God and Politics

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How much do American voters want to hear about God? That's a question made central to this year's campaign by the vice-presidential nomination of Orthodox Jew Joe Lieberman--and by Lieberman's subsequent utterances on the campaign trail. The Anti-Defamation League, which defends Jewish interests, says Lieberman's gone too far. Evangelical Christians have leaped to support him. So now, a Democrat is raising some of the same issues that arose during this year's Republican primaries, when candidates competed to demonstrate their piety. Will a candidate's faith influence policy? What about the Constitution? Will religion have a higher profile in the politics of the future? Newsmaker: The game of musical chairs created by California's political term limits continues today. State Senator Tom Hayden, who moved up to his current post from the State Assembly, is prohibited from running for re-election. Now, Hayden says, he'll run for the LA City Council seat that termed-out Mike Feuer is leaving to run for City Attorney. Reporter's Notebook: Environmentalists and local residents have filed suit against an 80-million dollar industrial park planned for the so-called Cornfield near Chinatown in downtown LA. They claim that 47 acres of abandon railroad yards would be better used for parks, schools and housing, and their suit claims that Majestic Realty--which built Staples Center and other major projects--has not been required to file an environmental impact report. We talk with John Semcken, Vice President of Majestic Realty.
How much do American voters want to hear about God? That's a question made central to this year's campaign by the vice-presidential nomination of Orthodox Jew Joe Lieberman--and by Lieberman's subsequent utterances on the campaign trail. The Anti-Defamation League, which defends Jewish interests, says Lieberman's gone too far. Evangelical Christians have leaped to support him. So now, a Democrat is raising some of the same issues that arose during this year's Republican primaries, when candidates competed to demonstrate their piety. Will a candidate's faith influence policy? What about the Constitution? Will religion have a higher profile in the politics of the future?
  • Newsmaker: The game of musical chairs created by California's political term limits continues today. State Senator Tom Hayden, who moved up to his current post from the State Assembly, is prohibited from running for re-election. Now, Hayden says, he'll run for the LA City Council seat that termed-out Mike Feuer is leaving to run for City Attorney.
  • Reporter's Notebook: Environmentalists and local residents have filed suit against an 80-million dollar industrial park planned for the so-called Cornfield near Chinatown in downtown LA. They claim that 47 acres of abandon railroad yards would be better used for parks, schools and housing, and their suit claims that Majestic Realty--which built Staples Center and other major projects--has not been required to file an environmental impact report. We talk with John Semcken, Vice President of Majestic Realty.

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton