How Religion, Politics Mix this Election

Didn't your mom ever tell you that religion and politics do not mix and should never be discussed? However, people and more importantly, presidential candidates are discussing politics more than ever. With the upcoming January 3rd Iowa Caucus, candidates are talking and campaigning about their beliefs. Campaign advisers who use to advise against discussing their religion, are now emphasizing its importance. Many candidates have feared that talking about their religion would make voters of different faiths would lose their support. A country that has been built from separation of faith and government, is what has feared candidates from discussing it until now.

Candidates like Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, openly speaks about his Mormon faith. Romney has talked about the religious freedom this country was based on and his right to choose any faith he wants to believe in. Further, he always tries to assure voters that he will not mix religion with politics if he becomes president. Vincent Goodwin, a student studying political science at American University in Washington, D.C., says discussing faith is more important than ever. "It is critical that these candidates talk about their faith, especially Romney. Some people are afraid that Romney will make decisions based on his religion. It is important to reassure the public he won't do that." Romney is a popular candidate that has opened up the presidential field in the future to all people of faith including Jews, Hindus, and even Buddhists.

Democratic candidate Barack Obama routinely talks about how God has inspired him. He is a Christian who has to continuously debunk the rumor he is a Muslim. He makes these clarifications on a regular basis. Goodwin, from American University, states, "People want to know that candidates have core values that stem from religion. We want to be assured that they are not cold-hearted people."