Why do Americans care so much about what church their politicians go to, its rarely and issue here in Canada?

Question

We Canadians 'care' about America because we look outside the boundaries of our own country from time to time.

We 'care' about America not because we lack confidence but because we know just how powerful you are (for good and bad).

Answer 1

Not all or even most Americans do.  Some conservatives do and they're vocal about it.....hence the infatuation.  Just look at the replies here, half of them think its ridiculous altogether while half think its just how life is....this should tell you who really cares about it.

Maudie......Romney?  Only a conservative would bring up Romney and claim his religion was an issue with dems or liberals.....Romney made a speech about his religion during the REPUBLICAN PRIMARY because it was an issue with REPUBLICANS.  He wouldn't take time out of a primary race to settle issues that dems may have had with his religion, that wouldn't make any sense at all.

Which party has an aethiest, muslim and homosexual in office?

Answer 2

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,

That's from The Declaration of Independence

See - the only purpose of government is to secure the rights God gave us, so a persons relationship with his or her God is important when determining how well they will carry out governance. Now, despite what some Libs here will say - we don't get all that sectarian about it.  The details are left up to individuals, but the basic fact of having some kind of Religious grounding is important to Americans

Answer 3

I'm American, and I've never been able to figure that out.  The best I've come up with is that U.S. society has been built since the '50s on a culture of political divisiveness, the "Us vs Them" mentality colors everything.  This means that adjectives are used as nouns, individuals aren't Republican or Democrat, for example, an individual is "A Republican" or "A Democrat", as if that one factor defines the whole of their being.  You see it everywhere, people are no longer willing to be simply Americans, they have to be "African-Americans", "Asian Americans", "Jewish Americans", etc., it's really kind of sad.  Right now, due to high overall voter apathy, the Conservative-Christian-Americans hold a highly disproportionate amount of political power, which means that any candidate has to play to that house if he wants to get elected.  It can't be forgotten that in a Democracy it's not the people as a whole who hold power, but only the people who get out and vote.  If that kind of Church Appeasement stopped working, politicians would stop doing it, but right now that is what works.  

Answer 4

For all I know the Hon. Stephan Harper is Ralien.  Actually if he was it may make him a more interesting public figure in my books.

America has a long history of assimilation, whether it be the natives, the french, irish, or non christians.

When Kennedy was elected there was  contraversy around the fact that he was Irish catholic and the USA is a predominantly anglo protestant country.

This all comes down to the point that America is most comfotable electing people who they can relate to on a personal level, and god is a massive factor into that.

Some will actively disregard policy in favor of a guy that likes the same god under the guise of "since he is like me he cannot be bad".  It is a pacifier.   I justifies their political position regardless of the candidates policy or ability.

Answer 5

That's mostly conservatives.  They are easily confused and think we are electing a messiah.

Answer 6

Most Americans do not combine Church/State when making political decisions but, if you rely on the media (some) they will try to influence this connection.

Answer 7

Why do Canadians care so much about Americans?  Canada rarely enters my thoughts.

Answer 8

it's mostly the religious nuts that make an issue out of it. they went crazy when they found out Romney was a moron (oops, I mean Mormon).

Answer 9

only ignorant conservatives consider something so trivial when choosing political officials...

And it's funny to me that most of the political officials accused of sexual misconduct with children/young boys are conservative "religious" people...

Answer 10

Republicans care, Dems don't. The sad thing is that the Reps actually think it matters. Religion was such a big deal with Bush yet he didn't even attempt to over turn Roe vs Wade. That was the big issue and he didn't even address after he was elected. I presume the same thing will happen with McCain. He is just using it for votes but when he's elected he'll ignore the religious idiots(as he should).

Answer 11

It is when one of them goes to a hateful Racist church...

Answer 12

It says a lot about you, personally. Imagine if your prime minister worshiped Satan or engaged in voodoo. Most people would not want their supreme commander thinking along those lines....

Answer 13

America is a nation built upon religious faith.

NOW we have a candidate who was a 20-year member of a RADICAL, Marxist, black-liberation church that OPENLY promotes their congregation to have a FIRST ALLEGIANCE to AFRICA.

Couple that with the fact that Obama doesn't want to wear "that pin" on his lapel.....   doesn't always put his hand on his heart...... DOES fund a radical islamic group in Jakarta....  

For Obama - more than others - it is VITAL that we look at his "bass ackwards" church

Answer 14

To be honest - its part of hour hypocrisy - we say we believe in our Constitution.  It separates the powers of church and state yet, we want a government run by a person with religious convictions.

Its like s*x, personally every American likes to do it and professionally we all pretend to be virgins.

We got issues.

Answer 15

Because people in America focus WAY too much on religion.

Answer 16

Because in Barack's case, spending years upon years listening to racist rants against America shows what is acceptable to him (if not what he believs).    

Answer 17

I don't care whether it's a catholic church or a protestant church, baptist, episcopalian, lutheran, etc, but in Obama's case it was a Black Liberation Theology teaching church that spewed hate and racism. I think that is the difference. They gave awards to race baiters like Louis Farrakhan and went on trips to visit people like khadafi and butchers in Africa.

I think if a presidential candidate regularly attended KKK rallies for 20 years it should have the same consideration as that church of hate.