John M. Heller/Getty ImagesOn Tuesday, MSNBC's Chris Matthews suggested that Christians, specificall...

1. MSNBC's Chris Matthews suggests Christians have no place
in politics - National Policy & Issues
John M. Heller/Getty Images
On Tuesday, MSNBC's Chris Matthews suggested that Christians, specifically conservative
evangelical Christians, have no place in the American political system. Newsbusters' Mark
Finkelstein said Matthews attacked Jeb Bush for a planned appearance at Liberty University. His
criticism, however, wasn't limited to Bush.
"It seems to me watching this thing, somewhat dispassionately, I've noticed for example that Jeb
Bush is now going to give a commencement speech at Liberty University," he said. "You know he's a
Roman Catholic convert. His family was Episcopalian. And somehow he finds himself comfortable in
that evangelical crowd."
"His father had to do some of that stooping last time he ran. He had to go out and say things he was
born again and all that," he added. "He had to say things he was never taught religiously in his
growing-up years." Matthews then included all Republicans in his rant.
"They have to do all this--Ted Cruz was at Regent or Liberty," he said. "They're all -- does the
Republican candidate in 2016 have to be focused on the religious right? Do you have to tag that base
before you can be the nominee?" he asked as though conservative Christians have no right to be
http://www.masslive.com/sports/ involved in the American political system. Matt Schlapp, chairman
of the American Conservative Union, informed Matthews that Christians are an search engine
important part of GOP politics.
"Well, there's two things there," he said. "First of all, evangelical voters, this is a totally legitimate
group of people to go after."
Matthews responded by asking if Republicans "have
to tag up with" Christians. Schlapp explained that for
many, faith is extremely important, especially in
politics.
"Look, the question of faith in our politics is
important," he told Matthews. "And evangelical
Christians, born-again voters are an important
constituency. And it's a very important consistency for the Republicans.
Matthews suggestion that Christians should be excluded from American politics is nothing new.
Writing at the Christian Post, Karen Kramer said religious liberty is the central theme of what she
called "the new civil war." Moreover, she said Christians are partly to blame for not standing up for
their rights.
Kramer said Christians "have stood idle while a vocal minority has placed unfair burdens" on them.
"Even though we face formidable foreign enemies, the battle within our own nation could be our
demise because we're fighting for our very soul," she said.

2. Finkelstein speculated what would happen if Matthews had targeted another religion. "Let's play
some political madlibs and imagine that instead of 'stooping to that evangelical crowd,' Matthews
had criticized a candidate who spoke at an Islamic center for 'stooping to that Muslim crowd,'"
Finkelstein said. "Cue the cries of religious bigotry!"