can't put my finger on why, but I know these guys are full of crap.

^^^^ I agree with this list entirely.

Howard Dean's behavior is only a reflection of the fact that no openly agnostic or atheist politician has a prayer in hell of being elected president in this country. I think there was a poll not too long ago that said something like half of all Americans would never vote for an atheist President, far higher than any religious group. Open agnostics and atheists are the most persecuted group in America, when it comes to running for office.

[afleitch]

Did Carter not used to still teach sunday school back home when he was President?

[dazzleman]

Apparently he valued votes over his dignity and his moral foundation (if he had one)...

...he doesn't...

[dazzleman]

Of politicians that make a big deal about their religion, which ones are for real and which are just faking it to get votes? In the for real column, I put Jimmy Carter, Sam Brownback, Joe Lieberman, and Rick Santorum. Big fakers include George W. Bush, Tom Delay, and the Blunts. I can't put my finger on why, but I know these guys are full of crap.

^^^^ I agree with this list entirely.

Howard Dean's behavior is only a reflection of the fact that no openly agnostic or atheist politician has a prayer in hell of being elected president in this country. I think there was a poll not too long ago that said something like half of all Americans would never vote for an atheist President, far higher than any religious group. Open agnostics and atheists are the most persecuted group in America, when it comes to running for office.

...so I guess that makes it OK to fake religious devotion in order to get votes?

[dazzleman]

Did Carter not used to still teach sunday school back home when he was President?

How could he teach Sunday school when he was president?  Surely, he didn't interrupt his summit with Brezhnev, or whatever else was going on, to get back to Plains to teach Sunday school.

[Beet]

Of politicians that make a big deal about their religion, which ones are for real and which are just faking it to get votes? In the for real column, I put Jimmy Carter, Sam Brownback, Joe Lieberman, and Rick Santorum. Big fakers include George W. Bush, Tom Delay, and the Blunts. I can't put my finger on why, but I know these guys are full of crap.

^^^^ I agree with this list entirely.

Howard Dean's behavior is only a reflection of the fact that no openly agnostic or atheist politician has a prayer in hell of being elected president in this country. I think there was a poll not too long ago that said something like half of all Americans would never vote for an atheist President, far higher than any religious group. Open agnostics and atheists are the most persecuted group in America, when it comes to running for office.

...so I guess that makes it OK to fake religious devotion in order to get votes?

Uh, Bush is the one who wears it on his sleeve trying to convince people that hes really some huge Christian, as part of his "folksy southern" persona. There's nothing genuine about the man, or his image.

[Mr. Paleoconservative]

Of politicians that make a big deal about their religion, which ones are for real and which are just faking it to get votes? In the for real column, I put Jimmy Carter, Sam Brownback, Joe Lieberman, and Rick Santorum. Big fakers include George W. Bush, Tom Delay, and the Blunts. I can't put my finger on why, but I know these guys are full of crap.

^^^^ I agree with this list entirely.

Howard Dean's behavior is only a reflection of the fact that no openly agnostic or atheist politician has a prayer in hell of being elected president in this country. I think there was a poll not too long ago that said something like half of all Americans would never vote for an atheist President, far higher than any religious group. Open agnostics and atheists are the most persecuted group in America, when it comes to running for office.

...so I guess that makes it OK to fake religious devotion in order to get votes?

What gets me is, if Jimmy Carter is as smart and devoted to his religion as the liberals often say he is, why did he endorse Dean in the Democratic Primaries?  It seems that Carter should be smart enough to see through Dean's facade of faith and stability.

Still, we have to understand, we are talking about the guy who did not realize that cutting funding to the Shah would result in the collapse of a pro-Western government in Iran.

Foreign policy mastermind, indeed.

[memphis]

Of politicians that make a big deal about their religion, which ones are for real and which are just faking it to get votes? In the for real column, I put Jimmy Carter, Sam Brownback, Joe Lieberman, and Rick Santorum. Big fakers include George W. Bush, Tom Delay, and the Blunts. I can't put my finger on why, but I know these guys are full of crap.

^^^^ I agree with this list entirely.

Howard Dean's behavior is only a reflection of the fact that no openly agnostic or atheist politician has a prayer in hell of being elected president in this country. I think there was a poll not too long ago that said something like half of all Americans would never vote for an atheist President, far higher than any religious group. Open agnostics and atheists are the most persecuted group in America, when it comes to running for office.

...so I guess that makes it OK to fake religious devotion in order to get votes?

Uh, Bush is the one who wears it on his sleeve trying to convince people that hes really some huge Christian, as part of his "folksy southern" persona. There's nothing genuine about the man, or his image.

I agree completely. Bush is old New England blue blood. He'd sell America to the devil if the price was right.

[Q]

Did Carter not used to still teach sunday school back home when he was President?

How could he teach Sunday school when he was president?  Surely, he didn't interrupt his summit with Brezhnev, or whatever else was going on, to get back to Plains to teach Sunday school.

He taught Sunday School both before and after serving as President, but I don't think during his tenure.

I have attended his Sunday School several times over the years, and as far as I know, he's still doing it.  It's an incredible experience that I would recommend to anyone regardless of political persuasion.  I can provide more details if anyone's interested.

[memphis]

Did Carter not used to still teach sunday school back home when he was President?

How could he teach Sunday school when he was president?  Surely, he didn't interrupt his summit with Brezhnev, or whatever else was going on, to get back to Plains to teach Sunday school.

He taught Sunday School both before and after serving as President, but I don't think during his tenure.

I have attended his Sunday School several times over the years, and as far as I know, he's still doing it.  It's an incredible experience that I would recommend to anyone regardless of political persuasion.  I can provide more details if anyone's interested.

How does one get signed up for this? It sounds cool.

[Q]

Did Carter not used to still teach sunday school back home when he was President?

How could he teach Sunday school when he was president?  Surely, he didn't interrupt his summit with Brezhnev, or whatever else was going on, to get back to Plains to teach Sunday school.

He taught Sunday School both before and after serving as President, but I don't think during his tenure.

I have attended his Sunday School several times over the years, and as far as I know, he's still doing it.  It's an incredible experience that I would recommend to anyone regardless of political persuasion.  I can provide more details if anyone's interested.

How does one get signed up for this? It sounds cool.

See http://www.maranathachurchplains.org/ -- a link to Carter's schedule of classes is on the left.

All you have to do is get to Plains, Georgia, by 8:30 on most Sunday mornings.  No sign-ups required.

[MODU]

Kennedy did a fair job in trying to play down his religion, but it still came through from time to time.