so, Ben Carson has a litmus test for President, now?

[callmeslick]

apparently, Dr. Ben doesn't think a Muslim should be allowed to be President. Hmmmm, might be time to bone up on that Constitution.
It is a damn shame that sound bites from the GOP don't come often enough from the sensible candidates. John Kasich can form cogent sentences, understands the principles of how and why government works. Damn shame he isn't feeding the faithful what they seek.......

[woodchip]

Probably before you were politically aware but I remember when people didn't want JFK to be president because he was Catholic.

[Nightshade]

apparently, Dr. Ben doesn't think a Muslim should be allowed to be President. Hmmmm, might be time to bone up on that Constitution.
It is a damn shame that sound bites from the GOP don't come often enough from the sensible candidates. John Kasich can form cogent sentences, understands the principles of how and why government works. Damn shame he isn't feeding the faithful what they seek.......

The constitution does indeed allow someone with any faith to become president- but a 'devout muslim' cannot uphold and protect the United States Constitution because the koran forbids it. The only law a muslim is supposed to hold as supreme is the law of allah.

[Lothar]

Dr. Ben doesn't think a Muslim should be allowed to be President.... sound bites from the GOP don't come often enough from the sensible candidates. John Kasich ... isn't feeding the faithful what they seek.......

I don't know what "GOP faithful" you're listening to, but in my neck of the e-woods Trump is routinely mocked, Carson "blew it" by making that comment (while Kasich nailed it with “For me, the most important thing about being President is you have leadership skills, you know what you’re doing and you can help fix this country and raise this country. Those are the qualifications that matter to me.”) and the big question is which of the serious candidates is going to emerge from the mess -- a big name like Bush, Rubio, or Cruz, or one of the lesser-known candidates who have been picking up momentum like Fiorina or Kasich. Remember, even the "early" Iowa caucus isn't until Feb 1; we'll see some flameouts before then.

[callmeslick]

Probably before you were politically aware but I remember when people didn't want JFK to be president because he was Catholic.

remember it. I was 5, but remember the big people debating it during the term. Same questions will arise about electing a Jew in 2016, should Sanders make it far enough. Still, as some GOP strategist stated earlier today in an interview, this is NOT the public debate the GOP needs to be airing in public.

[callmeslick]

Lothar, I believe what you say. Similar reaction around here with the Repubs I know in northern Delaware. However, in rural VA, they thing Trump is THE greatest thing ever. It will be interesting what branch of the GOP carries the day.

[Tunnelcat]

For once I agree with Lothar. I think Kasich exudes leadership and patience and has the best disposition to work across the isle when compromise is needed. All the other Republicans are either partisan hacks, nutjobs, egomaniacs, zealots or idiots.

[callmeslick]

For once I agree with Lothar. I think Kasich exudes leadership and patience and has the best disposition to work across the isle when compromise is needed. All the other Republicans are either partisan hacks, nutjobs, egomaniacs, zealots or idiots.

I said that when he entered the race.....Kasich is the ONLY one who is Presidential quality of the bunch. He's likely doomed.

[Tunnelcat]

He sounded much more rational than Fiorina and she got the rise in the ratings with her bombast. Plus, Fiorina pretty much ruined Hewlett Packard as a CEO and that comes from personal inside knowledge. She's not qualified to be president.

[callmeslick]

He sounded much more rational than Fiorina and she got the rise in the ratings with her bombast. Plus, Fiorina pretty much ruined Hewlett Packard as a CEO and that comes from personal inside knowledge. She's not qualified to be president.

oh, wait until the larger electorate understands: 1) she never had any kids, the person who died from an OD was her 35-year old stepdaughter and pot never had anything to do with it, 2) she was dealing with Iran during the embargo and paying off Russian operatives at HP......plus a few more.

[Nightshade]

apparently, Dr. Ben doesn't think a Muslim should be allowed to be President. Hmmmm, might be time to bone up on that Constitution.
It is a damn shame that sound bites from the GOP don't come often enough from the sensible candidates. John Kasich can form cogent sentences, understands the principles of how and why government works. Damn shame he isn't feeding the faithful what they seek.......

This is what devout muslims think of Democracy:

[woodchip]

Probably before you were politically aware but I remember when people didn't want JFK to be president because he was Catholic.

remember it. I was 5, but remember the big people debating it during the term. Same questions will arise about electing a Jew in 2016, should Sanders make it far enough. Still, as some GOP strategist stated earlier today in an interview, this is NOT the public debate the GOP needs to be airing in public.

And you would seem to be out of touch with the mood of the voters:

The super PAC supporting neurosurgeon Ben Carson for GOP president has seen a surge of donations since his appearance Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where Mr. Carson said he wouldn’t advocate for a Muslim to be president of the United States.

Voters are tired of establishment candidates. This is why Walker stopped running. Others will follow suit when their donations dry up. While you say such comments are not what the GOP needs, GOP voters are also tired of the Dems telling us what is good in a candidate. This is why Trump/Carson/Fiorina are leading the pack and establishment candidates are withering in the hot sun of voter discontent.

Back when JFK was running, what you might of missed was people being concerned that the Pope would somehow control JFK by power of excommunication. I would be concerned that Sharia law and fatwas would control a Muslim president.

[callmeslick]

didn't happen with JFK, did it?

[woodchip]

Well it certainly didn't stop him from his sleazebag romances. Then again maybe the Pope hired Lee Oswald.

[Ferno]

to downplay obama, even if he was muslim (and it's provable that he is not), would be exactly like downplaying him if he were to be a Buddhist.