Preface--God in the White House

         In the book God in the White House, Randall Balmer states in the preface that this question is a simple one, but it comes with a complicated answer. One cannot not simple answer this question without digging through American religious history and how it has made an impact on American politics, especially with the presidency. In reference to John F. Kennedy’s speech at Rice Hotel in Houston, Texas, Balmer says Kennedy was “acting out of political necessity and seeking to displace the Protestant establishment,” while he argued that a candidate’s religious affiliation was not a legitimate criterion for people to base how they are going to vote (2). He did not want people voting for him just because he was a Catholic parishioner; he told the audience and American specifically that he did not speak for the Catholic Church nor did they speak for him. He wanted people to vote for him because he believed he could lead this country to greatness. Kennedy did not want to live or run a country that was religiously intolerant, and he made a reference to why America was formed in the first place. He wanted to live freely in America where there was no prejudice and discrimination against any other religion that was not Catholic or Protestant because that was not the America he dreamed of becoming president for one day.  

            I would actually like to see a presidential candidate make J. F. K.’s similar statements during his or her campaign in the near future. I know that a lot of people want to know what religious background these presidential candidates come from, but to me it does not matter in the end. I want a president to be a good person that wants to help our country as well as other countries without any religious influence being the main thing guiding his or her presidency. Good people and leaders come from all kinds of religious backgrounds and a good president should be solely defined his or her religious affiliation. It should not be about voting demographics like what percentage of Catholics, Protestants, Jews, or Muslims voted for or against this candidate; it should be about his or her policies, ideas, and actions that are willing to implement during their presidency because that’s what makes a president. Someone who is willing to take on a good, strong leadership for his or her country and not letting his or her religious faith be the driving force.