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Is
our electoral process better off without the polarizing issues
of faith-based politics at center stage? Or does the absence of
explicit moral and religious expression impoverish our political
debate? Our Texas Faith panel weighs in:
MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas
Absence of faith will not impoverish political debate; in fact,
it will enrich it with a focus on the most important economic
need of the day: jobs.
Congress, Senate or the President is not in the business of
establishing or supporting a religion; their responsibility is
to be a catalyst and serve Americans in the pursuit of their
happiness and economic freedom.
Faith should not be a factor in this election, as both parties
stand to lose; the Democrats worry about the Catholic vote and
the GOP stands to lose if they make an issue out of Romney’s
faith, it would mean back peddling.
Social issues will be played out by the Democrats; the
anti-GLBT-abortion-immigration stance of GOP will be a fodder to
the Democrats. The CBS poll in May discovered that 62% of
Americans “believe that same-sex unions should be recognized by
law.” While we remain divided on abortion, Romney cannot
afford to flip flop on immigration.
GOP
may not even succeed in carving up an enemy out of Sharia. First
of all, American Muslims are not asking for it, and secondly it
will not pass the House and Senate, let alone the president
signing it. Democrats will hit them hard for squandering public
time on a non-existent issue.
GOP’s chorus about repealing Obama care on the first day in
office will fall flat on its face, unless both the houses and
the Presidency is Republican. The Republicans would risk losing
votes of the young people benefiting from insurance coverage of
their parents.
As
a disclosure, I am Moderate Republican, and when I posted a note
on Facebook and my blog congratulating fellow Americas upon
Judge Roberts’s decision, an incredible number of Republican men
and women came out of the closet and appreciated the decision.
Thus we have Obama Republicans now.
Absence of faith talk will not be missed, our nation is
operating on Maslow’s hierarchy theory, and Jobs is our
priority, food is more necessary than faith, and abuse of
religion for politics may not work this time.
I
hope the debates remain focused on economy, and for
entertainment they can resort to Presidential dogs, vacations,
Kissing Children, pipe line, fund raising and the price of rice
in China.
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