Spiritual Politics
Obama, the UCC, and the IRS
By Mark Silk — February 28, 2008
Today the Hartford Courant has bannered across its front page Elizabeth Hamilton’s story on an IRS investigation of the United Church of State (er. make that Christ) resulting from Barack Obama’s address to the annual convention of that denomination (which is his own) last summer. (You can check out the IRS’ February 20 letter here […]
Diplomat for Obama
By Mark Silk — February 28, 2008
Yesterday we had a visit at Trinity from Daniel Kurtzer, now of the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton, whose three-decade career in the State Department included three years as President Clinton’s ambassador to Egypt and four years as President Bush’s ambassador to Israel. (After leaving that job and the department in 2005, he spent a […]
Catholic Sound and Furor
By richardwood — February 28, 2008
An important exchange about Catholic engagement in public life occurred this week in the pages of the Washington Post. On Sunday, Joe Feuerherd reacted to the U.S. Catholic bishops’ recent statement on citizen’s civic responsibility, a related webpage, and recent statements by some individual bishops. He suggested that the thrust of those statements meant that […]
Feds Investigate Obama’s Church
By rvineis — February 27, 2008
The IRS is investigating whether or not a speech Senator Obama gave at the Trinity United Church of Christ violated the church’s non-profit status. The UCC denies any wrongdoing claiming that they consulted their lawyers to ensure they followed the law. Yet, in a letter to the church ,the IRS expressed concern over articles on […]
Down Ticket in Indy
By Mark Silk — February 27, 2008
The 2008 election campaign, as we understand it, involves more than just the presidential race, and we hope to keep track of religious dimensions of other races, as these pop into view. First up (for us, at least) is the March 11 special election in Indiana’s seventh congressional district. It features Democrat Andre Carson running […]
From the belly of the vast right wing conspiracy.
By Mark Silk — February 26, 2008
Watch Hillary Clinton talk about what her faith has done for her, in an interview with David Brody appearing on the 700 Club. Pat Robertson calls her a “brave lady.” I guess the 90s were a long time ago.
Go Figure
By Mark Silk — February 26, 2008
A week ago, SurveyUSA showed Clinton winning regular worship attenders in Texas and Obama winning those who attend little or not at all. Now the same pollster shows their positions reversed. In both cases by healthy margins. So the more Texans see of the two candidates, the more the pious like Barack and the more […]
Tejanos
By Mark Silk — February 26, 2008
There’s evidence that Obama is gaining some ground among Hispanics in Texas. A few days ago, CNN’s polling director Keating Holland, commenting on a survey showing a dead heat in Texas, said he thought Clinton might well receive two-thirds of the Hispanic vote there. Yesterday’s SurveyUSA poll, showing Obama up by four points, had him […]
Canvasing in DC
By Mark Silk — February 26, 2008
From Nikita Stewart’s nice profile of Huckabee staffer Brian Summers in today’s WaPo: “I went to churches. I went to Bible study groups. I didn’t go in selling the Republican Party. I came in and sold a candidate,” said Summers, who targeted wards 7 and 8 in Southeast Washington, where he hoped to strike a […]
Evangelical Democrats!?
By rvineis — February 25, 2008
Amy Sullivan dispels the myth that all evangelicals aren’t liberals in her column for the Washington Post. Sullivan delves into why Republican have held a monopoly on the faithful and how this is beginning to change.
Return of the Romneys
By rvineis — February 25, 2008
Mitt Romney’s son, Josh, told the Desert Morning News today that he is considering running for Congress. More interesting is his belief that Mormonism cost his father a win in Iowa. Josh Romney said “When it’s religion, you definitely take it personally. It’s highly offensive, but I think that the vast majority of people we […]
Obama Fired Up Over Photo
By rvineis — February 25, 2008
The Obama Clinton fight over faith has escalated dramatically. According to Drudgereport.com, Hillary Clinton’s aides have been circulating a photo of Obama wearing traditional Somali garb. The Clinton campaign has not refuted the charge, but the Obama camp accused his opponent of “shameful offensive fear-mongering”. Stay tuned as this develops…
Obama Reaches out to Jews
By rvineis — February 24, 2008
Barack Obama tried agressive outreach into the Jewish community Sunday. He met with Jewish leaders yesterday in an effort to clear up vakakta rumors. Speaking in Cleveland, he reasurred them of his stance on Israel, his relationship with his controversial pastor Jerimiah Wright, and the “Muslim” emails. Obama’s remarks were likely spurred by the Clinton […]
Miracle Guy
By Mark Silk — February 24, 2008
Seeing the Huckabee clip from yesterday’s SNL put me in mind of the name of the show’s original cast.
South Texas
By Mark Silk — February 24, 2008
If Obama has a special card to play with Hispanic Catholics in South Texas (see here), it hasn’t registered yet, according to this geographical breakdown of the recent WaPo/ABC News poll.
Mark Silk
Spiritual Politics
Mark Silk is Professor of Religion in Public Life at Trinity College and director of the college's Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life. He is a Contributing Editor of the Religion News Service
