The controversial thread to end ALL! - religion AND politics!

Danalana wrote: Nah, it's not really that controversial, but I do have a question...
Does your faith play a role in who you vote for? I know that if you aren't a person of faith, it doesn't play a role. Here's an example of what I mean. My grandmother is Christian, but die-hard Democratic. The trouble is that she would vote for Charles Manson if he was the one running on the Democratic ticket. I kid you not. She didn't care about Clinton sleeping with interns because "it has nothing to do with how he runs the country". But if that had been a republican, she would talk about it for eternity. To me, my faith and the stand the candidate takes on moral issues are much more important. I want a good economy as much as the next person, but I'm not willing to compromise on things that are really important to me.
So anyway, does it play a role in how YOU vote?

lisar replied: It does "NOT" play a role on who I vote for. I look at all the things about them and make my decision based on who will run this country the best.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Haven't we done this one? lol

No, my faith does NOT affect my judgement about who I think has the country's best interests at heart.

I would vote for who I think would do the best job... their personal faith/beliefs has nothign to do with their JOB, and so it really wouldn't matter what their faith / beliefs are...as the two aren't entertwined. Sure they can say certain things..but fact of the matter is, they can't just feel strongly about something and make it happen. It needs to be voted in... and the "voters" on those issues are representing the "people".. so really the leader's personal beliefs are overridden by the "country". it really doesn't matter.

holley79 replied: My granny was the same way. We always joked that if the devil himself ran for president but was a democrat she would vote for him even though she is a die hard Christian.

I just try and listen to what they say. I know it boils down to they talk out one side of their mouth and tell us what we want to hear while they are running but then do something totally different once they are in office. We will just wait and see.

jcc64 replied: I think anyone who rises to that level of power has had to step on alot of people and make alot of moral compromises along the way, so I don't know that it's possible to ever ascertain who the most "moral" candidate is. What each person believes is an essential component of morality is different anyway. And time and again, those politicians who parade their morality before the rest of us sinners are the very ones having sex with prostitutes in bathroom stalls.
My decisions are based on the candidate's political philosophy, period.

Celestrina replied:
ITA. Because of this I am less likely to trust someone who talks about how important his faith is to him. Besides, all too often they seem to think that they will have God's ear simply because of their beliefs.

PrairieMom replied: It is important to me that the person I vote for has a history of good morals, stands for something important, is true to their word, some one that I can trust, someone who isn't in it for personal gain, but to better the country. Can someone find me that candidate? It doesn't even really matter what party they are from, or what religion they are. It helps if they follow SOME faith, but I don't really care if it is the same as mine. I have never votes straight ticket.

PrairieMom replied:
What? our leader is supposed to do what the COUNTRY wants?!?! someone better e-mail Bush.
Just kidding. Not really.

I want a boxing glove smiley for threads like this.

Celestrina replied:
How's this:

PrairieMom replied:
awesome. Can I steal it? how would I go about doing that?

Celestrina replied: Right-click the picture, the click on "save as". You'll see what to do from there.

Danalana replied: Tara, I don't vote straight Republican or Democrat either.
I know they can't just believe something and make it happen. But knowing that person is praying over the country and trying to lead in a manner that is respectable is what I am looking for. And Tara, I agree once again...find me somebody like that! It's funny how they make candidates of faith look like absolute loons, but they do. (DISCLAIMER: I realize not everybody cares about prayer or whatever, I'm just saying that's important to me.)
And in the end it won't matter. In the presidential library, there are comics making fun of presidents that go all the way back to Lincoln. We'll vote somebody in who is gonna make a huge difference, and then the price of bananas will go up, and then it's ON! Seriously, I'm not into politics at all. I mean, I listen to the debates and I vote for people who I believe have the moral sense of at least a snail, but i don't go around talking about it. In fact, this thread is the only time I have talked about it in FOREVER. Nobody is going to satisfy everybody....heck, there will be whole groups who won't like him/her.
Oh, and my grandmother, the die-hard democrat? She also wouldn't vote for a woman. Hey, I wonder if that means she would vote for the republican candidate if Hillary is it for the Democrats? Nah, she'd probably just not vote

Danalana replied: LOL, the boxing smiley looks almost like a little crab

coasterqueen replied: I don't think I've ever met a politician that is completely 100% "moral". So that won't be what I look at when voting.

