National candidates run on faith
Lieberman and Bush bring religious discourse with them to the political platform
From, The Kentucky Citizen Digest, January/February, 2001.

Thus far, the new millennium has ushered in an even more restrictive definition of “separation of church and state,” a concept many erroneously claim is contained in the Constitution.  In only ten months, citizens of this great land of freedom called America have watched prayer been shut out, not only of schools, but also of the opening of football games.  In a further attempt, the American Civil Liberties Union is fighting, not only voluntary, student led prayer, but also thirty-second, spontaneous recitation of the Lord’s Prayer by fans at these events.  Additionally, battles in legislatures around the country, particularly here in Kentucky rage over the placement of the Ten Commandments in public places.

Despite these restrictions, religion is still a vital part of American society, as evidenced by the unexpected resurgence of “faith” in this year’s presidential campaign.  When listening to the stump speeches delivered by both the Republican presidential candidate and the Democratic vice-presidential candidates, one might get more of a feeling they are part of a religious service than a presidential campaign.  Though many candidates for the presidency have claimed to be Christians or to be born again throughout the last several years, not since Jimmy Carter in 1976 has personal belief been discussed so openly.  In the past, candidates have allowed their faith to seep out during speeches in ambiguous ways through rhetoric such as “love thy neighbor,” and emphasis on family.  However, this year, both Senator Lieberman and Governor Bush have made it abundantly clear that their beliefs impact their lives and decisions.

Democratic vice-presidential candidate Senator Joe Lieberman remarked at a gathering in the Midwest “We need to reaffirm our faith and renew the dedication of our nation and ourselves to God and God’s purposes.”  Moreover, he stood before a Detroit crowd stating he was “standing . . . as a witness to the goodness of God.”  Lieberman has taken his core belief in God a step beyond what most politicians would dare to do, by utilizing the Fourth Commandment of “honor thy father and mother” as an endorsement for his prescription drug plan that will benefit seniors.  Though in “safe” company, among an association of ministers, Lieberman may have overstepped the bounds, as clearly a $300 billion plan is not the only way to care for the aging.

Of the four individuals on the major presidential tickets, Lieberman undoubtedly invokes his faith more than all combined but he wasn’t the first to emphasize the importance of faith in his personal life.  Last December, during the primary debates when Republican nominee George W. Bush was asked to identify the thinker who had the greatest effect on his life, he answered “Jesus Christ.”  Bush explained, because “He has changed my heart.”  In his recent biography, Bush devotes an entire chapter to his religious journey. Citing problems with alcohol and lack of direction in his life, Bush attributes his positive change to Jesus.

So how has all of this been received by the public?  Believe it or not, most have received both candidates emphasis on their personal faith exceptionally well.  It may be because they emphasize two different beliefs that both are taken in balance.  Additionally, since 95 percent of most Americans believe in God in some facet, to hear Bush and Lieberman speak is natural. Indeed, if one of the candidates attempted to hide a serious health problem from the voters it would be viewed as a breech of trust.  Some assert that hiding one’s most deeply held beliefs would just be wrong.

Both candidates have their fair share of detractors, but the criticism received, is from likely sources.  Americans United for Separation of Church and State wrote to discourage Lieberman from speaking any further about his religious faith.  Even his Jewish friends at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) have warned him to stop emphasizing his faith, calling such campaigning “inappropriate.”  ADL National Chairman Howard P. Berkowitz and ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman wrote in an open letter, “We feel very strongly, and we hope you would agree, that appealing along religious lines, or belief in God, is contrary to the American ideal.”

On the contrary, conservatives have argued for decades that religious values are intertwined in our Constitutional framework. James Madison, the fourth president and father of the U.S. Constitution made faith an issue when he said, “We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the ten commandments of God.”

Like Lieberman, Bush was criticized for speaking of his faith.  Though his comments have been more along the lines of “acceptable” religious expression.  Nonetheless, campaign watchers across the political spectrum appear interested in the candidates openness about their religious values. Though no one has directly said it, nor can it be definitively determined, it seems that citizens are respecting Bush and Lieberman for their honesty — an ingredient the White House has been lacking of late.  In reality, it is simply more likely, that the American people are just not on board with the ACLU’s push to rid the public square of all that is good and wholesome?

Finally, while religious faith is a hot issue in this campaign, the electorate remains challenged to carefully examine the candidate’s faith not just by their words but by their actions and policy proposals, so that citizens are not just taking a leap of faith in the voting booth.
 
 
 

Key Family Foundation Contacts: Kent Ostrander, Executive Director Martin Cothran, Senior Associate Policy Analyst