HANOVER, N.H. – In the final moments of the Democratic presidential debate here last night, after nearly two hours of wading through their differences on Iraq, health care, tax policy and a variety of other weighty matters, the candidates were asked a crisp question: What is your favorite Bible verse?
In the so-called Lightning Round of the debate, there was little time to elaborate. And none of the candidates cited a specific chapter or verse.
The answers from Mr. Obama and Mr. Richardson, for example, come from the Gospel of Matthew. The reply from Mr. Edwards also comes from Matthew, Chapter 25.
Why do we even care about candidates favorite scripture quotes? I’m sure george bush has one too and we all know what kind of “christian” he is. Leave the myths of the bible out of the political arena.
Dennis Kucinich can be forgiven for citing St. Francis, who was profoundly influenced by Jesus, believing that he had personal experience of the Crucifixion.
As for the Sermon on the Mount, I can say from my early years in India that its very moving sentiments reach across cultures and religions.
The one question I have is to what extent Presidential candidates have gone into religion because so many Americans find it so central in their lives. This may be an instance where voters sway what the candidates say, some more than others. It seems that in the present atmosphere an honest skeptic would be a vote-loser. Thomas Jefferson had his troubles on this score.
Dennis Kucinich didn’t answer the question but he gets good marks for picking a beautiful sentiment. For Barack Obama, he should note that the Sermon on the Mount is much more than a single principle. Senator Clinton likes the golden rule which is a part of virtually every religion. First prize goes to Senator Dodd. It is specific enough to be quite useful. This was a great question.
You don’t really want Iran doing to the US what the US has done to Iran, do you?
I wonder why you noted in your article that none of the candidates cited a specific chapter or verse of the Bible. I was unaware that there was a religious test for public office in the United States.
Isn’r there something in the Bible about “beware of false prophets”?
I cringed when Russert asked that question, & was baffled as to why he’d ask such a stupid question….
Why force religion on a political debate:we already have a nut case in the white house with a hot line to God.
My favorite is John Edwards- but I have always been a sucker for the underdogs, and that scripture is the perfect example of our duty and responsibility in this life. But, I have to go along with comment #6. Anyone who does not agree with Article VI truley scares me.
It’s absurd that politicians have to respond to that question to keep their political lives afloat. Why do politicians have to offer their favorite sentence or theme of a mediocre book of fiction?
every time I read a story like this I can only think of what Benjamin Franklin said at the end of the constitutional convention…”you have a republic, if you can keep it”…seems like we loose more of it every day.
It was a cheap shot, period. Religion has no place in deciding who will be our leaders. I understand completely its importance to a majority of Americans, but what a stupid question! It’s pandering and it’s pointless. And what, I can only imagine, would have been the response of a Jew or Muslim on the stage, much less an atheist? It just illustrates how dumb the politicians and media think we are or want us to be. Comment from above on Constitutional Article VI is right on.
I don’t know if I agree that most people who can recite scripture are “mean-spirited”, but I certainly agree that we shouldn’t care what their favorite Bible quotes are – that’s a ridiculous question. Are we supposed to have separation between church and state? I wish one of the candidates had the audacity to refute the question. I would have supported him/her.
Regarding article 6 of the constitution: Amen brother!
Most comments seem to be from atheists. Perhaps a Christian ought to speak too. Christians care very much what politicians think about moral and spiritual matters, and they can see through the question and the answers. Using God’s word to advance one’s self is blasphemy.
The question is relevant and very poignant. It drills down to the core of each of these candidates for the Democratic Presidential Nominee. They all court the religious vote when they need it. Do dog and pony shows in churches in New Orleans or wherever it looks good to be in church, say during the MLK weekend. But when pressed, none of them no not one can recite a Bible verse. While the U.S. Constitution does exempt candidates from a religious test, this Country was founded and that Constitution written by men who trusted their Faith in God. So when push comes to shove these Democrats will likely put their trust in man. That will lead to utter failure.
It was disappointing to hear this question as a part of a political debate. I’m not at all interested in the irrational beliefs of various candidates, and I would repeat something noted upthread; that the US Constitution states that there will be NO RELIGIOUS TEST for ANY public official.
This is nauseating. Whatever one’s religious affilations are or aren’t, it’s still their actions that matter.
Senator Joseph Biden said christ warning about the pharisees.Senator Joseph Biden does not believe in abortions.
Of all the important issues the Democratic candidates spoke about last night, we get to read about this. Outstanding.
Why do we even care about philosophies of Mike Steinmeyer; or why does he think we care? The belief system of Mike Steinmeyer is not important to who Mike Steinmeyer is as a person or how he relates to others, and his myths + facts as to how the society, the world, and-or universe really work should be internalized ad infinitum.
That was nice. I am tired of the Republicans thinking that they have a monopoly on Bible verses.
Someone should have mentioned the casting stones verse to demonstrate that Republicans are so good at casting them when they are not without sin.
Post #7, Maureen Hardman. Yes, you are right, and we all got hosed mightily by George Bush on that score. He and his band of religious rightwingers and assorted evangelists remind me of the Pharisees of whom Jesus was so critical. In the Catholic church, there used to be a saying that “the converts always sing the loudest.” Lately, we’ve had a vocal, intolerant chorus of religious ‘leaders’ outshouting everyone on the VALUES issue, and look how phony so many of them are. So, who cares what biblical verse, if any, speaks to a candidate? The true test of character is how you behave when no one is looking..how you treat the weakest among you….are you honest, and do you do the right thing even when it is hard? These values transcend all religions.
A Mob Rumble in the G.O.P. Primary?