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"Political leaders should separate themselves from their religious beliefs when making policy statements or decisions."
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| Total # of Responses: 531 - 2/5/04 |
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35% |
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7% |
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6% |
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7% |
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40% |
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We have received feedback on this issue from people all across America. Review the graph to the left for a quick snapshot of the responses received to date, or read the responses below.
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V, CA
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... absolutely *should* ... 
January 28,2004
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Ethics absolutely *should* influence their decisions, but our founding fathers specifically desired a country free from the tyranny of a religious dogma. Religious text passages have no place in government. Especially given that there is a strong contingent of Americans who view those texts as, at best, metaphorical examples of how to lead one's life and, at worst, as pure fiction.
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Wardell, OH
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... they represent us
...
January 28,2004
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Political Leaders are elected on the basis of their religious beliefs by the people. We have faith that their influence in policy statements and decisions will reflect our own while they represent us in the political arena. Otherwise, they would not be our elected political leaders.
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Ricardo, FL
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... education in spiritual ...
January 28,2004
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The day will come when political leaders will have spiritual advisors to assist them. A spiritual advisor has to be non-sectarian and would have enough realization, at least to acknowledge that God only can be One, that can be reached and addressed in many ways, but with the same divine principles established in all revealed scriptures. Are the religious leaders who historically have distorted the essence of the scriptures to accomodate them to their political interests. One day, the people will have enough education in spiritual awareness that religions will have to naturally take their place as simple assistants and not the "owners" of their follower's faiths.
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William, CA
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... can be ignored
...
January 28,2004
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In the PBS Flashpoint program on "God and Country", many supporters of religion in government talked about prohibiting certain actions/behaviors because they were regarded as 'sin'. If one cannot make a secular case for a particular issue, then it can be ignored. You can choose to eat Kosher, but if you want to government to outlaw bacon cheeseburgers, then we've got a problem.
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James, MO
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... behavior is based
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January 28,2004
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The two cannot be separated, our behavior is based on what our core beliefs are
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George, IA
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... though the earth was flat
...
January 28,2004
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The fact that over 80% of Americans believe in the existence of a god makes it difficult for politicians to give up the usual "God bless America" line. However, let's just remember that 8 centuries or so ago more than 80% of the the western world though the earth was flat.
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Greg, TX
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... brain makes them ...
January 28,2004
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Bay Bucannans' assertion that it is an endearing quality of political leaders to get advice from a "higher power" is scary. I vote for the person whose brain makes them the higher power, not someone who actually thinks they hold counsel with "God"!
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Rev. Brigi, MD
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... right to their religious beliefs
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January 28,2004
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I believe political leaders have the Constitutional right to their religious beliefs. I also believe they should not allow their religious beliefs to influence policy statements or decisions. I am very firmly in support of the separation of church & state. I believe the President has overstepped his authority by his executive orders so he could go around Congress to finance religious organizations in his faith-based initiative. I believe he has overstepped his authority as President in promoting marriage as part of the welfare reform. Government has no business in the lifestyle choices of the citizens. I also believe government has no business banning same sex marriage. Government needs to stay out of our religious organizations, our relationships & our bedrooms. I believe this President has allowed his religious beliefs to interfere with his proper handling of his job responsibilities. He has violated his oath to uphold the Constitution of the US which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" (separation of church & state).
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Bea, VA
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... best blueprint in world ...
January 28,2004
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I don't think it's possible to separate ourselves from our beliefs anymore than we can our history, and no one is born in a vacuum.
I think political leaders have access to the best blueprint in world history to guide their decisions: the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and U.S. Constitution. As Justice Brennan observed, "they're holy writ." Nobody said these documents would make governing easy, but if adhered to they guarantee freedom, equality, and rule of law.
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Davon, CA
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... need to be extremely respectful
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January 28,2004
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I believe that the premiss of Separation of Church and State is just that. Politicians, like everyone else, are free to believe in what ever they want, however, as elected officials they need to be extremely respectful of other's beliefs.
If a politician is forcing his/her views on the public, they should be removed from office.
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Thomas, WA
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... nothing to do with
...
January 28,2004
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Gwen Ifill was totally wrong on Flashpoints USA Tuesday night when she claimed a case brought before the US Supreme Court by famed atheist Madalyn Murray O¹Hair in 1963 resulted in government prayers being removed from public schools. O¹Hair had nothing to do with the School Prayer case and decision.
The School Prayer decision was Engels v. Vitale in the 1962 session of the court. It was brought by a group of parents from New Hyde Park, NY, challenging official state prayer written by the New York assembly and imposed on students by law. O¹Hair was a resident of Baltimore, MD.
The group of plaintiffs included two Jews, a Unitarian, and an Episcopalian among others. There was not a true atheist in the bunch.
O¹Hair brought a case in 1963 which was combined with, and subordinated to, a case from Pennsylvania known as the Bible-Reading Cases. Either Ifill, or your editors and produces could have researched this matter to present accurate information on an important issue.
The program was an important and interesting presentation. Unfortunately, neither host seemed knowledgeable enough about the subject matter to challenge some of the outrageous statements made by some interviewees.
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Stephanie , OH
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... MORALLY BANKRUPT
...
January 28,2004
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THIS WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY TRUE IF WE WANTED HYPOCTRICAL LEADERS WHO WERE MINDLESS AND MORALLY BANKRUPT!
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Tom Jordan, VA
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... STAY OUT OF POLITICS
...
January 28,2004
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I enjoyed the show. Thank you for discussing this issue. I will now become a member.
And RELIGION SHOULD STAY OUT OF POLITICS
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Gabriela, NY
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... people need that
...
January 28,2004
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We need a good Christian role model in the public eye. There are not too many out their and the people need that. This is the morality of the USA lately....brittney kissing madonna wow that's cool man....Give me a break. Never mind heading towards disaster, we are already there!
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Cathy, VA
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... influencing decisions
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January 28,2004
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Yes, Christian political leaders should base their decisions on their faith. However, I think most leaders go about this the wrong way by alienating people and making decisions that specifically endorse Christianity. Faith influencing decisions does not always have to mean endorsement of that particular faith.
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Walter, IN
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... lets their light shine ...
January 28,2004
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I am proud for any famous person or respected leader, such as our president, who have put their faith and trust in God through Jesus Christ and proclaims it in word, tongue, deed and in truth, who lets their light shine and not hide it under a bushel. We have Good News to share and we should never be "ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." Just as I was born physically into my natural family with a father, no matter what I do, go, or become no one can take that part of my physical father out of me and it is always part of my character. So it is when I was "born again" (John 3:3-7)into my spiritual family by the Holy Spirit of God. It is always part of my new character and cannot be seperated from me. (Romans 8:38,39)
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James, CA
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... what happened
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January 28,2004
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Just look at what happened in Afganistan when the politicians followed there religion.
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Susan, MN
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... not afraid of mere man
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January 28,2004
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Oh, that we would have godly men in office. Men who love Christ, respect the laws of God and are not afraid of mere man. What a wonderful place this would be!
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Dennis, TX
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... in flux
...
January 28,2004
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The belief systems of individuals changes greatly over the course of a lifetime. Religious systems are also in flux, but the Presidency is too important an office to allow prejudices based on biased decisions of faith.
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Susan, TN
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... no trust for a "leader
...
January 28,2004
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The only leader I can trust is one who makes decisions based on core values, including religious faith. I have no trust for a "leader" who leads in the direction that the political winds and polls blow.
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