Reply to Ben Carson: Islamophobe of the Day

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele]A Muslim candidate for President would be an American, born in America. Therefore, I'm not sure what it matters how Muslim rulers are treating non-Muslims in other countries. But, if treatment of minority religions in other countries is used to determine the eligibility for the office of President in the US, doesn't it pretty much rule out Jewish candidates? Shouldn't Bernie Sanders (who I personally love), be ruled out because Israel has never and probably will never have a Christian or Muslim Prime Minister?

I am still waiting for an example of rule by a Seventh Day Adventist so that we can determine Ben Carson's own eligibility. Carson questioned the compatibility of Islam with the Constitution while explicitly stating an unconstitutional position. Therefore, I'd say that by his own criteria, Carson in ineligible regardless of his religion.
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I don't agree with Carson's interpretation of the Constitution and it was you who cited the example of India and other countries when it came to "moderate" nations which have Islamic leaders.

The real question is whether any president can separate his faith from the policies he/she will follow. If he cannot as far as I am concerned it would rule him out. It does not matter if it is a Muslim or a Christian.

Also, FWIW, I have a strong discomfort with Jewish legislators who express the sort of affinity with Israel that causes them to be unable to separate their heritage from whatever is in Israel's interests. For this reason I'd never have voted for someone like Lieberman.[/quote]

FYI, it wasn't me that mentioned India and other countries.

But, it sounds like what you are saying is that it is not the religion of an individual that it is important to you, but that specific polices of that individual. Given the role of religion in most people's lives, it is almost impossible to expect someone to completely separate his faith from the values he holds and to further separate those values from polices he advocates. But, it is not infrequent for individuals to diverge from specific practices that are common within a faith -- for instance, a Catholic taking a pro-choice position.

I am curious which Muslim beliefs posters in this thread believe should disqualify Muslims from being President? The only examples that have been mentioned -- hanging people from cranes for example -- would never be advocated by a Muslim candidate in the US and, in fact, are not practiced in the vast majority of Muslim countries. 
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This will not answer your question directly but - and this based on frequent contact with Muslims in the US and abroad - Muslims find it difficult to separate their faith from aspects of lifestyle and views about social and other issues. This is a problem for me and a Muslim candidate would have a higher hurdle to overcome before I would be satisfied as to the extent he would be able to separate his faith from how he would function as president.

Again, this is not just outright bigotry, because I feel the same way about some evangelicals. For example, I'd never feel comfortable with someone like Huckabee or Santorum for the same reason.

Both groups are prone to a certain intolerance when it comes to issues that violate some tenet of their faith. [/quote]

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