Ethics Newsline®

While some welcome discussion of religion, others view it as pandering

BOSTON
Unprecedented candor about religion among U.S. presidential candidates is raising moral questions about the appropriate role of faith in politics, according to a report from the Christian Science Monitor.

Monitor reporter Ariel Sabar notes that a recent campaign commercial featuring Republican candidate Mike Huckabee, seated near a Christmas tree with “Silent Night” playing in the background, has drawn fire from both sides of the political aisle.

Sabar writes, “To some, the spot was no more offensive or profound than a Hallmark card. But the former Arkansas governor found himself defending it against criticism that its mix of faith and politics went too far.”

The Monitor report notes that “the liberal blog wonkette.com mocked the ad as a ’subliminal floating Christmas cheer,’ a reference to the Cross-like image formed by the brightly lit edges of a bookshelf behind Huckabee. Kathryn Jean Lopez, writing in the conservative National Review, accused Huckabee of ‘using Christ and Christmas to change the subject away from policy and [his] record.’ ”

Pollsters quoted in the Monitor report noted that in general, Americans want their presidential candidates to be religious — but not too religious. After a point, one pollster concluded, more secular voters react negatively to what they view as religious display calculated for political gain.

Source: Christian Science Monitor, Dec. 28.

For more information, see: Related Newsline Commentary, Nov. 6, 2006 — Related Newsline Commentary, Apr. 3, 2006 — Related Newsline story, Mar. 21, 2005 — Related Newsline story, Aug. 30, 2004 — Related Newsline story, July 28, 2003.