Democratic Senator Billie Sutton made a big deal of his faith in God when he announced his gubernatorial campaign. He also spotlights his religion with a whole section of its own on his bio, showing him playing his guitar in church.
I maintain that religion offers us no useful guidance in determining whether any candidate will make an effective governor, city councilman, or dog catcher. Donald Trump says he’s Christian, and what’s that getting us?
But if our candidates must wave their crosses instead of just bearing them, I hope Senator Sutton will preach us some Jesus in the mold of Rev. William J. Barber II, who started the “moral Monday” protests in North Carolina in 2013 and now is rousing Christians to show that Christianity is more than the culture-war platform of the GOP:
He calls himself an evangelical “who takes seriously the Old Testament and Jesus.” Yet he has fully embraced gay and transgender rights — and in North Carolina, home of the law restricting bathroom use by transgender people. The Bible, he notes, says far more about caring for the needy than it does about homosexuality or abortion.
“How do you take two or three Scriptures and make a theology out of it, and claim it is the moral perspective, and leave 2,000 on the table?” he said. “That is a form of theological malpractice” [Laurie Goodstein, “Religious Liberals Sat Out of Politics for 40 Years. Now They Want in the Game,” New York Times, 2017.06.10].
If candidates must discuss their religious views on the campaign trail, they should focus on how those religious views inform the policies for which they will fight. If they choose to make such pious pronouncements, they have an obligation to their own faiths to show that they understand the full political import of their religious beliefs, not just a smattering of cherry-picked scriptures. If Sutton can do that, maybe he can inspire his Republican opponents to do the same.
I’m more kristian than thou. I am getting a massive headache. There are zero religious tests to hold public office and from the actions of today’s wingnut party. it seems most of them haven’t bothered trying to fathom what their lord and saviour instructed them to do.
Our country would do well to stifle religiosity and relegate religion to the dustbin of history that wingnuts have no clues about.
I wish nothing but success in Billie Sutton’s efforts to reach out to all. Today, there is a march against the Muslim faith as anti-Christian by trump supporters. What makes any other religious denomination think they are secure in trump’s world? What if you are Catholic, Mormon, Seventh Day Adventists, who observe Saturday as Sabbath as does the Jewish Faith, when do they come for you? When do they march to degrade your faith?
While trump supporters in South Dakota look the other way, the hateful acts against religion goes on, by them. Bill Sutton will have a tough time of it as this hate has been ingrained in South Dakota since territory days. In towns and cities across this state, you can see either pictures of men in white robes or known family members who were active participants.
“”I will always hate the Jew. This government is run by evil people, and please, vote for Trump!!””
“-Aryan Nation “Minister of Information” August Kreis at his court sentencing. He is one of dozens of hate group leaders who voiced strong support for Trump who Trump has yet to denounce.” http://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article43249878.html
Mr. Sutton is already screeching “corruption, corruption”, like one of Mr. Nelson’s parrots. If he now overgods on us he will lose before he even starts, for the other overgodders have a full on hike to Nazareth head start on him, even if he gets a rolling start and it is mostly down hill.
Mr. Sutton, you need to focus on the issues and stop being Stace’s puppet if you want a chance.
I am proud he is professing his Christian faith! And I think he will actually walk the walk with his principles. As an agnostic friend of mine once said: “I have no problem with most Christians, but your public relations people suck!”
“Billie the Overgodder”
Takes the pressure off of Ms. Noem. And since Ms. Krebs has the krazies all locked up, this is turning into a slam dunk.
Cory writes:
Maybe we can have a rollicking public discussion of Christ’s teachings regarding Genesis and the age of the earth:
http://www.truedakotan.com/opinion/letterbox-science-includes-recognizing-assumptions/article_c211de08-0ba7-11e6-9f62-f74e57bae3ee.html
http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/opinion/letters/4032885-letter-all-sound-science-compatible-christianity
Speaking as a member of the state Constitution Party (but not on its behalf), I’m glad to see leading Democrats united behind a quality candidate.
Jerry writes:
What if you’re a traditional pro-liberty Protestant, and the government establishes a definition of Christianity that somehow excludes you? These are important questions for all of us.
Democrats (state and national) do not do the “Mighty fortress is our God” spiel very well, if at all, and Republicans have, in essence, cornered the Christianity market, especially in SD. For every SD atheist who proclaims they “maintain that religion offers us no useful guidance in determining whether any candidate will make an effective governor,…” there are say 5,000 (?) South Dakotans who will vote for candidate “X” simply because they state they are pro-life and anti-gay, thus proclaiming themselves as a Christian. I don’t know Mr. Sutton’s religious background. But in SD, it would be benificial to any Democrat running for office to state their genuine relegious beliefs. If nothing else, to have a conversation about Christianity that goes beyond the two points mentioned above.
In South Dakota, the only way to get elected is to play the “God” card.
You can’t just play the God card in SD to win, you gotta know when to hold em and when to fold em.
I hope Billie considers reserving most of his God cards for when his opponent finally immerges from the R primary.
I believe there are ‘True Scotsman’ but they ain’t Republicans.
If Mr. Sibby gets into the election on the Libertarian ticket, religion will be the dominant topic. Perhaps Mr. Sutton is just wanting to get his god-credentials out there, because Messrs. Nelson and Sibson and Ms. Hubbel are all going to be thumping the big red book on the podiums.
The last thing South Dakota voters need to have in the upcoming mid-terms is a discussion about God, the Bible, or Christianity. We have had these discussions and debates for decades and I have yet to see how they have benefited state government or the quality of life in South Dakota.
All discussions about religion seem to produce are arguments and resentments that come down to “my God is better than your God”.
Many of Christians and their various religions have elevated their hate to a new level when it comes to immigrants and refugees in this state.
South Dakota voters need to have vigorous conversations about our regressive tax system, low wages, infrastructure, corruption and so much more, the things that have an effect on daily lives.
We need to vote all the overgodders out, not vote new ones in.
Roger,
Churches are part of our regressive taxing with non-taxed properties (including Churches) making up at least one quarter, and as much as one half of properties in our counties. Unlike non-profits, Churches do not have to fill out the IRS 990 form that proves they are not profiting, or using those tax dollars for things not allowed to non-profits.
By taxing us more to make up the short fall of non-taxed properties, the County eliminates the separation of Church and State.
Hmm… I wonder what God says about the nonmeandered waters issue?
Sutton is strong against corruption and I think God is as well. When someone tells about their religion and lives it is OK. If they talk religion and do not live it they have hurt religion and that is why so many do not like hearing about religion. If you can prove Bill is not living his faith, then call him on it but do not bash him because others have made mistakes on this issue.
Mike Rounds, Marty Jackley, Richard Benda, Scott Westerhuis—all publicly professing Christians, right? Their religion didn’t seem to keep EB-5 or GEAR UP from falling into corruption. My point is less to bash Sutton than to criticize the general notion that saying “I believe in God!” provides any reliable evidence for how well an individual will govern in public office.