And here I thought the most important thing was being an American, am I bad. I was not aware that the Constitution set forth any religious criteria for a person to be eligable for President.

I believe that religion and politics do not mix, and in fact, the framers of the nation saw that when they sought to seperate Church from State. I do not understand why todays leaders don't understand that.

Religion is one of those distraction issues to me. I do not care what religion someone is. But I also do not want religion to be the basis for every decision. For those who can't see it, that is the Mulsim world's problem. The people who flew the planes into the WTC were very religious people - so blinded by it that they killed themselves and hundereds of others in their beliefs.

So please, keep your religion to yourself, and let's talk about real issues. Like how do we end the war in Iraq, how do we deal with illegal immigration, how do we bring jobs back to America?

I will not vote for someone based solely on religion. In fact, religion is more likely to turn me away from a candidate, especially if that's the only reason they are giving as to why I should vote for them.

I agree with you Bill W. Religous extremism has been the cause of more wars then any other issue.

Religous extremists (christian, muslim, judaism, strangely not Buddahism)always think that they have the right religion and the right way of interpreting that religion. Then they want to impose it upon the rest of us, thinking they are doing us a favor.

If McCain recently came out as a Baptist, I'd say it is only fitting. He has become one of the biggest panderers to the religious right.

Religion has nothing to do with governing a country. It may guide your values (no problem there) but the rest of us do not need to know that or how often you pray.

Now people don't care about candidates with Religious background well I lough at people like that becouse that did'nt seem to mater back in 2000 when Bush was elected because the GOP faithfuls thought that he was going to be a good Christian president, YEAH right all he wanted was the Christian Vote because to my eyes bush was worst than any other liveral.

Sure didn't take long for people to read this and immediately misinterpret what this article was about. He wasn't talking about what was important for being an American he was asked which denomination he was and since he has gone between a few different ones he was stating that what was important TO HIS FAITH was that he is a Christian and not what denomination he belongs to. Reading comprehension must be a thing of the past…

Would you, should you vote for this man?

"…and I don't have anything else to say about the issue," …

Sorry McCain, but you choose to run for president in a religious-sponsored-faith-based party, therefore, you will have to keep talking about it, just because in other for you to win, you have to cateer for your audience: the religious-based conservatives of the GOP….

even though, as we all know, being religious have nothing to do with being competent, right George!!!???

You're a Christian?

Good for you, get a gold star and go to the head of the class.

The most important thing for me is that I'm an American and that I care about this country and I'm tired of people waving their religion around just as high as the flag to justify every nasty thing they're doing.

I don't care what religion you are. Be a good American and retire.

I could care less what a candidates religious affiliation is or isn't. The only "faith" I'm looking for in a presidential candidate is one's "faith" to the Constitution.

It is appointed unto man once to die, and then judgement.

Yep, being a Christian is the most important thing, in the end…

All he was saying was that as it pertains to his faith, he feels that the fact that he is christian matters more than what denomination of christianity he belongs to. He was answering a question so I won't accuse him of political maneuvering here. You guys are right though, simply being religious does not make you anymore qualified, but people tend to trust members of their own religion more. Oh Wait! He gets to pull the Episcopalian AND the Baptist vote now!
Good political maneuvering JMac I bet GOD is up there rooting for you.

You're a Christian, Johnny? Great. It's nice to know that you're geriatric and delusional, too. When are people in this country going to grow up and stop voting for people just because they have the same imaginary friend?

Denominations don't matter, until you're standing in front a crowd of Baptists, then it DOES matter.

This poor guy just keeps hurting himself. I only wish the media wasn't so intent on keeping him alive.

The most important thing is not that a president be a Christian … but instead be a good president … no matter what religion he is … or none at all.

McCain,like the Iranian ledar, Ahmedinejad, is wearing religion on his sleeves- it is too dangerous. The mose important thing is that I am a human with principles and morals…

Hitler was a christian, too.

Bush is a Christian too. *sarcastic* And look how well everything turned out!

3 Things

#1 Most of the above responses are taking his comment out of context. He is saying that as far as religion goes, it does not matter what denomination he attends, he is a Christian. He is not saying that that qualifies him to be President.

#2 Anyone who claims "I am an American" and slams McCain, do some research and you will find he has sacrificed way more for America than you have.

#3 Hitler was not a Christian.

If being a Christian is a disqualifier for this year's voting public, then none of the candidates are eligible.

It is true that John McCain was making a statement about his universal Christian faith being more significant to him personally than the specific denomination in which he worships. It was not a political statement.

It is also true that being a Christian doesn't make one more or less qualified to be President of the United States, but for the many millions of American voters who worship Christ, a candidate's faith is an important discriminator. For those who are believers, the notion that a person can separate the faith that defines their values and how they make sense of the world from their daily actions is laughable. If your belief system doesn't govern your actions, it's not much of a belief system.

I understand the hostility toward Christianity that's being expressed here because we all fall short of the high standard that Christ set for us. We need to be less proud and more humble, even as we participate in the political process. Thanks for the opportunity to respond.

The article title is taken out of context and is misleading.

