Too Much Focus
On Religion

New York/JTA

T

such as "faith-based initiatives and
family values;' which one Republican
spokeswoman recently identified as
being "at the heart of our party."
There was less focus on
religious diversity and less
of an effort to call public
attention to the convention's
religious content, prob-
ably because it was less
of a departure from past
Republican programs.

he political campaign season
is now in high gear as the
curtain falls on
the Democrats in Denver
and the Republicans in
Minneapolis-St. Paul.
While much of the
media's focus has been on
handicapping the candi-
dates and their chances in
November, we would like to
call attention to one less-
The Subtlety
publicized aspect of the
In raising our concerns,
Abraham H.
U.S. political scene in 2008,
we mean no disrespect to
Foxman
which we find troubling.
religion or to family values.
Special
This year, there have been
But there comes a point
Commentary
increasing signs that the
when being open about faith
presidential race will pres-
crosses a subtle line into
ent the American public with a pro-
pandering.
foundly unsettling infusion of religion
Some of what we have been seeing in
and religiosity.
this campaign is excessive and aggres-
The trend toward this growing
sive. It goes beyond a candidate's dis-
insertion of faith
cussing how religion
into the presidential
shapes his or her
race was first evi-
worldview. Rather, it's
dent in Denver, and
saying, "Vote for me
then equally so in
because I'm a person
the Twin Cities.
of faith" — and that
At the Democratic
is directly contrary
National Convention,
to the constitutional
the program
principle that there
included panels on
shall be no religious
"How an Obama
test for public office.
Administration will
Both parties seem
Engage People of
to have reached
Faith," "Moral Values
the conclusion that
Issues Abroad;'
appealing to religious
"Getting Out the
voters is good poli-
Faith Vote" and
tics. But what kind of
"Common Ground
message does it send,
on Common Good."
in our religiously
Members of the
diverse society,
clergy from across the
when the two major
religious spectrum
presidential candi-
had a significant
dates sit in a church
presence, conducting Scripture readings
and forthrightly answer Pastor Rick
at a multi-faith "kickoff event" and offer- Warren's questions about their personal
ing invocations and benedictions. There
relationship with Jesus?
was a clear effort to be interdenomi-
Renewed faith-based initiatives,
national, but it was also apparent that
religious outreach teams and religious
the Democrats felt compelled to infuse
programming at the conventions all
religion into their convention in order to
work to curry favor with those who care
be politically viable.
which party is most favorable toward
At the Republican convention,
the religious.
religiously themed events played a
This may be good politics, but it is
prominent role as well. Members of
not healthy for our nation.
the clergy led the convention in prayer
This is not to say that Americans
each day; and there was considerable
should oppose candidates who are reli-
time devoted to discussing subjects
Too Much on page A74

When can didates
campaign, they
should be encour-
aging voters to
make decisions
based on an assess-
ment of their qual-
ifications, their
integrity and their
political positions.

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September 25 • 2008

A73