Tag: Faith and politics

When she was director of religious outreach for John Kerry’s Democratic presidential campaign four years ago, Mara Vanderslice could hardly have seemed lower on the campaign totem pole.

“It could not have changed more in only four years,” Vanderslice said. “The Obama campaign has six staff people (on religious matters). Josh DuBois (Obama’s head of religious outreach) is actively speaking to the press. They’re doing ‘Faith and Family’ tours.”

appears that Sen. Liddy Dole (R-NC) has lost either her marbles or control of her campaign. Dole has unleashed a ridiculously bombastic ad that tries to slime her opponent, Kay Hagan as “Godless.” Hagan has put in time as both a Sunday school teacher and church elder in a Greensboro Presbyterian church her family has attended for more than a century.

“Liberals hate real Americans that… believe in God.”

Left-leaning Christian and social activists see opportunity in an unconventional presidential race and a spiraling national economy: pushing poverty as an election issue. At a time when more than 37 million Americans are in poverty, including many who are newly poor and paying keen attention, spiritual leaders are urging voters to select candidates who will fight poverty.

A small group of Catholic pro-lifers, exemplified by Douglas Kmiec and Nicholas Cafardi, has concluded that criminalization is a failed strategy. These pro-lifers argue that abortion will not be criminalized in the foreseeable future and that it is time for pro-lifers to be more pragmatic and support candidates who will actually reduce the number of abortions through social programs that help women choose life when they get pregnant.

Siblani says Muslims are angry with McCain. But he says many are disgusted with Obama, who he says wants the benefit of his community’s vote without the liability of being seen with Arabs and Muslims.

There is a huge amount of animus toward Islam among the voting public — a poll last year by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 45 percent of Americans said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who was Muslim.

The level of religious service attendance had no effect on choice of candidate by race, according to the survey. However, spiritual affiliation, view of the Bible and the racial composition of congregations did, he said.