The mid-term elections here in the States are less than 90 days away. These elections are crucial, and will sway for decades the course our nation will take, for better or for worse. The issues involved in these mid-terms are similar in most or all of the contests. With that thought in mind, it may be of interest to examine one specific candidacy; and one of the more interesting candidacies is that of Sharron Angle, who is determined to unseat incumbent Senator Harry Reid for a Senate seat for the state of Nevada.
Senatorial hopeful Angle has addressed the issue of religion, and it’s potential to influence elections. In many small remote areas of America, and of Nevada, religion is a formidable political force. With the majority of a town population practicing within a single domination, the church pastors have a powerful role. Travelers have noted that in areas dominated by this or that denomination, discrimination evolves. Non-church members may experience difficulty in finding employment, or housing. The church groups' influence may extend even to local schools, and to law enforcement agencies, thus giving rise to extreme situations. If political groups can tap into this power source, they are assured of many, many votes. Republican candidate and notable Tea Party spokesperson Sharron Angle indeed believes that the clergy should be permitted to endorse candidates from the pulpit. She is among the most conservative of congress-persons and candidates, outspoken on the issue of boundaries between religion and government. She agrees with those who feel students and teachers in the classroom should be permitted to openly discuss religious issues, and she declares that teachers who are so inclined should publically “acknowledge the Creator”. At the present time, the federal government bans church endorsement of candidates, church involvement in political campaigns, and the expression of views on candidates from the pulpit. Angle sees her campaign as a spiritual calling; she accuses incumbent Harry Reid, and all Democrats, of trying to "make the government God." And in this regard she specifically accuses them of usurping the role of God in the implementation, and continuation of entitlement programs. At other venues, regarding entitlements, Angle has stated she would phase out Social Security, and that people who receive unemployment benefits are "spoiled".
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dave Nalle
John, I think you misunderstand Angle and are also repeating a lot of things which are basically spin from her primary opponents.
Case in point would be her comments on Marijuana legalization. As she has explained since then repeatedly, what she meant was not that she wanted to ban alcohol but that she thinks that both types of abusable substances should be legal and regulated.
Dave
2 - John Lake
David:
In anticipation of such criticism, I went to some lengths to provide links to reliable sources.
I might suggest that her sponsors, and those who prepare her web site, have made effort to tone down her positions which are indeed extreme.
3 - Dave Nalle
Some of her views are extreme in a good way, however. Extreme devotion to the Constitution, for example, really can't be faulted.
Dave
4 - handyguy
The look on Carl Cameron's face said a lot. When Angle explained her ideas about how the free press should work -- let me give you a list of questions I want you to ask me, and then let me promote my campaign donation web site -- Fox news veteran reporter Cameron was unable to hide his astonishment. She really meant it! She expected Fox to provide her an infomercial.
Harry Reid should have been easy to defeat this year. She's such a loon that he now leads her in most polls.
5 - John Wilson
Is Angle the one who recommended bartering a chicken with your doctor? I'm seeing the doc this week and I want to be prepared.
6 - handyguy
No, John, that was the other tea party fruitcake whom Angle defeated in the primary. They apparently grow a lot of 'em in Nevada.
7 - Glenn Contrarian
Isn't Sharron Angle the one who said "no abortion even for rape victims", that victim pregnant with the rapist's child should "make lemonade out of lemons"?
And isn't Ms. Angle the one is a member of the Oath Keepers, whose members take oaths to refuse to take orders THEY feel are "unconstitutional", including enforcement of gun laws, violations of states' sovereignty, and "any order to blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant concentration camps." Come to think of it, the 'Oath Keepers' view would require them to ignore the Civil Rights Act....
Isn't she the one who, in the face of the BP oil spill in the Gulf - which is now the largest accidental oil spill in human history - called for further deregulation of Big Oil? We all know that the MMS did not do their duty by letting Big Oil off the hook on so many occasions...but is the answer yet MORE deregulation? After all, if Big Business gets away with this much with the regulation that we have, exactly WHAT proof is there that they'd behave more in the interest of the American people if there's even less regulation? This particular conservative aim is nothing more than a fantasy.
