How discusted are you about the Evangelist Ted Haggard? And do you think it had an impact on the election?
812966
Little if any.  Most reasonable people don't equate religion with a political party.  If they do, they constitute the most dangerous threat do our country. What Haggard did was very bad not only for his church, but his teachings. It only proves that we must be tolerant of other people. God would not want us to be judgmental. God does not hate homosexuals. Only man can hate.
806424
I have read some of the above and these answers are ridiculous. Politicians use their 'faith' in some religion to exploit more voters. Religious people like to 'follow' someone or something that claims to represent 'good', so the politicians use that tool to get them voters. Bush says he is a man of God, he starts a war killing thousands of civilians and almost 3000 Americans. Is this what a Christian or God fearing man would do? A 'godly' man supposedly hasn't made mistakes if you believe a politician. They haven't 'sinned' by drinking a beer, lusting after a woman, smoking a cigarette - they tell us this anyway. Frankly, I want an elected official who has life experience and isn't perfect, maybe someone who has had a few knocks, because they have lived and know what a loaf of bread costs in a supermarket. Do you think W knows what it costs? Jerry Falwell? Mark Haggard? Hell no, they have no idea because someone else buys it for them.  They don't go to stores like you and I do. If they claim to be 'religious' they don't get my vote.  One needs to only look at the Catholic priest/pedophiles and Haggard to realize that "Godliness" is not all that it is cracked up to be.
826274
No! I think he did very badly. I was really worried - he appeared cruel and mean. He needs to soften his image. I will never vote liberal while he is there.
766138
i'm afraid the only "happy ending" to this is the one Haggard's getting from all those massages.\n\non top of being a hypocrite, we know for certain he's a bald-faced liar, because yesterday he didn't even know who this guy was, asking an interviewer on camera: "that guy, what's his name did you say?"\n\ni agree with the repent, rehab, back in business, scenario. and wifey will stand by her man - at least long enough to prop up the fortune before grabbing  half or more in a divorce.\n\nthese people stink to high heaven, so to speak, and anyone that couldn't see it LONG before revelations of gay sex and drugs is just stupid. But hey, believing on faith means not using your head. so go figure, eh?
779670
Growing up in a heteronormative society where being gay is considered inherently evil, Ted Haggard suppressed his sexuality. In an attempt to change, he turned to God and even spoke out against gays and lesbians. In a bid for normalcy, he married and had a family.\n\nReverend Haggard now knows firsthand that sexuality cannot be changed. His own denial landed him in a relationship that could never bring him sexual satisfaction, despite what emotional bonds he may have with his wife. Unfortunately, it ended with lies and infidelity. It is probably his frustration and self-loathing that drove him to drugs.\n\nReverend Haggard has hurt his family terribly and there is no excuse for that. But the problem is not simply that he is gay -- the problem is that he succumbed to societal pressures and drew other into is fragile, fabricated lie.\n\nIt's not too late for Rev. Haggard to do something positive for society. He knows, perhaps better than anyone, that no amount of prayer can change someone's sexuality. He should admit that his political views were misguided. He should speak out against the pressures of heternormativity and speak up for committed, loving, honest relationships, gay and straight.
744473
Yes, I think that is horrific that he would lead so many people and live a lie.  I can not stand hypocrites.  How are you supposed to preach about Sodom and Gomorrah when you are living in it.  It makes me sick.  I am a Christian, but it seems like a lot of these people who claim to be Christian Leader's are going to hell in a hand basket.  Yes, he needs criminal charges brought against him for being a liar, drug user, and male whore.  I just want to throw up!
851127
The election was such a blowout Foley had little to do with it.  It was a referendum on Monkey's war, that's about it.\n\nBut like the little pedophile that he is, Foley's hypocrisy is just icing on the cake.
399469
I think he is okay but, the hatred on gays is pathetic. He seem to have a christian prospective but, need some guidance. He consider himself a christian and going to heaven but, hating on gays is giving him a seat in HELL.
617293
He's my bud, a fellow Texan.  I voted for him twice and still stand by him.  I am a little miffed about his stance on the illegal situation and I want him to be tough on this.  But I have been thinking and I feel that he has sincere compassion for these people.  He's in a very tough spot.  Actually, he's been in a tough spot since election day in 2000!  Poor guy has been plagued by everything imagineable.
