If true, Obama has let me down...

[C-Kwik]

Point taken. Question would then be why would you stay 20 years in a church where you did not agree with the main story line? If I were in a church and the preacher started in on blacks or others I would leave during the first sermon and not 20 years later after the press started talking about it.

I'd be inclined to ask the same question except that it's probably a lot more complicated than this topic alone. Only Obama knows why he stays. And even then, he may only think he knows.

[audtatious]

I'd be inclined to ask the same question except that it's probably a lot more complicated than this topic alone. Only Obama knows why he stays. And even then, he may only think he knows.

Then who should we ask? The Rev? Maybe he doesn't know because he's not sure what to say that would lose him the least amount of votes

[C-Kwik]

Well, there's the catch. Asking someone one such a question will likely result in a fairly calculated answer. And generally, most people have already come to heir conclusion prior to asking such a question. So they will likely look at it in th worst possible interpretation they can. Its a lose-lose for any candidate to answer such a question in most cases. There is a reason I hate politics.

[audtatious]

Sometimes you have to let the cards fall where they may and stop trying to be what you are not simply because of votes.

This goes to all candidates, not just Obama

[HashiriyaS14]

Let us remember that McCain claims that Rob Parsley is his "spiritual guide" and Rob Parsley advocates the wholesale eradication of the Islamic religion.

The fact is, neither candidate is deeply religious and I don't think either one subscribes to the wacko philosophies of these "pastors". They both joined forces with them for political reasons. McCain wanted to appeal to the extreme religious right to help harden his crossover-maverick Image and Obama wanted to reinforce his "blackness" because he doesn't come from a slavery background.

[audtatious]

I thought I had made myself clear that I don't like any of the candidates. The only reason I support Mac at this point is because I feel he is not as bad as Obama, IMO.

[Cold_Zero]

I wonder when we as americans started expecting our politicians to profess a religion to get a vote, Maybe I just wasnt taught that or havent found some of our previous presidents exhorting their faith, but I dont remember much more then a passing statement of what the candidates faith was, and if endorsements where made it wasnt so divisive as it is now. maybe because the media wasnt unfettered as they are now?

To answer your first question, it was the start of the Second Great Awakening that set a lot of this into motion. But to be honest, politics and religion in the United States go way back whether it be Abolitionism, Prohibition or the founding of this country.

I dont know how old you are, but when Jimmy Carter ran, his religion was an issue and topic for discussion. When JFK ran, his religion was an issue. So this is not a totally foreign concept for Presidential Campaigns. Candidates have been courting different religious groups for a long time.bud