Danalana replied: Okay, let me clarify what I mean by moral issues...
This is solely theoretical, so don't get offended people! Okay...
If I am against abortion, I am not going to vote for someone who supports it and is going to drive to make it even easier or people to have. Does that make sense? That's just an example, but I chose it because a person's faith often dictates how they feel in that area. I know nobody's perfect, and you don't REALLY know how someone will perform until they are elected. But we can only go on what they say, you know?

TheOaf66 replied: religion is not the only factor for me but it is a factor. But for me it is more of what religious values the candidate has and that is usually in his issues somewhere.

Danalana replied: Me too! I mean, if there were 2 Christian candidates running, I wouldn't be like "oh, either one will be fine!"...I look at other things too. I think my point was that my grandmother has values, but she throws them out the window when it comes to voting...and I mean WAY out. Democrat is the only thing she can think of when it comes to politics, and I don't understand that mind-set.

PrairieMom replied:
ITA. you just don't' get that far up in politics with out being corrupt in some way. I just wish it wasn't always a contest between idiot #1 and Idiot #2.

A&A'smommy replied: Um it plays a LARGE roll in who I vote for but not the only thing I look.. mostly I look for someone who believes in the same thing I do and are willing do something about things that I think are important.

MommyToAshley replied: I haven't read the other responses, but I plan to when I have a little more time.

I am not quite sure what you are asking because you asked about the role of religion but then clarified with an example of voting across party lines.

So, on the party line issue:
I am a registered republican, but I don't always vote republican and have been known to vote across party lines if I think the candidate of the other party better reflects my views. I tend to vote more for the moderate candidates and not a candidate too far extreme on either side. However, more republican candidates tend to have beliefs closer to my own.. at least on the issues I consider most important. This year, I don't know what I am going to do... I am not real thrilled with our choices.

As for religion, I wouldn't vote for someone just because they were of a certain faith. However, religious and moral beliefs often influences where a candidate stands on certain issues. So, yes, indirectly, a candidate's religion does influence my vote.

PrairieMom replied: Do i just copy the image to use that boxing smiley? Sorry, its OT.

Celestrina replied: Nah, there should be a "save image as" option somewhere below "copy image". That is far easier.

Calimama replied:
I agree.

coasterqueen replied:
That will really be the case always along as politics is what it is. One may not look like an idiot, but it's just that they are good at masking it Even if they aren't, Washington will change them, I bet you that.

Cece00 replied: I'm not religious, so no.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
This is me as well. My faith does play a part and I will not compromise my faith in any way if I can help it. Example: I could never vote for someone who was pro-choice, that's just me. It's my conviction, as are other things. After I sort through it that way, I look at everything else and decide who most closely matches my stances. I have to admit I am a bit stumped this year. I have it narrowed down, but I keep changing my mind. So, yes I use my faith most certainly, but I don't vote for someone just because they have the same faith as me, if that makes sense.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I would never vote for someone solely based on their religion, race, gender...etc. This has been asked before.

But as far as moral issues, such as pro-choice, same-sex marriage...these are VERY important issues to me and completely affect which way I vote.

Danalana replied:
Oh ok, let me explain my example. My whole question is whether or not religious values affect your vote for a candidate. My grandmother has values and things that are important to her, but she tosses it all out the window to vote for a certain party. If the Democratic choice goes against everything she believes, she will still vote for that person. So I guess I was asking if it's important enough that it influnces your decision in voting.

Danalana replied:
Yep, that makes sense!



Also, I'm sorry it has been asked before. To be honest, I normally avoid political threads because it frustrates me to no end! Oh, and sometimes I just miss threads. Thanks for not tarring and feathering me. Unless that is indeed the plan...