Herman

Cain

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December 10, 2007

Media Can’t Explain the Faiths of Romney and Huckabee

The more reporters and political pundits write about Mitt Romney’s faith and Mike Huckabee’s faith, the more confused people are about the First Amendment to the Constitution, because many people have not read it or do not understand it. It says “freedom of religion.” It does not say “freedom from religion.”

A presidential candidate is free to practice his chosen religion just like the rest of us. And both Romney and Huckabee have clearly stated that it is not the job of the president to impose their beliefs on anyone else. But the questions about their religious faiths keep coming, while the rest of the presidential contenders of both parties are not continuously grilled about religious beliefs, perceptions or skepticisms. It might be instructive if all the candidates were interrogated as much as Romney and Huckabee.  

Many writers and some skeptics appear to be looking for explanations that would relieve all their skepticisms and perceptions, or maybe even convert them in the twinkling of an eye. That cannot be done in a sound bite, nor should that be the objective of questions posed. And if someone is a religious skeptic to begin with, the discussion is going nowhere, especially if they are looking for simple yes or no answers.

The media promotes misperceptions about Christians with its frequent reference to “evangelical Christians” without defining evangelical. And for the average reader, who also does not understand the term, it promotes skepticism – or as the pollsters like to say, “it makes people uncomfortable.”

A front page New York Times story about Mike Huckabee (December 6, 2007 by Jodi Kantor) asserted that Huckabee’s campaign was shaped by his two decades as an evangelical pastor and broadcaster. He was also described in the article as a preacher and a politician. But the caption under the front page picture of Mike Huckabee says “Mike Huckabee, once a minister, often returns to the pulpit as a presidential candidate.” Now let’s see, an evangelical pastor, a preacher, a politician, once a minister, and now a presidential candidate. Now that’s real clear!

And Mitt Romney is expected to answer the skeptics about Mormons and clear up all perceptions and misperceptions about his faith in a 20-minute speech?

Romney’s recent speech on “Faith in America” was not about defending his Mormon faith. It was about the proper role of religion in America per the First Amendment. His speech also declared that no religious group or leader would pre-empt his decisions if he were elected president. And he did not attempt to address the many negative perceptions about his faith, no more than Mike Huckabee would be able to address the many misperceptions about Christians.

It takes years for people to accept and embrace a religious faith or denomination as their own. Sometimes they never do. And with the media’s insatiable demand for information expediency, and their own lack of understanding of the First Amendment, people will continue to be confused about “faith in America”, and the faiths of presidential candidates.

Anthony Flew has been well known among the atheist community for most of his 80-year life. He has just published a new book titled, “There Is a God”. 

It’s a good thing for him he’s not running for president. Imagine the questions he would get from the media about being a “flip flopper.” And even more challenging, imagine the confusion trying to explain God in a sound-bite.

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