Religious Issues in Campaigns

AMERICAN POLITICAL LIFE has always been affected by religious convictions and beliefs. Religion continues to be at the forefront of American politics and government. Elections are no exception. From the first colonists arriving in the new world with the hope of religious freedom, to President George Bush rallying his armies of compassion, religion and faith have served as a cornerstones in American elections and campaigns and religion has served as a major force in the political lives of its citizenry.

Researchers note that individuals and groups use religion as a filter in the decision-making process in politics and public policy in two primary ways. First, religion can be viewed as a set of internal beliefs that one acquires primarily within the cognitive sphere. Viewing religion from a cognitive or theological perspective, individuals utilize their own beliefs to develop a certain political or social view about politics, a campaign, an issue, or a political candidate.

Second, religion can be viewed as a participatory activity of civic engagement, or “belonging,” which emphasizes group dynamics as a form of expression and involvement. In this case, a certain view about a campaign issue or public policy program would be fun-neled through the beliefs of a specific religious tradition or faith. When combined, believing and belonging have a tremendous effect on political campaigns and elections. They affect who gets elected and who does not, the platforms of candidates, and in many cases, religious issues affect campaigns and elections by serving as referendums.

Religion and religious issues, affect who gets elected and who does not. In 1928, Alfred Smith (New York), the Democratic nominee for president and self-identified Roman Catholic, ran against Republican Herbert Hoover. Hoover, besides using the famous slogan “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage,” attacked Smith by using religious rhetoric and religious bigotry. With the two major themes in the campaign focusing on religion and prohibition, Hoover and others convinced the electorate that, if elected, Smith would make Catholicism the national religion and suggested that Smith would adhere to the words of the Pope in lieu of the Constitution. In the end, Hoover beat Smith by more than 18 percent of the popular vote.

John F Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), another Roman Catholic, would take a page from the Hoover campaign and use it to his advantage in 1960, by suggesting that anyone who would not vote for him because he was Catholic could be labeled a religious bigot, noting that he was not the Catholic candidate for president, he was the Democratic Party's candidate for president, who happened to be a Catholic. Kennedy's ability to separate his religion from his candidacy served as the cornerstone for future debates on religion and politics and led to his victory against Richard Nixon (R-California) in 1960.

George W Bush (R-Texas), a self-proclaimed Evangelical, used religion to court the conservative Republican, religious right vote in both the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. During his campaigns, Bush often quoted Bible verses, referenced his daily prayer activities, and discussed issues he viewed as biblically immoral: homosexuality, same-sex marriages, and abortion. Despite being involved in a highly controversial war in Iraq, Bush was re-elected in 2004, in part due to the conservative Christian voter turnout in key states.

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