Palin Pushes Religion Test for Presidents!
The Post today has an important op-ed by Bobby Kennedy's "politico" daughter Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. In it, she contradicts Sarah Palin in the latter's book "America by Heart" (*gags*). Palin revisits JFK's famous speech, during his 1960 campaign, to a Houston religious group. He said he wasn't the "Catholic candidate" but rather the "Democratic Party candidate who happens to be a Catholic."
The assassinated President basically upheld the traditional separation of church and state -- something Palin doesn't like. Palin claims the speech was "defensive...in tone and spirit." Townsend says Palin "is upset" that JFK in Houston offered not a "reconciliation" of his private faith and his public role -- but instead "an unequivocal divorce of the two."
KKT writes that, contrary to such a read, "my uncle urged that religion be private, removed from politics," because he tellingly foresaw "candidates tempted to use faith to manipulate voters..." Palin would, evidently, like nothing better than that -- concretely, to be able to wield the easily roused "fundies" (not KKT's word!) to support her candidacy.
Do read the whole piece. It is among the most significant explications of just how dangerous Palin is -- and WHY!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120303209.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
The assassinated President basically upheld the traditional separation of church and state -- something Palin doesn't like. Palin claims the speech was "defensive...in tone and spirit." Townsend says Palin "is upset" that JFK in Houston offered not a "reconciliation" of his private faith and his public role -- but instead "an unequivocal divorce of the two."
KKT writes that, contrary to such a read, "my uncle urged that religion be private, removed from politics," because he tellingly foresaw "candidates tempted to use faith to manipulate voters..." Palin would, evidently, like nothing better than that -- concretely, to be able to wield the easily roused "fundies" (not KKT's word!) to support her candidacy.
Do read the whole piece. It is among the most significant explications of just how dangerous Palin is -- and WHY!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120303209.html?hpid=opinionsbox1