1. David why does the evolution vs creation topic interest you so much? What does it has to do with the qualification on making decisions concerning the War On Iraq and Illegal Immigration? I don't understand why it even has to be debated? The separation of church and state goes both ways. If you want to have it separated then don't bring it up if it is of no concern to you and I am talking about Blitzer here.

Sandra at 10:15AM on Jun 6th 2007

2. Sandra,

Thanks for commenting. Yours is certainly a valid question. I guess I'm interested in how each candidate expresses his or her relationship to religion and evolution in particular because I consider it to be a major shortcoming of our current president. Mr. Bush stated before the invasion of Iraq that he'd spoken directly to God on the matter. In effect, he used religion to rationalize war. This strikes me as no better than what al Qaeda do, and it scares the hell out of me. As for evolution, in specific, I think that the issue is whether or not we will elect a president who believes in science. Given that global warming promises to be a major consideration for the next administration, I'd like to think that we would pick someone who would listen to the best and brightest scientific minds in the world. Mr. Bush, with his pandering to the religious right, advocated teaching intelligent design in the classroom. He also spent 6 years chastening climate scientists. In both cases he discounted mountains of evidence in favor of religious faith.

I'm not suggesting that a religious person is unqualified to be president of the United States. But I do think that one's answers to the question of evolution illuminates a stance on science in general that is relevant to who we should choose.

david knowles at 10:29AM on Jun 6th 2007

3. Thank you. I can understand you now a little better. However I thought the President ordered our troops to Iraq originally because the supposedly WMD. In the beginning I was for this war because the president made us believe that it was done to protect us. If he really had just said: 'God told him to do so!" I would have never supported this war to begin with. But it wasn't so. Of course once he named the mission Operation Iraqi Freedom one could argue that he believed God told him to free Iraq to begin with.
As for Mike Huckabee I thought he answered the question very strong and it left an impression on me. I think if you see human beings as an image from God you will treat them more respectful as you would apes for example. So I don't understand why you would criticise that. And believing in creation doesn't exclude concerns of global warning. After all Christians were told to take care of the earth. And a good president will use all resources available to take care of the environment whether they are Christians or not and yes that also would include science.

Sandra at 10:59AM on Jun 6th 2007

4. Sandra,

I do like Mike Huckabee in some ways. He's a very personable, funny guy. In fact, he was backing away from a literalist reading of creationism, and that was something of a relief. I don't believe, as you suggest, that there's too much evidence that a belief that God created man means that people will treat each other better. If anything, the evidence suggests otherwise. That said, I have no problem with people who think that God created the earth and everything in it, including evolution. While not a very strong position one way or the other, at least it does not contradict a large body of evidence.

As to Bush. His declaration of a heart-to-heart with God came on the verge of the war, after the decision to invade clearly been made. Yet the president offered it up as a kind of proof that his decision was the right one.

david knowles at 11:10AM on Jun 6th 2007

5. This guy is a racist just like Hilary! Just because Juliani does not share his his belief doesn't make them a "heretic." Christianity or should I say modern Christianity is not the authourity in govt and should be separate from the state. To see or speak to god is the same as speaking or seeing DEMONS! It is obvious that our dear president should be taken to the mad house for "Schizophrenia!" Why is he still in office with this apparant mental illness? Bush and the Republican party continue fooling the stupid section of the United States. Yes I am talking about you uneducated cowboys and indians who reside between the East and West coast. YEEEEE HAAAAAA!

Ace at 11:18AM on Jun 6th 2007

6. This comment is to Sandra. I thought your reply about Mike Huckabee was very profound and proper. To believe in God does not mean you don't believe in science....it would only make sense that God created all the scientific actualities that exist. It is unsubstantiated theories that you need to be careful of. It is wrong to assume that a president who believes in God would dismiss scientific fact.

Krista at 11:21AM on Jun 6th 2007

7. Thank you Krista for your comment.

David I am sorry that there is not enough evidence. You are right I suggested that Christians who believe in creation would treat others better. In the end I think it comes all down to sincerity.

Anyway I appreciate this blog and the discussion.

