Santorum's emphasis on his Christianity is not good for democracy

The Baltimore Sun ^ | February 27, 2012 | Faheem Younus

[presidio9]

Watching Rick Santorum rise in the polls by positioning himself as the real Christian presidential candidate is like watching the sequel of a horror movie — one I literally lived through in the 1980s while growing up in Pakistan. There, another religious zealot, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, played the lead role of the real Muslim.

The plot went like this: The clerics called for candidates with "true" Muslim values, the masses demanded a "Muslim candidate for a Muslim state," the leaders proved their "Muslimness" by quoting scripture and calling others lesser Muslims, and the candidate who was able to appease the clergy privately and please the masses publicly held on to power. The never-ending horror in the name of religion is what followed in Pakistan.

A somewhat similar fusion of church and candidate is apparent in this Republican primary season, where nearly every Republican candidate — except Ron Paul, who would not and Mitt Romney, who could not — has been a rabble-rouser, playing the religion card to rally the conservative Christian base.

Since I have seen a secular country morphing into a theocracy at the hands of a religious fanatic, trust me when I tell you: The aggressive display of theology in our political discourse by the Republican Party in general and Rick Santorum in particular is chipping away at the Jeffersonian wall of separation between church and state.

Realize, though, that I do want to hear what my candidates believe in — what shapes them, what riles them, what motivates them. But that is different than saying, "At the end of the day, I'd rather have a president who worships the same God as I do." (A voter in South Carolina actually said that to a New York Times reporter.)

While Article Six of the United States Constitution provides

[guinnessman]

I think Alexis de Toqueville would disagree.

[NativeNewYorker]

The writer's blog: http://www.muslimerican.com/

Have a barf bag nearby.

[kosciusko51]

So the left is providing a religious litmus test for presidential candidates?

[sauropod]

The Calvert and Center Street Democratic Club is really reaching this time!

[madprof98]

Oh, yeah, Santorum’s Americanized version of Catholicism is the very same thing as radical Islam in Pakistan. Honor killings and all. Better go back home before it’s too late.

[cripplecreek]

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.

-George Washington. (but who ya gonna believe? An old dead white guy or some clown named Fareem)

[dforest]

Looks like this jackass is a muzzie. This is a Republic.

[Kharis13]

There is no comparison. Santorum isn’t calling for any theocracy, although he does believe America has lost her moral compass. That’s a far cry from the hatred fomenting in Pakistan. Islam is hate.

[Kharis13]

There is no comparison. Santorum isn’t calling for any theocracy, although he does believe America has lost her moral compass. That’s a far cry from the hatred fomenting in Pakistan. Islam is hate.

This seems to be just another angle the MSM will take in tearing down our nominee(s).

[Para-Ord.45]

Founding Fathers emphasis on their Christianity in the Declaration of Independence is not good for democracy

THERE, fixed it.

[rockvillem]

I’m not a Santorum supporter, but this article is ridiculous. Santorum isn’t calling on his supporters to MURDER those who disagree with him, last time I checked. Comparing his approach to that of Islam is a slander to Santorum, and I’m not even a fan of the guy.

[ansel12]

I can’t figure out how Bishop Romney escapes this.

If a Catholic Bishop, especially one believed to be destined to become a Cardinal or possibly Pope after his Presidency, were running for the GOP nomination, he and his church would come under deep scrutiny.

Bishop Romney is that guy.

As a Bishop and then a Stake President, Bishop Romney is expected to ascend higher in the Mormon church to at least the level of Cardinal, and possibly to the position of Prophet or Pope, as his uncle was in line to be when death claimed him. Mitt is also the son of a Bishop and is believed by many Mormons to be the fulfillment of the White Horse Prophecy.

[so_real]

Well ... then it's a good thing we live within a democratic republic instead of a pure democracy, wherein we are endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights that cannot be taken from us by a simple majority ruling.

[cumbo78]

Oops! There goes that lecture! Just told three HS classes that the foundations of our government and our laws were based on Judeo Christian values and that the Framers believed that our rights come from a Divine source, not the Government. Oh well!

[CainConservative]

“The writer’s blog: http://www.muslimerican.com/";

Wow!

GO RICK!

[Toespi]

To me, religion is a very personal part of one’s life. I think Ronald Reagan did a wonderful job without invoking Christianity into governing this nation or using it to get votes. He certainly didn’t have use it to demonstrate his morality and leadership.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Santorum may be a bit quixotic, but his policy vision does not come even within a light year of a mullocracy.

This Moose is either clueless or dissembling.

[SkyPilot]

Watching Rick Santorum rise in the polls by positioning himself as the real Christian presidential candidate is like watching the sequel of a horror movie — one I literally lived through in the 1980s while growing up in Pakistan. There, another religious zealot, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, played the lead role of the real Muslim.

Gee, this strawman is so tough to knock down!?

Ummmmmmmmmmmm.........lesssseeeee......

Oh?! Here ya go:

1. Santorum is a Christian

2. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was a Muslim

Other than that....his analogy is spot on!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Mitt’s religion seems to be virtually dogma-less at this point in time.

The worse problem is that it generates a lot of fanatic followers who will want Mitt at almost any cost. Even if he has more waffles than were ever created by Toastmaster brand appliances.