I think that CB should give a speech where he further distances his ministry from his campaign. Even if he sees the two as united, many people would be wary of supporting him because he pastors a church. CB needs to give a speech where he welcomes people of all faiths to his campaign. What do you think?

This post was last modified: Wed May 21, 2008 09:24 AM by preserveourliberties.

I voted yes. But he should always be clear to state how his being a pastor influences his platform. It will be easy for people to get the wrong idea and he'll have to "hammer it home" early and often.

Chuck Baldwin is who he is. Why do we always assume people will be scared off by his religion/denomination. He has made it perfectly clear by his statement below that we need all Americans to join our party/campaign. Not just Christians.

We all will rise or fall together. A reasonable person should be able to understand that. There will always be people who accuse you of being a theocrat, but that is just nonsense they spew to discredit "your" candidate and uplift theirs.

If you ask me, they need to just cut Chuck loose. Forget reading into the camera. Get that man behind a podium and just let him speak from the heart. Thats when he really communicates his passion for liberty.

In his Church he preaches Christ. On the campaign trail he preaches liberty. I don't see the problem.

Ray

Right on, Ray!

Ray, I appreciate your view, and I agree with it until I look at the voters. There are just so many who won't think for themselves and will jump to conclusions. Look at all the fire Huckabee took in regards to him being a pastor and candidate. The fact CB is a candidate of the CP will only make it worse.

I truly wish average Americans were smart enough ("reasonable", as you put it) to cut through their conditioning, but many are not. Many will assume that since Mr. Baldwin is a pastor, he will want to be our "Pastor In Chief".

I think he needs to distance himself to fulfill the statement you quoted above. He will have to gain the trust off all those who are wary of religion and particularly religious politicians. If you read the Ron Paul forums, a significant portion of them won't touch anything associated with the CP, including Chuck Baldwin, due to the Christian overtones in its platform. They are Libertarians (many of whom are also probably atheists or agnostics) at heart. Yet they are also the people who should be most receptive to Baldwin's platform outside of the CP.

I honestly don't know the answer to this...

I think that churches have a moral responsibility to stand up and speak out for what is right, but I get very wary when I hear some of his supporters who seem to be saying, "we should vote for him because he's the only true Christian."
That hearkens back to the Huckabee campaign, something that as a Christian I found tacky and offensive.

Even if the statement is actually TRUE in Dr. Baldwin's case, I don't like to be using the same rationale the Huck supporters did...

That being said, the aspect that concerns me is what some supporters have said. I've heard nothing from the man himself to make me wary. He does not campaign from the pulpit.

I agree with Ray..matter of fact, there's not much I can add to that. If Chuck Baldwin's position as a pastor, or any kind of minister for that matter, is going to be a "threat" to the campaign, then he should never have been nominated. Even if Chuck Baldwin was a welder, his beliefs in Liberty and the Bible would scare the crap out of a lot of people. The Torch of Liberty always makes the cockroaches run for cover.

Why should Chuck Balwin try to cover up his "profession" any more than an attorney? Let me see... Obama is an attorney and so is Barr (although I am still not sure he will win the LP nomination) and I am not sure what McCain is other than a retired Naval Aviator. I would certainly consider a clergyman more trustworthy than a lawyer! I think quoting scripture is a major turnoff but I don't see Baldwin doing that.

It is the duty of each man to honestly represent himself. If people won't vote for you because of who you are, then so be it.

Chuck Baldwin is a Pastor, not by trade, but by Divine calling. It would be dishonest of him to try to hide that fact.

I agree. Chuck shouldn't try to hide who he is. He can still make it clear that he supports freedom of religion for everyone for example.