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May 2008 Archives

Both Barack Obama and John McCain have faced controversy because of sermons and statements by clergy who endorsed their candidacies for president. RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY managing editor Kim Lawton talks about the responsibilities of pastors and politicians with Ambassador Tony Hall, a Democrat from Ohio who served in the House of Representatives for nearly 25 years. Hall says candidates should not be held accountable for everything that clergy who have endorsed them have said and done. He also praises his party for improving its faith-based outreach.

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By Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on May 30, 2008 1:19 PM | Comments (1)

Some in the American Jewish community are raising questions about Barack Obama's commitment to the state of Israel, questions that are being exploited by his political opponents.  The Republican Jewish Coalition has sponsored newspaper ads accusing Obama of "dangerously naïve foreign policy thinking" when it comes to the Middle East. On May 22, 2008, Obama held a town hall meeting at the B'nai Torah Congregation, a synagogue in Boca Raton, Florida.  In these excerpts from his speech, Obama pledges an "unshakable commitment" to Israel and argues that the war in Iraq actually endangers Israel.

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By Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on May 28, 2008 12:22 PM | Comments (2)

On July 7, 2007, John McCain addressed the Christians United for Israel summit in Washington, DC, a meeting organized by Texas megachurch pastor John Hagee. In these excerpts from the speech, McCain thanks the controversial pastor for his "spiritual guidance" and praises their mutual support of Israel. McCain also speaks about the threats facing Israel from what he calls the "forces of evil," and he links Israel's future to the war in Iraq. On May 22, 2008, McCain rejected Hagee's endorsement of his candidacy for president, saying he found some of the pastor's past comments about the Holocaust "offensive and indefensible." On the same day, Hagee said he was the target of "baseless attacks" and withdrew his endorsement of McCain.

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By Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on May 23, 2008 4:38 PM | Comments (2)

John McCain sought and received the endorsement of Texas megachurch pastor John Hagee because of their shared support of Israel. But this week, McCain rejected Hagee's endorsement because of some past controversial comments. Meanwhile, Barack Obama is trying to reassure voters about his support for Israel. RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY managing editor Kim Lawton looks at the complicated role the issue of Israel is playing in the presidential campaign.

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By Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on May 23, 2008 11:44 AM | Comments (1)

Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire Gene Robinson talks with RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY managing editor Kim Lawton about endorsing political candidates and making a connection between "what we say we believe and how we vote."

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By Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on May 16, 2008 10:45 AM | Comments (3)

Allen Hertzke, professor of political science and director of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma, surveys the challenges John McCain faces with religious voters, the evangelical vote, foreign policy and religious freedom issues on the campaign trail, Muslim voters, and more.

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By Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on May 9, 2008 3:58 PM | Comments (0)

Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, spoke with RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY on May 7 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, where he was part of a group releasing "An Evangelical Manifesto," a statement calling for a reconsideration of the evangelical movement's role in public life He talked about race, rhetoric, politics, and evangelicals in 2008, beginning with religion's prominent role in the current presidential campaign.

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By Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on May 7, 2008 4:13 PM | Comments (0)

Zogby International's tracking survey of likely Democratic voters in the May 6 primaries in Indiana and North Carolina shows "a convincing lead" for Barack Obama in North Carolina and a race "simply too close to call" in Indiana. In North Carolina, tracking polls on the final day before the primary elections show Obama winning 72% support among nonwhite evangelicals, 75% among nonwhite Protestants, and 73% among nonwhite Catholics. According to Zogby, the African American vote in the North Carolina primary is expected to be about 32%. The North Carolina polls also show white Catholics divided 47% for Obama and 42% for Hillary Clinton -- closer than in many previous primaries, where Clinton has demonstrated considerable support among white Catholics. Also in North Carolina, the tracking polls of likely Democratic voters show Hillary Clinton winning support among white evangelicals (65%) and white Protestants (53%). In Indiana, Obama holds a three-point lead among all Catholics, while Clinton holds a similarly small edge among all Protestants, according to Zogby.

Indiana Likely Democratic Primary Voters

 White Evangelical/ Born Again % Non White Evangelical/ Born Again % White Protestant % Non White Protestant % White Catholic % Non White Catholic % Other %
Hillary Clinton 53 12 51 14 46 38 33
Barack Obama 28 75 37 76 38 51 54
Other/ Not Sure 19 13 12 10 16 11 13
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
North Carolina Likely Democratic Primary Voters

 White Evangelical/ Born Again % Non White Evangelical/ Born Again % White Protestant % Non White Protestant % White Catholic % Non White Catholic % Other %
Hillary Clinton 65 12 53 8 42 21 29
Barack Obama 15 72 36 75 47 73 60
Other/ Not Sure 20 16 11 17 11 6 11
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
By Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on May 6, 2008 1:55 PM | Comments (1)

Harold Dean Turlear, an associate professor of applied theology at Howard University School of Divinity, talks with Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly about Jeremiah Wright, black church history and traditions, and the need for reconciliation that "takes disaffection into account."

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By Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on May 2, 2008 3:59 PM | Comments (4)

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