"Holy Joe," get out of the pulpit and come back to earth.
That's the message for Joe Lieberman, the religion-drenched Democratic veep candidate who talks as though God were his campaign manager.
And it goes for George "Dubya" Bush, Al Gore and any other tub-thumping pols who hammer their religion as a cheap campaign ploy.
Cool the gospel singing, guys, and climb off the sawdust trail.
Sandy Grady
Philadelphia Daily News, Aug. 31, 2000
This is a presidential campaign. Not a holy war.
If it doesn't stop soon, the Constitution doesn't have a prayer.
Philadelphia Daily News Editorial
Aug. 30, 2000
The time has come for all the candidates on the national tickets to reaffirm their belief in the constitutional separation of church and state. . . .
When it comes to religion and the campaign, one might ask: "Which side is God on?"
The same question might be asked of the defiant students and parents, urged on by some pastors and Christian broadcasters, who stood in the bleachers in high school stadiums across the South last weekend to recite the Lord's Prayer before the opening kickoff.
All the candidates have to do is look around the world to see how well religion and politics mix.
The Founding Fathers certainly knew and protected us from the combination.
Reporter Helen Thomas
"Keep the Wall Between Church and State"
New York Times, Aug. 30, 2000
The president is not the moral leader of his people, no matter how often he prays or mentions God's name. He was never intended to be the moral leader, and it is unhealthy when candidates for president present themselves or are regarded in this way, especially when they think they have a pipeline to God. . . .
Religifying politics tempts politicians to messianic delusion. And politicizing religion cheapens and corrupts the spirit. If we return to the wisdom of the founders on this point, excessive public expressions of religious piety will be regarded with suspicion. Our motto should be: 'By their deeds shall we know them.'"
Former Senator Eugene J. McCarthy & Keith C. Burris
"The Singular Piety of Politics"
New York Times, Aug. 31, 2000
When religion controls government, it is not a pretty sight. . . . When the government gets involved [in religion], someone's rights inevitably are going to be trampled.
Rev. Brian Harbour
Oct. 1, 2000 D.C. sermon (President Clinton in audience)
Those who would use government to push religion on their fellow citizens dishonor their political heritage as Americans, and belittle the freedom of conscience granted to each and every one of us. They need to go into a nice quiet closet and think about that.
Columnist Jay Bookman, Atlanta
New York Times, Sept. 1, 2000
For a man with one divorce under his belt, Lieberman [has shown] a distressing tendency to cast stones at a man whose marriage lasted.
I am reminded of President Truman's warning about people who pray too loud in church. The old Missouri Baptist said that loud prayers always made him think "you'd better go home and lock up your smokehouse."
Robert Reno, Newsday
Arizona Republic, Sept. 1, 2000
I believe Lieberman slept through his Yale Law School classes on the First Amendment. Americans as individuals are among the most religious people on Earth. But America as a country has no religious mandate. . . . And the First Amendment does indeed protect us from government-fostered religion.
Columnist Lars-Erik Nelson
N.Y. Daily News, Aug. 30, 2000
. . . Lieberman's words suggest that the doubters, skeptics and old-fashioned village atheists are somehow less worthy than others in what has become a faith-based democracy. . . . They may not be a potent voting bloc, they may not be targeted by the Democratic ticket, but nonbelievers have an equal claim to the First Amendment.
Columnist Walter Shapiro
"Freedom isn't only for the believers"
USA Today, Sept. 1, 2000
Politicians who invoke God's name insult those of us who recognize no establishment of religion in our personal lives. . . .Lieberman, Gore and Bush aren't likely to become ayatollahs, but I wish they would give us some freedom from religious sermons.
Columnist Rob Morse
"Let those without sin cast votes"
San Francisco Examiner, Aug. 30, 2000
One danger of piety on the campaign trail is that it equates faith with good citizenship. . . . The argument that religion is essential to moral behavior is insulting and dangerous. A second danger is that this campaign will make religion a credential for public office.
Minneapolis Star Tribune Editorial
"Holier than thou"
Aug. 31, 2000
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