Which American politician said this? (1)
“There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God’s name on one’s behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I’m frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A, B, C, and D. Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of conservatism.”
I leave you with this thought for a Sunday. I’ll provide the answer on Tuesday.
July 17th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
As I don’t want to spoil the suspense, I’ll answer with 2 clues:
1. He was a presidential candidate (he lost)
2. His paternal grandparents were married at the Great Synagogue in London.
July 17th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
This is too easy for you, David, I know – but thanks for not spoiling the suspense.
July 18th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Sounds like some God-hating, commie liberal, Roger. But I suppose you’re going to tell us he was one of Ronald Reagan’s heroes? 😉
July 18th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn’t know.
~ Mark Twain
July 18th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Nick,
The Right in the US has a number of streams and ideologies in it, including a strong libertarian streak, and people who believe in a real separation of Church and State. And it also has the social & cultural conservatives, who fight for prayers in schools, and placing the Ten Commandments on courtroom walls. A very mixed bag. So it’s not always an oxymoron for a Republican to be anti-clerical.
July 19th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
David,
It may not be an oxymoron for a Republican to be anti-clerical (or even secular), but it’s significantly harder than it was 30 years ago when Goldwater made the above quote. That was my point: the influence of religious zealots within the GOP is increasing, and many of them would dismiss Goldwater’s sentiments as some sort of liberal plot against Christianity.
July 20th, 2011 at 1:59 am
No argument there. The so-called “Religious Right” has gotten more and more entrenched in the last couple of decades. I doubt that even Goldwater could get nominated today.
BTW, I wonder if you’ve heard that Social/Fiscal conservatives are being attacked over their viewing Ayn Rand’s books, especially Atlas Shrugged, as a source of inspiration, given her strident atheism.