606549
1) He was voted, and depends on the support of, by the "Religious Right". As an atheist, well, I'm wary of supporting someone whose dad said atheists shouldn't be citizens.\n\n2) He opposes gay rights, affirmative action, and abortion. As a liberal, again, these go against my philosophy.\n\n3) He invaded Iraq needlessly, and without waiting for the rest of the world. And for what? WMD's were non-existent, and Iraq wasn't much of a threat anyways.\n\n4) Under the Bush admin, privacy has decreased dramatically. AT&T has already confessed to giving the NSA authority to monitor Internet communicatons, and by saying "protect the children" from porn, the Justice Department got search records of most of the Internet prooviders.\n\nAs far as what he did do right, he invaded Afghanistan after their gov. attacked us. He strengthened the economy, or at least didn't make it weaker. And I guess he handled 9/11 ok.\n\nSassyk : Wow, way to be detailed ;) Bush may be a crook, but then again, just about every politician, left, right, or middle is dishonest. That's just how politics was and probably will be 'til the Earth blows up.\n\nEDIT2 : thanks for the compliment, cadbury :)\n\nbuttercup : Whoa. I never got the "Liberals allow terrorism" memo. And DUH, of course liberals and Democrats hate Bush, it's called politics. Remember how much Republicans hated Clinton when he was in office?
873419
To answer your last question, yes, I feel this way too. Jesus did not condone hypocrites- like some people in our government, and he does not condone the rest of us blindly following them. I am not a libertarian, as you suggest you might be, but I definitely agree that the current people running things are not promoting  the best interests of the people. You should not be reported for speaking your mind, you should be commended. To answer your first question, Yes- I am going to vote.
906062
No way.  Not this close to the elections.  I don't trust any of these "religious leaders".  They just scam money out of old people.  I also hate hypocrites.  If he really is gay then why not just admit it?  Gay people who hide in the closet and spout off a whole bunch of anti-gay sentiments make my blood boil.  I love it when the gay community "outs" these hypocrites.
777173
When were the religious Republicans repudiated? You got me.  I know it these last elections, 90% of conservative initiatives/referrendums were passed (8 of 9 states banned gay marriage, and on that didn't was because they had constructed it way too strictly; similarly certain abortion matters were constructed to push the envelope and were far too stringent even for religious republicans).  The real matter at issue in this last election was the war and corruption; it was primarily a referrendum against president Bush.  Many people overlooked the Republican candidates without even considering the issues.  Additionally, many of the Democrats stealing away Republican seats are religious individuals, who support those things you disapprove of.  It's not a party thing.
805795
I am a life-long Republican and I voted for President Bush but I do not agree with and do not support any of those bible-thumping right wing fanatic hypocrites like Haggard any more than many of the Democrats support the extreme left wingers. These people do not represent either party, hence the title "extremist".\n\nI am not anti-gay and I am not anti gay marriage. I have a problem with the government paying for research that leads to destroying proto-humans to harvest stem cells that have not been proven to help in perfecting cures for debilitating diseases because I think it's creepy, but if pharmaceutical companies want to proceed without federal funding, I would stand in their way.
963410
I  am  sure     that Christian Republicans    do  NOT  see  the  results of this election  as  "God's Will",  for the simple   reason   that  man has  been given  "FREE  will"  which means  that   human beings   can,  and   as   you know,  frequently  do,  go    against  what    "believers"   consider to be " God's Will "    They   very probably    feel  that   the voting  public  simply   aren't    getting it;    they're  not  completely understanding  the issues,   and  the consequences  of   doing  this   as opposed to doing that.       We'll  see, won't  we?
891921
You are very smart. Nobody seems to realize what you have just stated. Have you heard the news report of the pastor who paid for meth with sex with a homosexual? It kinda is embarrassing!
810639
I supported Elizabeth Dole.  I was appalled at the treatment she received by Republicans, particularly her own husband.\n\nCould she have beaten Gore?  We will never know.  \n\nShe certainly could have captured the moderate vote, as her experience lay in humanitarianism, rather than politics, as the head of the Red Cross.\n\nI was disappointed in my fellow Republicans over this.