Are You Now or Have You Ever Been....

When I first read this column in the New York Times by Bill Keller, I could barely believe my eyes.  Keller has a little "questionnaire" for presidential candidates (only Republican ones, of course) - with questions such as this one:

A recent article in The Texas Observer questioned your relationship with the New Apostolic Reformation, which advocates the belief that Christians and only Christians should hold dominion over earthly institutions.  A number of leaders of this movement were given prominent roles in the prayer event called the Response. Would you like to clarify your relationship with these leaders? Do you hope for their support in your campaign?

Am I the only one who was immediately struck by the similarity of Keller's inquisition, and the ones that Joseph McCarthy delivered in the 50's?  "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Christian religion?"

Of course, as more than a few have pointed out, this sort of religious testing would never ever be aimed at Democrats running for president.  But, they have kindly assisted in producing questionnaires for the left, such as this one for MN congressman Keith Ellison, who happens to be a Muslim.

4. When you were a member of the Nation of Islam, did you believe that Yakub was a black scientist who lived “6,600 years ago” and was responsible for creating the white race to be a “race of devils”?

5. Have you joined a mosque in Minneapolis? When did you join it?

6. Do you believe that Islamic law should be the law of the land in the United States? Do you think Islam should be subordinate to the constitutional separation between church and state?

7. You are a liberal Democrat who advocates the Democratic Party’s positions on gay rights, abortion, and feminism. Which branch of Islam comports with your position on these issues?

Are you offended by the above?  If you are, then you should be equally offended at the questions Keller feels perfectly comfortable levying at religious conservatives.

And, as was highlighted at HotAir, we assuredly should have equal time questioning for the presidential candidates.  If Keller wants to ask these questions of those considering being the Republican candidate - then where was his list for candidate Obama?

Comments

[jammen]

So you have already forgotten your post "Agnostics for Perry"?

Jammen: "So you like Rick (no jews allowed) Perry?"
Peg: "Yeah, well - bullshit about Perry and Jews, Jammen. Just making it up as you go along again, eh?"

As the Texas Observer story shows many people do care about a candidates religious beliefs. That includes all candidates not just Republicans.

We do not share your idealistic opinion that they will be able to separate their religious beliefs from their duties as President.

[Richard]

Though my grandfather is a Church of God minister, I'd like to know whether Rick Perry believes in science and the scientific method. I know y'all would like to put that down to The Liberal Press, but come on - the man doesn't believe in Global Warming, but he does believe he can hold a prayer meeting to end the drought in Texas? What did he think was going to happen?

As for Keith Ellison - he's been getting grilled on Sharia Law by everyone from Fox News to the John Birch Society, for as long as he's been in Congress. Come the day he runs for President, every bigot in the Republic Party will raise dark questions about his citizenship, and Donald Trump will use it for the talking point in his next run for president.

[Peg]

Colbert King, liberal pundit, says it far better than I can:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-does-a-candidates-religion-matter/2011/09/02/gIQANxiexJ_story.html

I don’t have a right to know what a candidate thinks about the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Decalogue or the Second Coming. I do, however, need to know about a candidate’s fealty to the Constitution and laws of the land. And, in reaching a judgment about a candidate’s fitness for office, I will want to know where that person stands on a host of issues, including the social safety net, defense, climate change, teaching evolution, and his or her willingness and ability to defend the rights and protection of the law promised to all citizens. But learning about a candidate’s views on public matters ought to be enough. Whether those views are informed by religion or by non-belief is not my chief concern.