• news
  • WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3 2007 8:00 PM

John McCain Hasn't Read the Constitution

Submitted by Subrosa

Edited by erin_broadley

Tags: McCain, Religion, God-O-Meter, 55% of Americans are chowderheaded maroons



Either that, or he’s a fucking moron. Seriously, it’s the only way one could come to the same conclusion he did last weekend when he said the following in an video interview:

A recent poll found that 55 percent of Americans believe the U.S. Constitution establishes a Christian nation. What do you think?

McCAIN: I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation.


While it’s certainly not news that 55% of Americans are idiots, it is a bit annoying that a man trying for the nation’s highest office could be so clueless as to the contents of our country’s founding document. The interview, which was conducted by Beliefnet.com, a multi-denominational Christian website, contained many other inaccuracies and shocking statements. We’ll get to those later, but I want to take this point-by-point here.

First of all, it’s true that McCain proceeded to qualify the above statement by saying that he meant the above in the “broadest sense” and that the Country is founded on Christian “principles”. That’s all well and good (and historically questionable in itself), but it’s light years from the Constitution setting up a “Christian Nation”.

There are exactly two explicit references to religion in the U.S. Constitution. They are in Article 6:

…[N]o religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.


And in the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…


That’s it. That’s the extent of the explicit religious mentions in the Constitution. Two passages. Both go out of their way to separate the government from religion and establish the United States as a secular state. There is no reference to “Under God” or (as McCain claims later in the interview) “In God We Trust”, nor does the presidential oath say anything about swearing upon the Bible or “so help me God”. None of it. The U.S. even signed a treaty less than a decade after the Constitution’s ratification that emphatically stated:

…United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion…


People like McCain or the other 55% of people out there are just living in self-important delusional fantasies if they think the framers wanted a “Christian Nation”. They’re just fucking wrong and for a presidential candidate to associate himself with this dimwittery is shameful.

Naturally, McCain didn’t stop there in his effort to mollify his Christian critics and up his God-O-Meter rating. Oh no.

Has the candidates’ personal faith become too big an issue in the presidential race?

McCAIN: Questions about that are very legitimate.... And it's also appropriate for me at certain points in the conversation to say, look, that's sort of a private matter between me and my Creator.... But I think the number one issue people should make [in the] selection of the President of the United States is, 'Will this person carry on in the Judeo Christian principled tradition that has made this nation the greatest experiment in the history of mankind?'"

It doesn't seem like a Muslim candidate would do very well, according to that standard.

McCAIN: I admire the Islam. There's a lot of good principles in it. I think one of the great tragedies of the 21st century is that these forces of evil have perverted what's basically an honorable religion. But, no, I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles.... personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith. But that doesn't mean that I'm sure that someone who is Muslim would not make a good president. I don't say that we would rule out under any circumstances someone of a different faith. I just would--I just feel that that's an important part of our qualifications to lead.


Well, thank goodness he said that he admired “the Islam” before saying they would not be qualified to be president. Otherwise, I might think he were applying a religious test to his voting decisions. And even if he were, that would be OK because I’ll bet 55% of Americans think the Founding Fathers were big fans of religious tests for public office too.

But how does Captain Christian Principles feel about Mitt Romney? After all, Mormons are kinda different too.

I believe that the Mormon religion is a religion that I don't share, but I respect. More importantly, I've known so many people of the Mormon faith who have been so magnificent. I think that Governor Romney's religion should not, absolutely not, be a disqualifying factor when people consider his candidacy for President of the United States, absolutely not.


McCain, after taking heat from Jewish and Muslim groups for the above statements, did some of his trademarked straight-talkin’ backpedaling.

*McCain contacted Beliefnet after the interview to clarify his remarks: “I would vote for a Muslim if he or she was the candidate best able to lead the country and defend our political values.”


So, to sum up: he digs the Islam, but they are way lower on the Magnificent scale than Mormons so he’d be very uncomfortable voting for a Muslim for president. Also, he would vote for one if he or she would lead the country and defend our values.

Makes perfect sense. Way to stand on your principles, champ.

  • PERMALINK
  • PRINT
  • Digg This
  • Email To A Friend
 

Previous

PAGE: 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Next

Comments
Oscar_Bronski

Oscar_Bronski

USA
October 2004

OCT 03, 2007 08:10 PM

I teach Special Education High School - US history and Government - we just got done reading the Constitution. My kids are now smarter than 55% of Americans!!! kick ass. I will tell them tomorrow biggrin

RedAss

RedAss

Boston, MA
December 2004

OCT 03, 2007 08:20 PM

If not for his heroic military service I would have very little respect for McCain. When did he turn into such a pandering pussy? Its sad.

JeremyEJones

JeremyEJones

San Francisco, CA
August 2005

OCT 03, 2007 08:21 PM

It's pretty clear that the constitution was never intended to favor any certain religion. However, I think MacCain meant that the principles of the Constitution are "Christian" principles, for the most part. Only problem with that statement, of course, is that the principles and values expressed in the Constitution could just as easily be Jewish, Buddhist, or otherwise, much the way that "Be good to eachother" is by and large a pretty accepted value regardless of religion.

People get caught up in words a lot. I still think McCain is a pretty keen guy. Not that I'm sold on voting for him, but I haven't ruled him out.

I'm still waiting for Jon Stewart's candidacy.

