Compassion Forum

[giftederic]

Just watched the Compassion Forum, a democratic primary debate of which Faith & Politics was the theme.

Putting my cards on the table:
As a non American I can't vote, so my opinion is purely that, just an opinion
If I had a vote I would be voting for Hillary (both before and after the debate)
I am secular to the core. It wasn't always this way, but that is currently the lay of the land.

I thought that Hillary was completely unconvincing as a christian. She reeks of secularism, and I think she is a christian by convenience.

I thought that Obama, who I had assumed was also largely secular, seemed to be too close to god for my comfort levels. Its not that he isn't rational, and he was at pains to stress that he believes in evolution etc, I was just more convinced that he might actually believe in god. Maybe he's just a good performer, and was lieing through his pants, really well :), unlike Hillary who was lieing badly, or atleast being very evasive.

(I don't expect honesty from my politicians, and I am happy to try and read between the lines to find their true thoughts. Obviously honesty is preferable, but I think its unrealistic in the world we currently live in, where the majority of voters are informed by dubious media.)

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

The election was the Democrats to lose and they are doing a good job in doing that. The Clinton camp have spent the last month fighting a very dirty campaign of words against Obama (arguing it is for the good of the party as the GoP will do it anyway).
Meanwhile McCain has been around the world looking statesman like.

An election is about getting the lowest common denominator out to vote, because there are more of them than lofty ivory tower educationalists. But McCain has won votes without promising to guarantee jobs that can't be guaranteed. And there seems to be a shift towards realistic presidential promises from the grand I promise you everything I give you nothing that has gone before. Also because the Democratic election drags on they have had to go so far to the left to chase for votes that they will find it difficult to tact back to the middle come November. They are establishing firm lines of campaign policy they will not be able to go back on, and that will only work for a part of the electorate that would have voted for them anyway. So maybe they will come out lying as politicians always have a way of doing and change the ball game again.

Brian

God help us, not Clinton!

[(Anonymous)]

I for one can think of nothing worse than the idea that that crabby aul cow would get into the presidency in America. Granted I can't vote there either but she's one dirty muther and I'd rather see McCain win than her for all that I have no time for the Republicans.

No, Obama might be religious (or perhaps that's just assumed because he's black and a black man leaning slightly toward God is seen like a white man singing Gospel) but he would be a change and he too has stated his willingness to listen to others especially with regard to economics. That's what America needs right now. Not a Hillary! Not someone who'll spend her term doing the 'I told you I could do it' dance! I wish she would just step aside and let the real race get going!

Shane

Re: God help us, not Clinton!

[giftederic.livejournal.com]

Putting it clearly... We've just had 8 years of far right policies, I think a move to the center is preferable to a lurch to the left, which will likely be proceeded by another pedulum shift to the right.

Don't get me wrong, I think Obama could be better for Europe or possibly even Africa, but only in the short term. I don't like Hillary as a person, though it is hard not to respect her, but I try to leave personality out of politics. I have yet to come across a politician I liked as a person.

Re: God help us, not Clinton!

[(Anonymous)]

Bush is quite liked in Africa, it is felt that he has done a lot for the continent. Surprised me too when I heard it but then the media does choose what to run and pro-Bush stories are not going to sell papers in Europe, nor get people tuning in on tv.

Brian