Legal Commentary

Obama Says No To Religious Discrimination

By Big Tent Democrat

Yesterday, the AP erroneously reported that Barack Obama would permit faith based discrimination in hiring with non-taxpayers funds for organizations that would participate in his faith based initiative. Subsequently, the NYTimes erroneously reported that there was a legal basis for this position based on theDale Boy Scouts case. Apparently, the Obama campaign made clear that Obama says no to faith based discrimination:

Mr. Obama’s position that religious organizations would not be able to consider religion in their hiring for such programs would constitute a deal-breaker for many evangelicals, said several evangelical leaders, who represent a political constituency Mr. Obama has been trying to court. “For those of who us who believe in protecting the integrity of our religious institutions, this is a fundamental right,” said Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals. “He’s rolling back the Bush protections. That’s extremely disappointing.”

(Emphasis supplied.) To me, that is extremely heartening. Indeed, it would have been a deal breaker for me if Obama endorsed religious discrimination. I am happy to see that Obama opposes and will not countenance religious discrimination. John McCain endorses religious discrimination -- "Mr. McCain “disagrees with Senator Obama that hiring at faith-based groups should be subject to government oversight.” McCain is simply not an option for those voters who believe in separation of church and state.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on July 02, 2008 (boomark / email).