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Rabbi Irwin Kula and Father Jonathan Morris discuss the importance of a candidate’s faith
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Next topic the next topic is religion and politics.
Mitt Romney's Mormon faith makes evangelicals a little -- office may be little -- -- while president Obama's support for abortion rights and his backing of same sex marriage.
Has turned -- many conservative Christians show will evangelicals stay home comes in November.
Will religion play a huge role in creating subtle shifts in the political outcome what does the panel -- ads.
-- what do you think do you think this sort of divide.
Between what Obama has presented in terms of his religious backing and what.
Mitt Romney's problem is the Mormon issue is this going to create a sort of like nobody can predict kind of -- I think that people are not but they're not good they're gonna gonna of the voting bloc voting booths and this time worried about social issues the same way there they have been.
This is about jobs this is about economy this about a country that seems to be unraveling in a lot of ways economically.
For millions and millions and millions of people and I think what you're gonna see actually is some very different combinations were racing in the evangelical community.
Didn't hold back from social issues that's a hard court yeah I -- so -- -- Had to get we have a guest here we had a guest here John Merritt remember you had him young guy really -- paradigm and he wrote a whole book about.
How what we're seeing is a shift in young evangelicals this is.
Under four young evangelicals yes but are they the ones are going into the -- the battle prominent evangelicals also a young people in general and -- -- -- the -- I think you're seeing what we're seeing now is is.
For -- -- power on the country's peaked we know that from them for -- and we know that all that so it's peaked.
Both parties have a strong base that needs to be -- to come out.
And -- different kinds of religious -- and we know the greatest predictor of do the single greatest predictor being Republican -- if you go to church.
The single greatest predictor you're Democrats -- -- go to church but you know would admit is that actually the biggest predictor -- about his race.
A government that that's actually -- in this election that I what do you think about it you know.
I am they election will probably.
Down to -- few percentage points and it seems right and and and that's why this issue does matter.
Because as you as you -- -- I would agree that.
Most people and I can be voting on the social issues or on.
One or another's religion but.
Some people still will write credit tightening -- in a tight race in matters well let me read to -- review I'm numbers because one of the things that young man Michael Gerson.
Who is a great columnist he's when he's basically said that the mandate may give up on President Obama will Catholic problem -- -- this is what I was gonna bring in all okay good for tennis and if you're talking might just a few percentage points right right right certain states especially in certain states I think there will be.
There will be a percentage or two who of evangelicals say am I can't vote for -- Mormon I think it's ridiculous but I thinks there are those who would say that when.
But then there's also a percent to 345%.
6% 7% perhaps who work.
Seeing through this health and human service mandate.
And now the push back and and in that in an unprecedented.
Way.
By the Catholic bishops and other Catholic institutions including ordered Notre Dame university and others who are saying.
We're going to sue the federal government.
For -- violating the constitution.
Of the United States in -- -- -- constitution but the First Amendment.
When has that ever ever had a really -- already beginning to wake up and saying OK why is it that our president deciding this what is citing.
Against -- -- free and honest you.
He has a secret numbers or he's as well banking on those young evangelical -- -- but those young people used to go to Catholic he's also been banking on Latinos and I think -- right Latino Catholic community is.
He's a little bit more complex in this scenario because.
They -- progressive exactly have a set of issues.
You know issues of poverty for example and most important issues -- immigration I -- 90%.
Of the Latino community supports the DREAM Act.
And and the Republican party's -- post the DREAM Act of Romney's -- we gonna you're gonna see those commercials so I think the Latino Catholic community may not.
Take the social issue as serious as the immigration -- got a lot of things.
But look like grizzlies of these numbers -- form says the Obama among white Catholics.
Obama's support dropped from 45%.
To 37%.
After the mandate was announced with -- the big drop.
And the numbers remain depressed Obama won forty.
54%.
Of the Catholic vote in 2008 in a recent Gallup poll survey found that Obama's got the support is -- 46% that's huge -- Now the next six months he has to move percentage -- -- -- there and I mean that's you know again.
You know they really are percentage points and -- only seven states in play anyhow in the entire country to seven states in play so I think it.
Every it's -- -- be -- -- for every single vote of two things -- want everybody to get their -- out and that's going to be more complicated -- and one of.
Actions -- talking about the base -- right so our final topic attorney general Eric Holder met with black church leaders this week to talk about new restrictive voting laws that could affect their congregants.
Why is -- an attempt an honest attempt to make sure African Americans are not kept out of the voting process -- a way to increase president Obama's most ability voting base I mean this is.
-- -- is this -- attorney general's job to go out and talk to black pastors.
And attorney general has a lot of jobs the attorney general's primary jobs to make sure the law of the land there's a poll up here.
And this is initial -- on an eleven voting rights a pretty significant part of the American experience and -- racism it is a pretty significant issue.
When we talk about the -- on American iron and democracy in America so this is very complicated issue because you -- motivations here it's very hard to judge motivations.
I'm happy at the end of -- double MMI ring in on all of this because.
One it's sort him out you got that there but also black pastors.
In particular are very politically active and they -- the ones -- get there.
Get the political word out to their their guns -- -- their congregants this is weird you know polish politics is really made in the black church.
Actually no doubt and I think it's very unfortunate that and I am certain that some.
Black pastors.
Have.
Partisan politics.
Why is more important then.
Politics.
And a infused with values.
Right.
Because -- yes of course there -- issues that the Democratic Party.
And is supporting in a much better way in my opinion than Republicans.
And on some of these social issues but there are some really non negotiable.
And issues and port for Christians.
That the Democratic Party has chosen.
And to violent.
And and including.
Traditional marriage and understanding that are rolling abortion and and the list goes done.
And -- -- somehow.
Twit for them choosing into none at all I know lots of black pastors who are fighting for example together with the captains -- this say teachers.
Mandate in this religious liberty issue but some have I think really gone.
Down the road of partisan -- -- -- I think this is.
Part of this is part of -- one of the challenges and America to religion altogether and I mean religion is very polarized in the country you have you know.
A very very very serious hardcore traditional religious community fundamentalists traditional conservative.
They line up on a whole set of issues you know -- -- at -- police -- but -- then you have a kind of a liberal that basically it's just liberalism in drag so to speak their their religion and but the really interesting story and -- that -- is is the increase in people walking away from anything.
And -- -- and and that I believe one of the reasons for that is because religion is really in many ways just become a place for politics.
Elsewhere I can't get the feeling though that element Eric Holder is talk with white pastors because.
I think they know that that -- support of same sex marriage will draw off enough the percentage of those black voters.
That may actually cause a little problem for President Obama that's -- well that's might ultimately voting rights issues themselves this voter rights issues affect this report.
Respect it it it does affect communities and for which I know you gotta go for gaga over the -- but we could talk about this all week.
