Ten Questions to ask your Presidential Candidate
Taken from here, came across on the web but they seemed like very sensible questions to ask:
Here are ten questions to draw from or to modify in your own words.
1. Leaders of the religious right often say that America is a “Christian Nation.” Do you agree with this statement?
2. Do you think houses of worship should be allowed to endorse political candidates and retain their tax exempt status?
3. Do you think public schools should sponsor school prayer or, as a parent, should this choice be left to me?
4. Would you support a law that mandates teaching creationism in my child’s public school science classes?
5. Do you think my pharmacist should be allowed to deny me doctor-prescribed medications based on his or her religious beliefs?
6. Will you respect the rights of those in our diverse communities of faith who deem same-gender marriage to be consistent with their religious creed?
7. Should “faith-based” charities that receive public funds be allowed to discriminate against employees or applicants based on religious beliefs?
8. Do you think one’s right to disbelieve in God is protected by the same laws that protect someone else’s right to believe?
9. Do you think everyone’s religious freedom needs to be protected by what Thomas Jefferson called “a wall of separation” between church and state?
10. What should guide our policies on public health and medical research: science or religion?
Recently, during one of the American Republican primaries an audience member stood up with a Bible and said something to the effect of: “What do you all believe about the Bible, we need a candidate that believes this book…” on which point the “other side” (I’m not fond of the 2-party system or the ridiculous games the Republicans and Democrats play with one another and the public) started screaming about religious tests.
Certainly, it is in the Constitution: no religious test to hold office, but something tells me this doesn’t even resemble what the drafters had in mind. However, if it was, and US law actually forbids it- these questions would be highly inappropriate, as well.
Just my obnoxious observation…
amandajanelle
January 21, 2008 at 1:04 am
Not an issue to answer questions about faith, should someone wish to question them.
But it would not be a bare to office what their faith was – nor would they have the power as President to go against the separation of church and state.
Then again there is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. Which I think the questions are asking.
Are these questions related to the separation of church and state? If so then they are questions about how a future President sees the constitution affecting public policy. Therefore legitimate questions to ask.
But I agree that the bible thing was silly, and I am sure that the Republican candidates are wise enough to recognise a snare when they see one. Else beats me how they became candidates for the nomination.
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homoeconomicusnet
January 21, 2008 at 1:13 am