Sandra at 11:40AM on Jun 6th 2007

8. dear mayor how we forget our roots of faith...yes god did warn you...you also have a choice listen to your advisore or listen to your inner voice taught to you by god ,,,its also your choice live now or live not in his kingdom be aware ...do you believe in jesus christs teachings ????

william cordell at 3:09PM on Jun 6th 2007

9. I wish the so called christisns would stop worrying about everyone else and worry more about their own morality start worrying about the forest growing in their own eye.

karl rohrbaugh at 6:37PM on Jun 6th 2007

10. 3 cheers to karl - tell us LJ all how incredible moral the republican party is. Scooter lets out a cia agent, "I don't remember" gonzales, Your doing a hellva job brownie, or maybe dick f u on the floor of the senate cheny. The hypocrite rhetoric has got to stop. Mark folly seems to be a poster boy for what the real republican party can do. Of course the death of THOUSANDS OF people is a mess of a war ...tell us again about those great morals

Local Guy at 7:37PM on Jun 6th 2007

11. How dare you compare our President to Al Qaeda? That comment alone makes me see through everything else you have brought up as superficial. If you believe that our President is "no better than Al Qaeda," then I think you should forfeit the protection that the government owes you under the constitution. Which far-left organization do you blog for, anyway?

Michael J Stanek at 8:08PM on Jun 6th 2007

12.
You are quite gullible if you really think Giuliani's microphone was zapped by God. Rudy is getting his ass kicked in by the Catholic Church, in which he was baptized.

In the last month, not only has the Pope threatened to excommunicate liberal Giuliani, but bishops throughout the Northeastern US are criticizing him.

Giuliani is quite shrewd, and did not get this far on his good looks alone. Any question about religion, and Rudy does a little fancy footwork under the table, and POOF! Microphone mysteriously stops working! And who can blame him?

But you say it was God! MuahahaHA!

Sincerely, Setalcott

Setalcott at 8:31PM on Jun 6th 2007

13. Perhaps Giuliani's microphone shorted out because he's a New World Order fascist who is covering up his foreknowledge of the 11 September 2001 attacks, as well as his responsibility to the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who have fallen ill with lung problems due to 9/11 toxic dust. The private contractors that were hired for clean-up after the attack were threatened with fines by the city if their progress slowed. Currently, hundreds of New Yorkers who have spent thousands on medications, etc. are suing the City of New York, as well as the EPA for negligence. The City is attempting to have the suit thrown out. When will Giuliani be held accountable?

Down with the corporatist police state and unaccountability of our governmental officials.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE.

REVOLUTION=EVOLUTION.

Jaclyn at 8:39PM on Jun 6th 2007

14. I am as conservative as they come, but I could not care less WHAT religion the President practices. As long as he has a sense of morals, unlike former President Clinton. It's funny to me that the liberal news media always harps on President Bush for being "too religious" when he calls on God in his speeches, and now they have this big interest in trying to expose the religious beliefs of the candidates. Of course , they are doing this by trying to make their beliefs sound strange or extreme.I don't think any politician has to make their personal beliefs public.

LJ at 9:30PM on Jun 6th 2007

15. WELL, WELL, WELL IT LOOKS LIKE THE DEMOCRATS WERE OUT HOT AND HEAVY TODAY IN THE POLLS. THEY WERE SO AGAINST THE REPULICANS AND BUSH . IT WAS SO OBVIOUS. YOU KNOW SOMETHING IF BY SOME MIRACLE CLINTON DOES MAKE IT , THE U.S.A. IS DOOMED. HER FAKE SMILE IS SO PHOMY. I WANT TO THROW UP. ALL THE COMMENTS ARE DEMOCRATIC. NOTICE THAT NONE OF THE GOOD COMMENTS ARE FOR ANY REPUBLICAN. REMEMBER ONE THING FELLOW REPUBLICANS UNITED WE STAND. YOU KNOCKING EACH OTHER IS GIVING THE IDIOTS A CHANCE TO GAIN GROUND.

LENA DE SANTES at 10:49PM on Jun 6th 2007