Isn't she the one who wants clergy to be able to officially endorse political candidates? Gee, having religion involved with government worked out SO well on so many other countries. And speaking of separation of church and state, she also wants teachers to be able to speak openly about religion with their students...and personally, I would NOT want, say, a Catholic teacher having the opportunity to try to convert MY kids day after day after day. But somehow I suspect that Ms. Angle would say that her rule wouldn't apply to Muslim teachers.
And she believes that God has SENT her to defeat Harry Reid. Uh-huh, yeah, she's on a mission from God!
Yep! "God sent me to tell you to let Big Business do what they will, teachers can talk to YOUR kids about their religion, people don't have to follow federal law if they don't like it, and by the way - that fetus you're carrying from that guy who beat the crap out of you before raping you at knifepoint, well, you'll have that baby whether you like it or not, so just make the best of it!"
But let's all remember that she's NOT a BAD extremist! How do we know this? Because Dave Said So!
Some of her views are extreme in a good way, however. Extreme devotion to the Constitution, for example, really can't be faulted.
8 - John Lake
The Republicans continue to favor less regulation. This just seems foolish. They really prefer the way it was under Bush.
They appear to have no agenda, no plan, no responsible leadership.
9 - Baronius
Glenn - Apparently, yes no yes yes yes.
10 - John Wilson
Apparently, this means my chicken deal with the doc is off.
11 - jeannie danna
John,
After reading your article, I realize just how dangerous Angle is to all of our freedoms.
We have a number of "religious figures" in our area writing letters to the editor on a weekly basis...no religion in their letters, just cut our taxes.
Well in NY all this shrink our government is backfiring as villages and townships are trying to eliminate each-other, problem is nobody wants to lose their positions.
: ) If Republicans were in , I bet big government wouldn't be such a big deal.
12 - Baronius
Glenn, as a Christian, don't you believe that you're doing what God has called you to do?
13 - jeannie danna
Glenn,
They do and have all along, haven't they?
clergy to be able to officially endorse political candidates? Gee, having religion involved with government worked out SO well on so many other countries.
14 - jeannie danna
Whatever this woman believes is personal and should be kept that way.
The US is not a Theocracy.
15 - handyguy
Baronius #12: LOL
I can just imagine the reaction if Barack Obama had declared that God had sent him to defeat John McCain.
16 - Baronius
Handy, "sent him" is a little odd phrasing, but I hope that Barack Obama believes he's doing God's will. I'm sure he's said as much, when talking about how God wants us to serve the poor and bring peace to the world. I don't consider it a sign of megalomania. Rather, I would consider it odd for a politician who believes in God to think that he's doing something other than God's will.
Jeannie, why shouldn't Angle talk about what she believes?
17 - jeannie danna
Baronius,
Because as my earlier comment states:
The US is not a Theocracy.
We remain free, and if religious zeal, can be kept at bay, then we wont have groups similar to the Taliban murdering those who don't conform.
18 - jeannie danna
Handyguy might think my answer short, but less is more.
19 - handyguy
Any candidate who said God called him/her to "run against Sen. XYZ" is appalling to me. Not just megalomania -- mixing religion and elections. Slippery slope etc.
I doubt that you really think this ridiculous woman is qualified to be a senator, not something you addressed directly. Have you actually listened to her?
20 - handyguy
Another astonishing quote from Ms. Angle [she's got a million of 'em]:
And these programs that you mentioned -- that Obama has going with Reid and Pelosi pushing them forward -- are all entitlement programs built to make government our God. And that’s really what’s happening in this country is a violation of the First Commandment.
21 - jeannie danna
Handyguy,
I am misunderstood many times over when people read my responses.
I meant that when I articulate, less is more, not that my less is more than your more.
:0 nite
22 - handyguy
I understood you, Jeannie [I think]. My comments were addressed to Baronius.
23 - zingzing
baronius, do you really think everything you do pleases god and is his will? or do you think you even know god's will? someone claiming god has chosen them for a particular role is nothing but hubris and damn fine politics if you want to convince the stupid.
24 - handyguy
We are very amused by the possibility of Ms. Angle being interviewed by Rachel Maddow. "Come on, please," urged Rachel tonight. "It'll be a lot more fun that you think." You betcha!
25 - Baronius
Handy, I certainly try to live by a moral code, and use the talents I have and opportunities that come my way. I'm grimly aware of how often I fail at it.