If a black person votes for Obama

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by Flystripper

I have no problem with this at all and it is not equal to racisim.

But you acknowledge that the law sees discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, or disability as equal. Is the law wrong?

That people find ways to get around the law doesn't change the principle of fairness upon which the law is based. If religion leads to behavior so objectionable that people won't vote for a particular individual, then people can legitimately point to that behavior. But that really is a strawman, because that isn't why people use religion as a reason not to vote for candidates.

[Flystripper]

Originally Posted by myboynoah

But you acknowledge that the law sees discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, or disability as equal. Is the law wrong?

Just because the law offers protection to all of those classes of people does not mean that they are actually protected equally. For example, some jobs require the strength of youth. If the older applicant has the requisite strength then they cannot be discriminated against, however if they don't, the company does not need to modify the job so that the elderly person can perform the duties. This is just one example. Race does not share the same potential job restrictions the the other classes. I can't see how the attribute of race could prevent a person from performing a job, but I can see how religion, gender, age and disability could potentially be limiting.

Concerning voting
If somebody is a member of a fringe religious group is it possible that their membership would have aspects that would preclude them from being able to properly perform the duties of the POTUS? If a person chooses to not vote for a candidate that belongs to a "fringe religion" because of concerns that their religious beliefs would guide policy decisions and the voter does not agree with the religious beliefs, is that wrong?

I don't think so.

[BYU71]

Originally Posted by Flystripper

belief is a choice
belief reflects judgement

Skin color is not a choice
skin color does not reflect judgement

Making a decision to vote for or against a person based on their judgement and choices is ok in my book. Making a decision to vot for or against someone based on the color of skin is not ok in my book.

Religion and Race are not =

What would you say to someone who thinks although skin color is not a choice, it is a reflection of their beliefs. Blacks for instance vote in a block probably more than most people with religious affiliations. I would be interested in knowing for instance what percentage of LDS vote republican vs what percentage of blacks vote demos.

An argument could be made just as easily that you need to listen to the views of the religious person with the same open mindedness as you would a black candidate??

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by Flystripper

Just because the law offers protection to all of those classes of people does not mean that they are actually protected equally. For example, some jobs require the strength of youth. If the older applicant has the requisite strength then they cannot be discriminated against, however if they don't, the company does not need to modify the job so that the elderly person can perform the duties. This is just one example. Race does not share the same potential job restrictions the the other classes. I can't see how the attribute of race could prevent a person from performing a job, but I can see how religion, gender, age and disability could potentially be limiting.

Concerning voting
If somebody is a member of a fringe religious group is it possible that their membership would have aspects that would preclude them from being able to properly perform the duties of the POTUS? If a person chooses to not vote for a candidate that belongs to a "fringe religion" because of concerns that their religious beliefs would guide policy decisions and the voter does not agree with the religious beliefs, is that wrong?

I don't think so.

Naturally the law is not applied equally, but it should be. I'm talking about the principles upon which the law is based. Race and relgion are considered equal under the law.

Your fringe religion example is interesting, but it speaks to actions a candidate is taking which might then lead someone not to vote for that candidate (for example a candidate taking a strong anti-abortion position). Those actions might be based on religious belief, but they are overt displays of political choice upon which one can base a vote. For example, the Catholic Church is strongly anti-abortion and advocates government action against such. Many Catholic elected officials follow suit, but then many don't. If abortion rights are important to someone, it would be best to look at a candidate's stated positions and actions rather than his/her relgion. In the end it is a candidate's actions, not his/her beliefs that should guide a voter.

Simply saying I'm not voting for that candidate because he/she is a Jew, a Baptist, a Buddhist, a Catholic, or even a Mormon is bigotry.