Why is it necessary for a presidential candidate to pander to the religious?

Question

If Canadian politicans all behaved like that - the majority of Canadians would tune them right out.

Could you see a time when a candidate for the top job could just come out and say - I am an atheist.....

Answer 1

Sheep.  

Answer 2

They think it's going to help their campaign to be a Christian and it will if they really are. But when they get up there and say I am a Christian and then they say I believe in abortions and  same s*x marriage you know they are not a Christian it hurts their campaign.

Answer 3

Because the evangelical vote is the swing vote. Have you been to the Bible Belt? As one Canadian who lived there most of last year. It explains a lot.

It's simply for the numbers, that's the only reason. Do Americans ever hear a peep about religion from a prez post election. Not unless there is a controversy.  

Answer 4

Because politicians have little integrity and there are a lot of people out there who stupidly base their vote on religion.  If things keep going this way, America will become a theocracy.  An imperialistic theocracy with thousands of stockpiled nukes is a scary thought.  

Answer 5

Because they want to "preach to the choir"

Other modernized countries have figured it out and just laugh when people get really religious.

It is a virtue here in the US.

It is sad isnt it?

Which is one reason why we will be passed by countries like China very soon

Answer 6

Canadian politicians do pander like that..Just not as openly. They also like whoring around for the immigrant votes. Especially in Ontario.

They pander to the religious because they are in fact the majority. If Atheists were the majority they`d be after them like a hooker at a truck stop...

Answer 7

They want their vote, why else?

Answer 8

I don't know why you would think it necessary for a presedential candidate to pander to the religious. As a Christian, I choose the candidate, the candidate doesn't choose me. A politician can claim to be a Christian and promise you the world but that doesn't mean that they are a Christian and that they will deliver the world.

Answer 9

Yes, for the votes

Answer 10

This is a fairly recent development. The neocons created a strategy to essentially take over the country by aligning themselves w/ religious conservatives. A lot of this was in reaction to the civil rights and the women's rights movements of the 60's.

These groups basically want a return to a society where the white men are automatically on top. The Religious Right wants a return to a Biblical patriarchy. The racists want a return to segregation/apartheid.

Together they make a very large voting block. Combined w/ some dirty tricks and lots of money (w/ strings attached of course) from the 3rd member of the cabal, Big Business, they have been very successful in their efforts.

So in the end it's all about money and power; how to get it and how to keep it. I'm hoping we can change all of that.

Answer 11

Democracy in the states is fundamentally flawed. It holds that Fred Phelps (the hater, not the swimmer) has as much right and ability to rationally determine the best leadership for the country as I do, and that the moonshine fueled babblings of any two hillbilly redneck deep-south "suddern baptist" pastor listeners have more value than my sane and rational reasonings.

The cure? Minimum IQ and education level requirements, as well as a written exam on current events, to earn the right to vote.

Answer 12

It reminds me of something Richard Dawkins once said about the absurdity of pandering to the religious.

He pointed out, that if you remove Christians from the equation, the number of atheists far outweighs all the other religions put together (jewish, muslim, etc). But strangely enough, the political candidates of your country always seem to try and "win the Jewish vote", or "win the american muslim vote"....when is one of them going to realise that "winning the atheist vote" is actually the smartest thing they can do?

Answer 13

It's not necessary.  In fact it can be harmful if the person is too religious - look at Bush.

____

Answer 14

Because people are stupid.  

And emotional ploys are easier than explaining issues.  Issue people don't get anywhere.

Answer 15

Because otherwise s/he wouldn't make it past the first few weeks of candidacy.  Once the first "faith" question came up and got left unanswered or was answered "wrong" that would be the end of it.  You simply cannot become president in this country if you aren't a Christian, and if you don't suck up to the Christians in just the right way.  

I don't imagine I will see an atheist president in my lifetime.  I doubt I'll see a non-Christian president in my lifetime.  The bigotry is just too strong.  Yet they cry "persecution" every chance they get.