Kerry and Religion (NYT)/ and the example of Kennedy's 1960 campaign

[fiorello]

Personal observation: Kerry desperately needs to reach out to religious conservatives. Not to pander to their positions on abortion or gay marriage, but to make them feel included.

That's what John F. Kennedy did in 1960. He also had problems with evangelical Protestants, because he was Catholic. So he arranged to appear before a large convention of evangelicals (Southern Baptists, I believe). He delivered one of his most eloquent speeches, promising that his Catholic faith would never interfere with his duties as President. (Sounds quaint now.)

Imagine if Kerry did the same. (Of course, I personally prefer a president who values science - but religious people need to feel included.)

Here is what the NY Times reported:

At a town hall forum on Monday in New Hampshire, the senator never uttered the words faith, moral, religion, prayer, conscience or God, instead conjuring Galileo and other scientists who once drew the wrath of established religion.

Aides attribute Mr. Kerry's visible discomfort in discussing religion to his Catholic upbringing in reserved New England, a contrast to Mr. Bush's spiritual rebirth into the more confessional tradition of evangelical Christianity. Also, pollsters say that the secular liberals, including many Jews, who make up part of the Democrats' base often recoil at blending religion and politics.

Polls suggest that Mr. Kerry may be paying a price for his privacy, with nearly three-quarters of the public wanting a president of "strong religious faith," and a swath of independent voters who identify as religious swaying toward Mr. Bush

"There are a lot of middle-of-the-road Catholics and middle-of-the-road Protestants who aren't over there with the religious right but who take their faith very seriously and who are open to appeal," said Prof. John C. Green of the University of Akron.

"He has a right to speak about his faith in ways that he chooses, and I will speak about mine in the ways that I think are appropriate," Mr. Kerry said. "I'm going to talk somewhere, in an appropriate moment - I'm not sure when or where - you know, values and faith."

Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/07/politics/campaign/07memo.html?pagewanted=all&position=

[MrBenchley]

1. Worth noting

In 1960 the GOP spun furiously about Kennedy would let his religion interfere with politics...in 2004 they're spinning even more furiously that Kerry WON'T let his religion interfere with politics...

[skylarmae]

2. What pisses me off about this - They are so religious

but nothing but lies come from georgie porgie and its OK. I've been
so mad about this for so long, being the black sheep (of course) in
a family full of holier-than-thou mormons. (Utah most Republican
state in the Union).

[Bill McBlueState]

3. I just don't get it.

nearly three-quarters of the public want<s> a president of "strong religious faith"

Nowhere else in the developed world do people think like this. In any other developed nation, a leader would be laughed out of office if he carried on about "The Almighty" the way Bush does.

I think Europe's centuries of experience with the divine right of kings has led them to really appreciate the separation of church and state. Maybe it's just another area where we have some national growing up to do.

[fiorello]

4. I don't get it either....

I'd love it for politicians to just say "religion has no place in politics." Wish I lived in a country that believed that... and that wouldn't tolerate the Chimp.

Maybe if politicians stood up and said it, people would start to think! Maybe it would be better if Kerry said that - because it seems that is what he really believes.