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The Mobile Press-Register received some very interesting responses from a survey they submitted to the candidates in the Alabama governor’s race. First, they note that Ron Sparks refused to answer any of the questions on religion, abortion, gay marriage or immigration (presumably because he hasn’t been told what his positions are).
The other Democrat in the race, Artur Davis, supports religious displays of all faiths on government property and non-denominational prayer in schools. However, he also did not directly answer the questions on whether the bible is literally true or his beliefs on evolution vs. creation, instead saying “I am a Christian who believes that the Bible is divinely inspired and that the evolution of our planet was shaped by a divine God whom I worship.”
Bradley Byrne did prove to be the odd man out of the Republican crowd, if only marginally so. He was the only Republican who said there are parts of the Bible intended to be taken literally and parts that aren’t. He also was one of three Republican candidates (Bill Johnson and James Potts were the others) who expressed a belief in evolution, but evolution with god behind it. And taking those beliefs together, he runs (not surprisingly, to this observer) very close to Rep. Davis in this area.
It will be interesting to watch the race moving forward to see if these differences are exploited in any way by the candidates. I’d put my money on the Davis campaign using Sparks’s non-response against him at some point, as yet another example of the Agriculture Commissioner wanting to have it both ways. I don’t see the Republican candidates using their religious beliefs against each other, but as there hasn’t been much friendly fire on that side of the fence yet, I doubt anyone would pretend to know for sure.
As always, your comments are welcome below.
UPDATE: One of the contributors at Left in Alabama thinks Sparks gave the “courageous” response. Well, that’s certainly another interpretation.
UPDATE 2: Joe Openshaw has yet another perspective on this: “None of those views comes as a surprise, but admitting that Christians pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe ironically makes Byrne the most believable.”
UPDATE 3: Brian at Flashpoint also has an angle on this story.
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NEW TWAY Blog Post: The Alabama Gubernatorial Candidates Talk About Religion http://bit.ly/4C1DJK #alpoliticsGD Star Rating
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RT @TWAY_Kris: NEW TWAY Blog Post: The Alabama Gubernatorial Candidates Talk About Religion http://bit.ly/4C1DJK #alpoliticsGD Star Rating
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Well, here we find the issue to really start dividing up voters. Sadly, what is lost in my mind is the spirit of America. Did English settlers not risk the journey across the Atlantic because it was less of a risk than living under their own religious persecutions? Are we not an inclusive society instead of reclusive? This may not be fact, but I wan to believe that all of the world’s organized religions are of peaceful means. As long as we aren’t calling for the downfall of mankind or rooting for the bane of Satan to come destroy the world, should it really be of great importance what religious artifacts are located on government property? I know, people want to be led by people who think like them, but it just fosters close mindedness and the hardening of our hearts when we draw lines on such things.
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And what is this crazy thing for my picture? can we not do something about that? lol.
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The World Around You: The Alabama Gubernatorial Candidates Talk About Religion: Number of comments: 2The Mobile Pre… http://bit.ly/3oK1PDGD Star Rating
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It’s called a gravatar my friend, look it up. You have control over what appears there, you just have to set it up.
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I am an unabashed Christian, but I am not certain what value these types of questions provide to voters. My personal views on whether Jesus rode into Jerusalem on one donkey or two (see Matt: 21:1-7) has no apparent relevance to my committment to serve the people that elect me. Can anyone enlighten me?
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And, it appears I need to replace my gravaltard as well.
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Gravatar = Globally Recognized Avatar
more info here: http://en.gravatar.com/
As for the discussion, I think Cory and Joe are both right that it shouldn’t matter, but the fact is, it does to a lot of Alabama voters. Has everyone forgotten the ads that ran in the Supreme Court races the last time around, where everyone was trying to outflank each other on religion and family?
And I think Cory hit the nail on the head when he said people want to vote for officeholders who “think like them”.
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Come join the discussion on the role a candidate's religion plays in #alpolitics at TWAY: http://bit.ly/4C1DJKGD Star Rating
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RT @TWAY_Kris: Come join the discussion on the role a candidate's religion plays in #alpolitics at TWAY: http://bit.ly/4C1DJKGD Star Rating
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RT @TWAY_Kris: Come join the discussion on the role a candidate's religion plays in #alpolitics at TWAY: http://bit.ly/4C1DJKGD Star Rating
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RT @TWAY_Kris: Come join the discussion on the role a candidate's religion plays in #alpolitics at TWAY: http://bit.ly/4C1DJKGD Star Rating
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Agreed on the motivation for the voters on such questions, Cory and Kris, but what about the motivations of the questioners? Certainly the folks asking these questions in the media don’t believe the answers provide any insight into a candidate’s ability to govern. And, if the questioners believe these types of wedge questions are helpful, I’ve never heard a convicing case made to that effect.
So, perhaps this discussion begs the question of responsibility in the media? Should the media create wedge issues that have no probative value for voters simply because a certain constituency finds the wedge issues polically useful, or because those issues sell papers? Will be interested in the response.
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Checking my Gravitard. Thanks for the technological assistance, Kris.
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Joe,
Are you saying that journalists should stay away from wedge issues?
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Methinks a certain degree of if-by-whiskey thinking is needed for a candidate’s agenda to be successful. Fundamentalists (of any stripe) are incapable of this degree of tactical duplicity so produce much noise but little thunder and lightening. However, as a faction, they have be given their turn at the sausage mixer too.
Consider people make decisions about candidates based on many, many factors from the trivial (he looks silly in a tank) to the more serious (freedom to farm). So anything that sheds light on the candidates is helpful, especially when the source fairly quotes the candidate and unwraps the spin.
Hmm, wonder if we’ll get a count of many doves/deers each candidate bags, they always seem to have the mighty hunter photo op.
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Not at all, Kris. There are many wedge issues that are instructive to the ability of a candidate to govern. I think this one was more of a “gotcha” question that provides little insight into the prospective candidacies. Then again, perhaps it’s about as constructive as a picture of the candidate in a tank, as Walt suggests.
And, for the record, I am looking forward to seeing Kay Ivey in camo.
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With the number of candidates (9?) in the GOP primary, you can expect the ones back in the pack to use anything to claw their way to the top.
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