“Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance,” whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left or Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson on the right.”

John McCain spoke these brave words during his 2000 presidential run. The straight-talking maverick wasn’t afraid to confront and denounce the “agents of intolerance” who are a divisive and corrupting influence in our society.

McCain delighted secularists with these comments, but the GOP base was offended and McCain became anathema to the Republican faithful.

George W. Bush went on to win the Republican nomination and the White House; McCain licked his wounds and reemerged as a presidential candidate for the 2008 campaign.

McCain knows that at his advanced age this is his last presidential run, and he is determined to win this time. McCain is convinced that he can’t prevail without the support of the religious right, aka agents of intolerance.

We first saw the new evangelical McCain in 2006 when he gave the commencement address at Liberty University — the Mecca of fundamentalism founded by Jerry Falwell.

In 2000 McCain ran as an Episcopalian, but in his latest incarnation he is a Baptist. McCain is shameless in his pandering to the evangelical right; I wouldn’t be surprised if he speaks in tongues to a Pentecostal congregation.

McCain has “evangelicalspeak” down pat as demonstrated by this recent statement:

“‘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. ‘But that doesn’t mean that I’m sure that someone who is Muslim would not make a good president.’

Later, McCain said, ‘I would vote for a Muslim if he or she was the candidate best able to lead the country and defend our political values.’ He added that ‘the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation.’”

Quote from the Associated Press

These divisive words are a slap on the face to Jews, Muslims, atheists and anyone who is not an evangelical Christian. America is a pluralistic society and religion should not be injected in a political campaign.

Not only are McCain’s comments divisive but they are also not true, the Constitution was not founded on Christian principles. The Constitution does not even mention God, Jesus or Christianity.

A presidential candidate’s qualifications should not be based on his fidelity to the Bible but on his understanding and faithfulness to our Constitution. I don’t care if a presidential candidate is Christian, Jewish, Mormon or an atheist, as long as he promises to abide by our Constitution.

REFERENCES:

1. Conservatives Without Conscience
2. Blocking the Courthouse Door: How the Republican Party and Its Corporate Allies Are Taking Away Your Right to Sue
3. Naked Republicans: A Full-frontal Exposure of Right-wing Hypocrisy and Greed
4. Revive Us Again: The Reawakening of American Fundamentalism
5. Soldiers Of God: White Supremacists and Their Holy War for America

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