Reviewing Campaign Statuses; God and Politics
DOBBS: The issue of God and politics in this country is front page news in the presidential campaign. Particularly in the fight between Mike Huckabee and Mitt Tomney. Huckabee posing this question in the "New York Times" magazine. Quote, "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers" responding to and reacting to a question about Mormonism. Huckabee quickly apologized for his remark but it is clear that God is seemingly at every turn in this presidential campaign in both political parties. Tony Perkins is the president of the Family Research Council, one of the country's leading religious conservatives. Perkins says God is present on both sides of the campaign and in both parties.</s>TONY PERKINS, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: Lou, I think personal faith is defining. It's a characteristic that people want to see, but they don't want it to become a pugil stick by which candidates beat each other up and the media beats up candidates. That I think goes too far and Mike Huckabee was right in acknowledging that he went too far in his comments or his questions about Romney's faith with what he said.</s>DOBBS: And the idea of faith as being defining. You said people shouldn't be beating each other over this issue. But the reality is, there's also freedom in this country not only of religion or freedom to believe whatever one thinks, that includes being an atheist or an agnostic. Wouldn't you agree?</s>PERKINS: That's correct. In fact, the Constitution says when it comes to those holding office, that there shall be no religious test. That of course was put in particular because the Catholic population was about 1.2 percent of the population and they were being excluded at the state level and the feds said there's not going to be an exclusion. We're going to include people but increasingly, we're seeing some I think using a reverse religious test. We saw some of those attacks emerge against Mike Huckabee implying that if you have a religious faith that actually impacts the way you live, then somehow you are not qualified. Now, it's a few doing that but it is beginning to pop up a little bit.</s>DOBBS: Well it is popping up. And in this campaign in particular, unlike any I can remember witnessing. Perhaps God was subtext, religion was subtext in previous religions some decades ago. But to move to the forefront and to be central in the public statements and the written materials by the campaigns of nearly every candidate is truly remarkable.</s>PERKINS: Well, it is. And I think in part a number of the topics you've had on your show tonight, and the problems we're facing as society, there was a very common worldview, if you will, 50 years ago. There was a very set way, the we viewed the issues around us. There's been a battle raging with kind of elite secularists that have tried to keep religion out of the public square. So there's a push back. That's why I think you see a strong confrontation. Because there are those trying to reinsert it and those trying to push it out. And somewhere we will strike a balance.</s>DOBBS: Well, one of the things that interests me, circulating around the Internet right now is a very interesting and popular e-mail talking about the role of religion in our culture. Basically saying you don't have to believe in God, you don't have to do all but it's a contest between the secular and the religious suggesting that if we're going be totally secular, then why are we giving people off on Sunday, which is a religious day of rest historically and also in sectarian terms the idea that everyone having Christmas off and Easter, etc. It's really quite an interesting turn.</s>PERKINS: But the fact is we're not a country that has embraced a secular world view. We are a country that has embraced a Christian worldview. That is what our legal system is founded upon. It's embedded into our government, it's embedded into the fact that we do recognize Sunday. We saw it in the blue laws. We saw it in various ways. Now increasingly America is becoming more secular. And there is where you see the conflict. But there is clearly among the American people, a desire that their leaders have some for of faith. And I have never seen this dissected but my hunch would be there's some comfort in knowing that those are leading that you, that you have elected, believe that there is an omniscient God who is watching when they're not. And I think there is some comfort in that.</s>DOBBS: Right now this nation could use a little comfort from a number of quarters.</s>PERKINS: There's too many politicians for you and I both to keep an eye on so it's a good thing we do have a God.</s>DOBBS: I think this is something we can agree we can all pray over. We thank you very much for being with us here tonight.</s>PERKINS: Merry Christmas, Lou.</s>DOBBS: We'll have much more on God and politics and presidential politics. The race for 2008. I'll be join by three of the sharpest political minds in the country. And so much for keeping the campaigns positive. An ugly turn between Senator Clinton's campaign and Senator Obama. A shake-up in the Clinton camp is the result. The latest on a Christmas gift from communist China. The danger that may be your Christmas tree. We'll have that story, a great deal more. We're coming right back. Stay with us.