Today’s Reading List – January 29, 2007 | Article VI Blog

Continuing with last week's On Faith question — Chuck Colson appears to be speaking directly to Brownback and Huckabee:

If a candidate were to attempt to use his religion for political advancement, I think it would instantly backfire with the American people.

Speaking of which, like I have said, I think Brownback has already disqualified himself.

Lowell: Regarding Brownback, the phrase "not ready for prime time" comes to mind. Moreover, both Brownback and Huckabee profoundly misunderstand the electorate's attitude toward candidates and religion. Religious conservative voters don't want a candidate who runs as "the religious choice." They want a candidate who they believe will vote in agreement with them on the issues they consider most important.

Back to On Faith, David Saperstein says:

First, in discussing policy, it is inappropriate to suggest that one should support or oppose a policy solely because of religious beliefs…. Second, it is never appropriate for candidates or others, explicitly or implicitly, to suggest that there is a religious test for holding office…. And finally, candidates should minimize their use of divisive and exclusive language.

Romney's looking good with bloggers. Although he hung out with a questionable bunch over the weekend. The audio and some commentary is available here.

Speaking of Romney and public appearances, he apparently wowed them at the big NRI conservative do over the weekend. And like he did with me when I talked to him, brought up Rick Warren. As K-Lo points out, Warren is playing the neutrality game a bit at the moment, and despite his book's popularity, he won't pull that many votes. Romney needs to work on his evangelical namedropping, broaden it a bit. Warren has a big school of detractors too. You can hear Romney's speech here. (long, slow download warning, but worth the wait) Although, Mark Steyn may have stolen his thunder a bit, in typical Steyn fashion, with humor.

Powerline reports quite thoroughly on Romney in Israel.

Lowell: An interesting excerpt from Joel Mowbray's comments there:

Like many, I believed that Romney’s Mormon faith would be an electoral deal-breaker, especially with evangelical Christians who dominate GOP primaries in the South. That still may prove true. But unless his competitors are able to discuss our battle against radical Islam with as much aplomb as Romney displayed in Herzliya, the former Massachusetts governor could easily stake out a leadership position on the single most important issue facing America.

Obama's religious problems continue.

A Baptist minister, in the sometimes virulently anti-Mormon Salt Lake Tribune, writes an op-ed that seems pretty good to me.

That same paper has another piece that would indicate Democrats might know something a lot of Republicans do not.

Staying in Utah papers, the LDS church and its political neutrality statements.

Speaking of Baptists, one such preacher makes it official. Meanwhile, Rudy's still thinking.

The Service Employees International Union wants to hear from Romney. When's the last time a union wanted to hear from a Republican, particularly a conservative one? Can you say "electability"?