# GOP, (god's own party) people of faith & exclusivity **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 6, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327 "2016-01-06T15:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/21 "2016-01-06T21:41:02Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Maybe the Pope. But he doesn’t have the general population voting for him. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/22 "2016-01-06T21:50:53Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > But he doesn’t have the general population voting for him. I was making a joke. We need a deadpan smiley. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/23 "2016-01-06T22:28:00Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > But he doesn’t have the general population voting for him. No, but the people who do vote for him are pretty damn religious! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/24 "2016-01-06T22:28:22Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > Do people running for office in other countries carry on about their faith like ours do? > > Just curious. I am no expert, but if you’re talking about other modern, industrialized, Western countries, I’d say “no”. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/25 "2016-01-06T22:29:42Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > But he doesn’t have the general population voting for him. 115 voters compared to about 450 citizens of the Vatican isn’t much worse for turnout than some US elections. Of course the correlation between voters and citizens is pretty weak with many of the Cardinals not holding citizenship while many of the actual citizens can’t vote. (Where’s that deadpan smiley? 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/26 "2016-01-06T23:44:28Z")
I am not a practicing Christian, but I have read the Book. And I have frequently thought and stated that Christianity would be a hell of a religion if followers read and followed the instructions printed in red letters in many of the editions of the Gospels. But I can only assume that the candidates who are publicly bragging about their own faith, and preaching war and intolerance and voting to deny basic resources for the poor and disenfranchised haven’t read the source material. The minute I hear about “Those People,” the minute that a candidate starts beating the drums of war, the minute that the Welfare Queen trope is dragged out? I dismiss the candidate as a god dammed hypocrite, bent upon taking office, to the detriment of my country. I’m sorry, but calling yourself a Christian while refusing to serve the poor, denying rights to human beings, and waging wars of aggression is like calling yourself a vegetarian while you eat a bacon cheeseburger. And I don’t particularly care about the private religious practices of candidates. I need to have confidence that the recipient of my vote will legislate in a manner that best serves his constituents. Worship whatever you want, on your own time. Serve your district or town or nation’s best interest while you collect your paycheck. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/27 "2016-01-06T23:50:14Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I was making a joke. > We need a deadpan smiley. Deadpan for President 2016! ---
**Author:** ![Psychopants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Psychopants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psychopants)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/28 "2016-01-07T02:08:06Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > I am not a practicing Christian, but I have read the Book. And I have frequently thought and stated that Christianity would be a hell of a religion if followers read and followed the instructions printed in red letters in many of the editions of the Gospels. But I can only assume that the candidates who are publicly bragging about their own faith, and preaching war and intolerance and voting to deny basic resources for the poor and disenfranchised haven’t read the source material. The minute I hear about “Those People,” the minute that a candidate starts beating the drums of war, the minute that the Welfare Queen trope is dragged out? I dismiss the candidate as a god dammed hypocrite, bent upon taking office, to the detriment of my country. > > I’m sorry, but calling yourself a Christian while refusing to serve the poor, denying rights to human beings, and waging wars of aggression is like calling yourself a vegetarian while you eat a bacon cheeseburger. > > And I don’t particularly care about the private religious practices of candidates. I need to have confidence that the recipient of my vote will legislate in a manner that best serves his constituents. Worship whatever you want, on your own time. Serve your district or town or nation’s best interest while you collect your paycheck. +one million. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/29 "2016-01-07T02:48:46Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > I am not a practicing Christian, but I have read the Book. And I have frequently thought and stated that Christianity would be a hell of a religion if followers read and followed the instructions printed in red letters in many of the editions of the Gospels. But I can only assume that the candidates who are publicly bragging about their own faith, and preaching war and intolerance and voting to deny basic resources for the poor and disenfranchised haven’t read the source material. The minute I hear about “Those People,” the minute that a candidate starts beating the drums of war, the minute that the Welfare Queen trope is dragged out? I dismiss the candidate as a god dammed hypocrite, bent upon taking office, to the detriment of my country. > > I’m sorry, but calling yourself a Christian while refusing to serve the poor, denying rights to human beings, and waging wars of aggression is like calling yourself a vegetarian while you eat a bacon cheeseburger. > > snip. Applause. And they never even notice the disconnect any more than their followers do. