Seriously, GOP? Really?

[giblets]

& besides, one can't necessarily "keep their religion & politics apart". It's a BS belief that one can divorce something essential to their being from other aspects of their life. If they don't talk about their religion in the public sphere that doesn't mean they don't use it in private decision making. I'd rather know about where they are coming from than not (some would say ignorance is bliss in political motivations). Not like, say, President Obama is talking about it all the time - but I think it is valid to know that part of his motivation for national health care is his faith.

People who find it impossible to discuss government policy without invoking religion are not very desirable for political office. IMO. It's okay if they think God would like it if we helped sick people but I don't want politicians who think God told them to implement universal health care.

[kentonio]

So, as I alluded to Wezil, would you rather they hide their true motivations for their beliefs from you, the voting populace, because their motivations may be seen by some to be "divisive"?

They don't hide their motivations, they just don't wave their religious views around like a flag and imply that those views are the basis for morality. To be honest though I don't care whether a politicians views stem from religion. I care about what their views and positions are. If those align with my own I will support them, regardless of whether I share their faith or not, if they do not then I won't vote for them simply because of a shared overall belief system.

Given that both Obama and say Santorum are both Christians and both state their moral beliefs stem from their religion, how come they manage to be diametrically opposed on nearly every position? What is learned by their relgious outpourings?

[Imran Siddiqui]

They value different things in their faith traditions. It happens.

[Imran Siddiqui]

People who find it impossible to discuss government policy without invoking religion are not very desirable for political office. IMO. It's okay if they think God would like it if we helped sick people but I don't want politicians who think God told them to implement universal health care.

So, for you, John Kerry was more desirable for discussing government policy than Barack Obama simply due to the President's invoking of his religious faith?

[kentonio]

They value different things in their faith traditions. It happens.

So what relevance is there in hearing them talking about how faith underpins their moral system?

[Guynemer]

Most candidates are very genuine

I know you said "about their faith", but even that,

[giblets]

So, for you, John Kerry was more desirable for discussing government policy than Barack Obama simply due to the President's invoking of his religious faith?

I wouldn't say it's that simple but I think in that respect John Kerry was more desirable than Obama.

[Imran Siddiqui]

So what relevance is there in hearing them talking about how faith underpins their moral system?

You have an idea of where they are coming from. Or do you not care?

[kentonio]

You have an idea of where they are coming from. Or do you not care?

I already gave you an example of two people claiming to 'come from' the same moral basing, yet espousing completely different and opposing views. Please explain how this has any value?

[Jon Miller]

Can you say that again in another way that makes sense?

JM

[kentonio]

Can you say that again in another way that makes sense?

JM

Ok, Imran claims that by publically announcing their religious views the voter receives a more transparent view of the politicians motivations. As these motivations appear to result in radically different views and positions, I'm asking what value they have in informing the voters. Simple enough?

[Jon Miller]

Because voters care about motivations?

I know I do.

JM

[kentonio]

Yet as I pointed out those motivations appear to bear no relation to the politicians actual values and beliefs, so again: what value do they have for anything other than tribalist vote grabbing?

[Aeson]

They do bear some relation though. It's a lot like party affiliation. It gives you some idea of how the politician would act in future policy decisions, even though it's not a guarantee.

[Jon Miller]

But they do have relation to how the politician will act in future situations.

And the Christianity of Santorum is different than the Christianity of Obama... so what? That is why I am happy for them to talk a bit about their Christianity and not just mention God once sometime in the last 10 years. Although the latter tells me something too.

The motivation is not 'Christianity' or 'I believe in God'. The motivation is what sort of Christianity (I don't mean which denomination)/etc.

Christianity is not so simplistic that you can just say 'Christian' and understand a whole lot (in Sweden I think many Christians don't even believe in God).

JM