JeremyEJones

JeremyEJones

San Francisco, CA
August 2005

OCT 03, 2007 08:22 PM

RedAss said:
If not for his heroic military service I would have very little respect for McCain. When did he turn into such a pandering pussy? Its sad.




Yeah, his self-betrayal on the whole Falwell thing was pretty upsetting.

_void_

_void_

USA
December 2006

OCT 03, 2007 08:22 PM

I couldn't help but mentally add an "and such as" after reading "the Islam"

CategoryError

CategoryError

Delta, BC
September 2006

OCT 03, 2007 08:24 PM

i dunno if i believe that he's actually that stupid, or that he's just slimy enough to use that stance to grasp at straws with the christian wingnut voters.

MaitreSinge

MaitreSinge

Silver Spring, MD
June 2004

OCT 03, 2007 08:28 PM

RedAss said:
If not for his heroic military service I would have very little respect for McCain. When did he turn into such a pandering pussy? Its sad.



After that previous primary election in which he was crushed because he was not a pandering pussy. It's basically the only viable stance to take if you want to get elected these days.

[/deeply_embittered_cynic]

Poe

Poe

SUICIDEGIRL

Maine, USA

OCT 03, 2007 08:34 PM

3rdimaginaryboy said:
I couldn't help but mentally add an "and such as" after reading "the Islam"



Hahahahaha I did too.

Randolph_Carter

Randolph_Carter

San Francisco, CA
June 2004

OCT 03, 2007 08:36 PM

I guess you didn't make it to the very next sentence, where he said "But I say that in the broadest sense."

Could it be that he is in fact aware of the First Amendment?

He continues:

"The lady that holds her lamp beside the golden door doesn't say, "I only welcome Christians." We welcome the poor, the tired, the huddled masses. But when they come here they know that they are in a nation founded on Christian principles."

I'm not saying that I agree with his point of view here, but it's disingenuous to imply that he actually believed that the text of the Constitution says that by law the United States is a Christian nation.

Let's leave the mendacious ad hominem to the other side, shall we?

LostLucy

LostLucy

USA
December 2006

OCT 03, 2007 08:36 PM

Senility? confused

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

OCT 03, 2007 08:43 PM

Randolph_Carter said:
I guess you didn't make it to the very next sentence, where he said "But I say that in the broadest sense."

Could it be that he is in fact aware of the First Amendment?

He continues:

"The lady that holds her lamp beside the golden door doesn't say, "I only welcome Christians." We welcome the poor, the tired, the huddled masses. But when they come here they know that they are in a nation founded on Christian principles."

I'm not saying that I agree with his point of view here, but it's disingenuous to imply that he actually believed that the text of the Constitution says that by law the United States is a Christian nation.

Let's leave the mendacious ad hominem to the other side, shall we?


I guess you didn't make it to the very next paragraph of my article where I addressed just that.

Rafi

Rafi

Santa Monica, CA
January 2003

OCT 03, 2007 08:47 PM

Randolph_Carter said:
I guess you didn't make it to the very next sentence, where he said "But I say that in the broadest sense."



I guess you didn't make it to the very second-to-next paragraph, where Subrosa wrote:

First of all, it's true that McCain proceeded to qualify the above statement by saying that he meant the above in the "broadest sense" and that the Country is founded on Christian "principles". That's all well and good (and historically questionable in itself), but it's light years from the Constitution setting up a "Christian Nation".



Randolph_Carter said:
He continues:

"The lady that holds her lamp beside the golden door doesn't say, "I only welcome Christians." We welcome the poor, the tired, the huddled masses. But when they come here they know that they are in a nation founded on Christian principles."

I'm not saying that I agree with his point of view here, but it's disingenuous to imply that he actually believed that the text of the Constitution says that by law the United States is a Christian nation.

Let's leave the mendacious ad hominem to the other side, shall we?



I don't know how you could possibly think the above quote strengthens your argument. If you imagine he's not talking about the Constitution or founding fathers' intentions when he says "they know that they are in a nation founded on Christian principles" minutes after answering "I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation," how ridiculously broad and generous is your interpretation of his statements?

gdarklighter

gdarklighter

San Diego, CA
August 2005

OCT 03, 2007 08:50 PM

I think I'll save my outrage for someone stupid who still has political capital.

Randolph_Carter

Randolph_Carter

San Francisco, CA
June 2004

OCT 03, 2007 08:51 PM

It's true, Paul Addis - I skimmed your post and only read parts of it. I was turned off by your language and I didn't read it carefully. You got me.

I stand by my assertion that this is an ad hominem attack. I'm sure you know that the Establishment Clause is not cut and dried and is subject to many interpretations. Personally, I'd like to see it debated without people being called fucking morons, but that's just me.

Formus

Formus

Milwaukee, WI
May 2007

OCT 03, 2007 08:51 PM

Whenever someone says the US is a Christian nation, I ask them to take out a dollar bill, and turn it over. I point out all that magnificent pagan imagery, like the huge pyramid with the giant floating eye, undoubtedly a purely Christian symbol. Then I ask them to read the banner that floats beneath that giant Jesus-pyramid. "Novus Ordo Seclorum" they tell me. Gee, that's in Latin. Oh, but I've a handy-dandy Latin dictionary right here in my pocket, I tell them with a wink. I page through it, and gee, what do you know, it says "New Secular Order" right on the dollar bill.

Previous

PAGE: 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Next

featured interviews