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/30 "2016-01-07T02:55:56Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Deadpan for President 2016! To be fair, a deceased cooking utensil would probably make a better President than many of the current candidates. I mean, at least it’d be used to working with a cabinet . . . ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/31 "2016-01-07T03:04:14Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > I am not a practicing Christian, but I have read the Book. And I have frequently thought and stated that Christianity would be a hell of a religion if followers read and followed the instructions printed in red letters in many of the editions of the Gospels. But I can only assume that the candidates who are publicly bragging about their own faith, and preaching war and intolerance and voting to deny basic resources for the poor and disenfranchised haven’t read the source material. The minute I hear about “Those People,” the minute that a candidate starts beating the drums of war, the minute that the Welfare Queen trope is dragged out? I dismiss the candidate as a god dammed hypocrite, bent upon taking office, to the detriment of my country. > > I’m sorry, but calling yourself a Christian while refusing to serve the poor, denying rights to human beings, and waging wars of aggression is like calling yourself a vegetarian while you eat a bacon cheeseburger. > > And I don’t particularly care about the private religious practices of candidates. I need to have confidence that the recipient of my vote will legislate in a manner that best serves his constituents. Worship whatever you want, on your own time. Serve your district or town or nation’s best interest while you collect your paycheck. This Atheist wonders why SDMB doesn’t have a ‘like’ button ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/32 "2016-01-07T03:09:26Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > 115 voters compared to about 450 citizens of the Vatican isn’t much worse for turnout than some US elections. > > Of course the correlation between voters and citizens is pretty weak with many of the Cardinals not holding citizenship while many of the actual citizens can’t vote. (Where’s that deadpan smiley? 😛 ) They don’t hold citizenship? I thought the whole reason Anthony Quinn was released from the gulag was because his elevation to cardinal made him a citizen of the Vatican (with diplomatic immunity, yet!). Was _The Shoes of the Fisherman_ just some kind of fairy tale, as poorly-researched as a Dan Brown novel? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/33 "2016-01-07T03:17:32Z")
Sure you’re not thinking of _Godfather III: Death Comes for the Archbishop?_ ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/34 "2016-01-07T03:57:40Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > They don’t hold citizenship? I thought the whole reason Anthony Quinn was released from the gulag was because his elevation to cardinal made him a citizen of the Vatican (with diplomatic immunity, yet!). > > Was _The Shoes of the Fisherman_ just some kind of fairy tale, as poorly-researched as a Dan Brown novel? I’m deeply ashamed to admit that I haven’t read it…but no, being a cardinal does not automatically grant Vatican City citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/35 "2016-01-07T05:16:23Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > To be fair, a deceased cooking utensil would probably make a better President than many of the current candidates. I mean, at least it’d be used to working with a cabinet . . . And this is why I love you guys! ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/36 "2016-01-07T12:09:16Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > To be fair, a deceased cooking utensil would probably make a better President than many of the current candidates. I mean, at least it’d be used to working with a cabinet . . . Not “many”… ALL! ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/37 "2016-01-07T14:10:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > From the Cruz link. > > And yet only [118 million votes](http://www.enstarz.com/articles/9013/20121107/total-votes-2012-118-million-americans-cast-ballots-obama-romney.htm) were cast. > That 54 million can’t be right. It isn’t. It apparently was[93 million.](http://www.thenation.com/article/figuring-out-why-93-million-people-didnt-vote/) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/38 "2016-01-07T14:49:48Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > This Atheist wonders why SDMB doesn’t have a ‘like’ button Because it makes Baby Jesus cry. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/39 "2016-01-07T15:05:24Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It isn’t. It apparently was[93 million.](http://www.thenation.com/article/figuring-out-why-93-million-people-didnt-vote/) How many of those 93m are evangelicals? More than half? Because that is Cruz’ claim. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327/40 "2016-01-07T17:07:48Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Because it makes Baby Jesus cry. Y’know, I’m getting pretty annoyed at all that crying. Hope his step-father can toughen Him up, maybe teach him some carpentry or something useful. (No politician will ever listen to him, but maybe buy a nice end table…?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-gods-own-party-people-of-faith-exclusivity/742327.md?page=3)