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Religion Editor at CNN and author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family and Evangelical America Are Winning the Culture War; former senior editor at US News and World Report, where he wrote the God and Country blog; former politics editor at BeliefNet.com and writer of its God-O-Meter blog
Santorum's Comments on Satan Cause a Stir In 2008, Rick Santorum was not a candidate for President, but he told a Catholic audience at Ave Maria University of Florida that, "Satan is attacking the great institutions of America." Santorum was addressing candidate Barack Obama's recent statement in support of abortion, saying it was above his pay grade to decide when life began. Now a candidate for president, Santorum's been questioned about those remarks. Dan Gilgoff is Religion Editor at CNN .
Is Obama's Faith-Based Initiative Even Bigger Than Bush's? It was one of George W. Bush's first presidential orders of 2001, months before September 11, and it led to controversy about the separation of church and state. During last year's campaign, Barack Obama surprised a lot of people by saying he'd continue the faith-based initiative. Today he made good on his promise at the annual Prayer Breakfast in Washington. Dan Gilgoff is senior editor at US News and World Report, and writes the God and Country blog.
Is Obama's Faith-Based Initiative Even Bigger than Bush's? One of George W. Bush's most controversial creations was what came to be called the faith-based initiative. It raised questions about the Constitutional separation of church and state. Now, Barack Obama has signed a faith-based initiative of his own, one which he says “will not be to favor one religious group over another, or even religious groups over secular groups” but to work on behalf of our communities “without blurring the line that our founders wisely drew between church and state." Dan Gilgoff is senior editor at US News and World Report, and writes the God and Country blog.
McCain and the Christian Right This weekend, John McCain will be at his ranch, meeting with three possible vice presidential nominees: Governors Charlie Crist of Florida and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney . McCain has repeatedly called for winning "the hearts and minds of the Islamic world," but a minister he recruited for his campaign says Islam is "anti-Christian," and calls the prophet Mohammed "the mouthpiece of a conspiracy of spiritual evil." That's according to ABC's Good Morning America , reporting on Pastor Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, Ohio. Dan Gilgoff is politics editor at Beliefnet.com.
Obama and Clinton Face Off in Ohio and Texas Democrats and Republicans are voting today in Ohio and Texas, but the stakes are highest for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton . With Obama now considered the front-runner, Clinton has been on the attack and press coverage has been more negative toward Obama. One question that's troubling reporters is how to deal with blogs and emails about Obama's religion and how childhood years in a Muslim country might shape his views about Israel. Another big question in both states is how long will it take to find out the results?
The New Shape of Presidential Politics Last night, it was all about Iowa. Today, the candidates are hitting the ground, each with a new set of challenges. Can Obama and Huckabee do it again in New Hampshire ? Will Clinton and Romney be this year's comeback kids? Are McCain and Edwards still in the running? Whatever happened to Giuliani ? These are just some of the questions raised last night in Iowa, where caucus-goers of both parties demonstrated that they are eager for change. With just four days left until the next showdown, we’ll look at this year's fast-track presidential campaigns.
Should the Private Beliefs of Candidates be Subject to Public Debate? Critics are taking a close look at the mormon religion and questioning its doctrines. Should a candidate’s private beliefs be used as a measure to determine performance in public office? Will Romney’s religion be an obstacle as he tries to woo the Christian right?
The Public Debate and Private Beliefs of Presidential Candidates John F . Kennedy supposedly answered "the religion question" 47 years ago with his successful run for the presidency. Today, the relig ion question has come up again, only this time the candidate isn't a C atholic. Mitt R omney is a front - runner in the R epublican field and a practicing Mormon whose religious beliefs are facing increasing examination. What role will religion play in the race? Can R omney overcome apprehensions about his religion? Will conservative C hristian leaders endorse him? Is it fair to judge a politician's public performance on his personal beliefs, beliefs that are outside the cultural mainstream?
Is the Grand Old Party Showing Its Age? It's conventional wisdom that the Republican Party is dominated by Christian Conservatives. Last night, ten white males lined up on a stage in South Carolina to make their cases for the Republican presidential nomination. Since their last debate two weeks ago in California, some of the candidates have refined their ideas and positions. As a Republican candidate for President, Mitt Romney has different positions on key social issues than he did as Governor of liberal Massachusetts. But Rudolph Giuliani and John McCain are ahead in Republican Party polls, despite liberal views on issues like abortion and stem-cell research. Will that change with greater exposure or has the formula that made George Bush president lost its luster for 2008? Other GOP presidential candidates include: Sam Brownback Jim Gilmore Mike Huckabee Duncan Hunter Ron Paul Tommy Tancredo Tommy Thompson
TV Evangelist Jerry Falwell Dead at 73 Television evangelist Jerry Falwell died today at the age of 73. One of the major founders of the Moral Majority , Reverend Falwell was an admired visionary for the Religions Right who was also condemned by liberals, including fellow Christians Jimmy Carter and Billy Graham . Dan Gilgoff is Senior Editor of US News & World Report .
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.