WASHINGTON – Presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was criticized by several religious groups Monday following his remark that America is a Christian nation and that he prefers a Christian president to lead the country.
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(Photo: AP Images / Jim Cole)Republican presidential hopeful, U.S.Sen. John McCain, R-Az.,shakes hands following a campaign stop in Derry, N.H., Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007.
The multi-denominational Web site Beliefnet, which covers religion and spirituality, asked McCain if a Muslim candidate could be a good president.
“I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles … personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith,” McCain said in the interview posted Saturday.
“But that doesn’t mean that I’m sure that someone who is Muslim would not make a good president,” he added, saying he would vote for a Muslim if the person was “best able to lead the country and defend our political values.”
McCain was raised Episcopalian and currently attends a Baptist church in Arizona.
The White House hopeful also said he agreed with a recent poll that 55 percent of Americans believe the U.S. Constitution establishes a Christian nation.
“I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation,” he said in the interview.
Several Jewish and Muslim organizations denounced McCain’s comments arguing that McCain offended America’s pluralistic faith heritage and that there was no religious requirement for public office.
Among the organizations expressing opposition are the American Jewish Committee, the National Jewish Democratic Council, and Council on American-Islamic Relations.
“To argue that America is a Christian nation, or that persons of a particular faith should by reason of their faith not seek high office, puts the very character of our country at stake,” Jeffrey Sinensky, the general counsel of the American Jewish Committee, said in a statement.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), an Orthodox Jew, defended his colleague.
“I have known John McCain very well for many years and I know that he does not have a bigoted bone in his body,” said Lieberman, according to The Associated Press. “I know that he is fair and just to all Americans regardless of their faith.”
McCain also sought to clarify his remarks while campaigning in Hollis, N.H.
“What I do mean to say is the United States of America was founded on … Judeo-Christian values, which were translated by our founding fathers [and are] basically the rights of human dignity and human rights,” he said, according to CNN.
“I believe that anyone can be president of the United States of any faith,” McCain said.
McCain’s spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker, also said, in a statement, that when the interview is “read in context” the statement that America is a Christian nation “is hardly a controversial claim.”
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Maybe that was a bit toooo extreme. I feel bad hes' too old. He always has to CLARIFY!!!
Ahhh McCain a inside out Kerry FlipFlopper lol
muskie84,
Ron Paul, is that you? :) lol
“Ron Paul is the most honest man in Congress.” - John McCain
"Military favors Ron Paul over John McCain"-news headline
www.ronpaul2008.com
I agree with you totally, zenodaddy.Ironic is a good word for it!!
Oh I do not mind at all that he is here... I enjoy differing views of opinions... but when it comes to an outright hatred of Christianity I just find it ironic. I do not frequent the anti-religion websites on a daily basis to spark debates.
Voicing an opinion that directly contradicts or insults the others views as has been done in the past... just take a look at the cartoon that Citizen posted...
However, I enjoy having you here citizen... keeps the blades from getting dull! :-)
I'm not sure what his motivation is.Maybe he just likes to start arguments.Maybe he is actually looking for converts to atheism/Humanism.I know this might be hard to believe, but I actually don't mind having him around.For some strange reason, he helps to keep me sharp and on my toes.It's not enough for me to know what I believe.I want to be able to express to others why I believe what I believe.
No problem GoldenEagle I tend to mistype as well lol.
As for Citizen, I find it interesting that someone with such a distaste for Christianity hovers around this site and posts their opinions on such a regular basis. I would figure someplace like talkorigins.org would be more of your style.
What he's really saying is "I used to be . . . .' (Vote for me!), "I'm now . . . ." (Vote for me!), "I want to become . . . ." (Vote for me!, and "I could accept someone of . . . ." (Vote for me!).
Every time I hear that “Christian nation” rubbish, I want to scream! Sure, several of the colonies had “state religions” prior to the constitution, and it was because of the effects of these that the founders created a purely secular republic.
James Madison, the principle architect of the constitution had this to say in a letter to his friend William Bradford, contrasting the climate in Bradford’s Pennsylvania with that of Virginia:
“You are happy in dwelling in a land where those inestimable privileges are fully enjoyed and the public has long felt the good effects of their religious as well as civil liberty. Foreigners have been encouraged to settle among you. Industry and virtue have been promoted by mutual emulation and mutual inspection, commerce and the arts have flourished and I can not help attributing those continual exertions of genius which appear among you to the inspiration of liberty and that love of fame and knowledge which always accompany it. Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every expanded prospect.”
Thomas Jefferson writing in the “Notes on the State of Virginia, contrasting PA and NY with, again, Virginia.
“The experiment was new and doubtful when they made it. It has answered beyond conception. They flourish infinitely…They do not hang more malefactors than we do. They are not more disturbed with religious dissensions. On the contrary, their harmony is unparalleled, and can be ascribed to nothing but their unbounded tolerance, because there is no other circumstance in which they differ from every nation on earth. They have made the happy discovery that the way to silence religious disputes, is to take no notice of them. Let us too give this experiment fair play, and get rid, while we may, of those tyrannical laws. It is true, we are as yet secured against them by the spirit of the times. I doubt whether the people of this country would suffer an execution for heresy, or a three years imprisonment for not comprehending the mysteries of the Trinity. But is the spirit of the people an infallible, a permanent reliance? Is it government? Is this the kind of protection we receive in return for the rights we give up? …The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of this war, will remain on us long, will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion.”
Perhaps it’s just me, but these two folks don’t sound like they were about to form a Christian nation, or anything like it. McCain needs a history lesson, and you folks need to know when you’re being pandered to.
http://www.bartcop.com/anti-christianBigotry.gif
I meant to say "I like your style zenodaddy".Sorry.
I like what your style zenodaddy.What also bothers me is when Christians say they believe one thing, and then turn around and vote the opposite of what they say they believe.I personally know of professing Christians who do this.It is troubling!!
The Christian vote is the most powerful vote in this country and has been for the past 200 years. We have never had a President who did not at least pretend to be 'Christian'.
If every Christian who could vote in this country, actually voted, we would never have a President who we did not want in the White House... unfortunately the sad statistic is that most Christians do not vote and 'leave it to God'... which is absurd.
If you do not vote then you have no right to ever complain about what the government is doing with your freedom, wars, money or religious freedom... ever, period, exclamation point.
You don't think the Christian vote is important to these guys? Just look at what Giuliani and McCain have said recently.Very interesting!!