Barrack Hussein Obama

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Lorizael
Well now he sounds like some whacko Christian fundie. Man, you just can't trust the guy.

If you read the time article he is a liberal Christian, but definitely a Christian.

Jon Miller

[Odin]

Is it just me, or does Ned sound like a law... oh, wait, he IS a lawyer.

[Ramo]

I'm trying to figure out exactly what the most absurd aspect of Ned's "argument" is. I think it might be that Obama's dad was an agnostic (but that must be fake too, given his terrorist name and parents).

[Jon Miller]

Obama's grandparents were muslim, he might be harboring terrorist sympathizes!

JM

[Lorizael]

Openly atheistic? In America? Oh heavens no. All I care about is that a candidate has an honest commitment to the separation of church and state.

[Arrian]

Agreed. Touchy subject, though. Gotta be careful not to sound too librul!

-Arrian

[Wernazuma III]

Originally posted by Odin
Is it just be, or does Ned sound like a law... oh, wait, he IS a lawyer.

Please tell me, this isn't seriously Ned's profession, or is is it?

[Jon Miller]

And that should be what Christian's care about also.

There is a reason why america is still Christian, and it is because we don't have a state church, and haven't had one. This seperation of church and state has not only given advantage to the state, but has kept the state from corrupting the church(es) as much as it might.

Jon Miller

[Lorizael]

It irks me that the requirements for being President seem to be somewhat skewed in America. You have to be thirty five, and you have to be born here, and that's all that's in the Constitution.

Now, I would like it if candidates needed to have a few more qualities, such as intelligence, the capacity to construct a coherent sentence, devotion to the Constitution, and an understanding of diplomacy and foreign affairs.

But it seems most Americans disagree with me, and have adopted their own requirements. These include being white, Christian, male, and married, among other things. What these attributes have to do with fulfilling the duties of chief executive of the country, I don't know.

[Kontiki]

You don't know because you are an American hating terrorist. How many soldiers have you spat on today, commie?

[Aeson]

I'd rather we got rid of the two restrictions than add more. (And it would be best to get rid of the "unspoken" restrictions too... tall, good head of hair, white, male.)

We should have more choice in who we elect, not less.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Lorizael
But it seems most Americans disagrees with me, and have adopted their own requirements. These include being white, Christian, male, and married, among other things.

QFT. If a candidate were African American, or were to let it slip that he was an atheist, or was unmarried, his candidacy would be doomed. I find this extremely surprising, since I know that Americans are some of the most tolerant people around.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Lorizael
It irks me that the requirements for being President seem to be somewhat skewed in America. You have to be thirty five, and you have to be born here, and that's all that's in the Constitution.

Now, I would like it if candidates needed to have a few more qualities, such as intelligence, the capacity to construct a coherent sentence, devotion to the Constitution, and an understanding of diplomacy and foreign affairs.

But it seems most Americans disagree with me, and have adopted their own requirements. These include being white, Christian, male, and married, among other things. What these attributes have to do with fulfilling the duties of chief executive of the country, I don't know.

Buchanan was never married, several presidents (I think) were widowers.

Jefferson and Lincoln were not Christians, AFAICT, and Adams pere and fils were not trinitarians.

Ferraro was nominated for VEEP (a heartbeat away) and Lieberman was almost elected VEEP.

Pelosi is third in line (after the VEEP) and Rice (female AND black) is 5th in line.

[Jon Miller]

I think we will see an African American cadidate before I am 40. We have already had an unmarried one (several, in fact). And Thomas Jefferson was pretty close to atheist, although that was an issue at the time.

JM

[Lorizael]

I can't disagree with you, Aeson. The age requirements for office seems rather silly, and I don't see why the President has to be born in America.

What I'm saying is that I don't understand why Americans don't seem to place more value on things like intelligence, diplomatic skill, etc. when it concerns the nation's highest office.