Yeah…sure…Let's change the title of "President" to "Pope" *rolls eyes*

Hitler was a Christian.

Listen, to be Christian is someone who follows Jesus, do the things that Jesus told his followers to do, just to say that you are a Catholic,Baptist, Pentecostal, Anglican, etc. doesn't make you a Christian. Hitler was Catholic if I'm not wrong but he was not a Christian because the things he practice were contrary of being a Christian.

You must be a Christian, Senator, the way you turned the other cheek in SC in 2000.

What "cheeks" will you turn and how this time will depend on which way the poilitcal wind is blowing?

He is not saying religion is more important then anything else but rather the opposite, labeling him a certain denomination is not the important fact. way to skew the headline CNN. He has been asked about this a ton of times and he is referencing that, He is not mixing religion and politics people. READ THE QUOTE!

Is there not enough issues within this Campaign to debate now without dragging religion into the mix?

I too feel that McCain was answering a question posed by a citizen. He explained his religious background truthfully. He stated that he was a Christian. End of comment.

He did not say which denomination he belonged to at present or if he belonged to any. What is all the hype about? What difference does it make?
You will not be any closer to knowing the man or woman by knowing their religous denomination. There are Saints, Criminals and Rapists among all.

I respect him for trying to resolve the issue by saying it doesn't matter what denomination he is. However, a candidate's religious views shouldn't affect public opinion. A non religious candidate can still make a good president.

Juan mccain is finished. We won't for him in AZ.

"The most important thing is that I'm a Christian."

Your most important thing has nothing to do with what people want to see in a presidential candidate.

You've turned into puffery and irrelevance. Retire somewhere.

He has been asked what his persuasion of religion was and he answered. Anyone bashing him is a nazi. And a whiner.

A true Christian would find a peaceful way to stop the Iraq War not support the continued blood shed of the Bush family.

I think a lot of the posters here are missing the point of McCain's statement.

A lot of knee-jerk reactions based on the headline with a failure to either look at the rest of the text or a lack of the ability to comprehend the context in which the statement was made. I hope you research more before going to the ballot box.

Have a great Tuesday!

Oh for Christ's sake. When will a presidential candidate have the guts to stand up and tell America that his religious persuasion is really no one's business. Theoretically, we do not live in a theocracy.

Here we go. We don't learn that religion and politics do not go along well and enough to say that there have been zillions of wars based on religion conflicts. Having said that, why would we always highlight "Christians" and then "Moslems" (not in this case but in general) as if we forget that there are buddhists, Hindus, Shintos and other belief systems with millions of followers. Have we been so ignorant about others and full of ourselselves even in something noble called 'religion'?

Ohhh

SO now i under stand why he opposes troop cuts. Even dont like the General and Bush recomendation to cut the surge. If it was up to him he start the draft to keep the war going.

to him this is the CHRISTIAN CRUSADE. keep the course the CHRISTIANS will reclaim the holy city of the middle east down with Islam.

Bush Clone on steriods.

I don't think it has been taken out of context. I agree with McCain that what religious faith he chooses is not important. I disgree with the banner line "The most important thing is that I'm a Christian".

I rather liked Lincoln's response when he was asked what church he belonged to, it was that he belonged to no church and would not join one until he found one that practised what it preached.

What religion am I, I am an American, that is all that you need know.

Sorry, but Hitler was a Christian and Nazi Germany was a Christian nation. They were as sure that they were inspired by God as either Bush or Osama.

I agree that his 'Christianity' was empty, and when the truth about the concentration camps came out postwar Germans flocked to churches and rededicated themselves. Jails are full of Christians - look at BTK, a deacon. Christians murder and rape every day, and they steal and embezzle and lie. But they are forgiven!

So when McCain was up to his neck in the Savings & Loan scandal, was that the Episcopalian John McCain, the Baptist John McCain, or some other John McCain.

Oh wait. I know the answer. It was the greedy politician John McCain, which is why he doesn't deserve support in his run for President.

OK; Senator John McCain Republican presidential candidate that proclaims he is a Christian and was raised in the Episcopal Church. Who believes that religion is important and now attends North Phoenix Baptist Church should feel equally as most Americans may feel today. Concerning issues of employment; unemployment for established legal Americans and illegal immigration dominating our job markets today. Religion is one of those distraction issues to me that are dictated by our laws and State should not be in the same room!

Essentially every politician in America, at the local level, the state level, and the national level, promises to work to create new jobs in his or her jurisdiction. This seems to be regarded as the highest service a politician can render to constituents.

Although almost every politician can be likened to celebrity Kristy Alley of Cheers and her lasting battle with the heavy weights indorsing Jenny Craig as solutions too effecting issues. As America can see from her present state has not prevailed. Our law makers are following by example and are not helping any issues by allowing these amnesty bills pass in the Senate for illegal aliens.

A recent Heritage Foundation study concluded that each illegal alien household headed by an illegal alien without a high school degree (most illegal aliens); costs U.S. taxpayers $18,000 a year. You can't possibly believe that the United States needs this illegal labor, can you?

Twenty-three million lower-skilled Americans cannot currently find a job. There is no need to keep illegal workers in this country.

Hey McCain…..there is supposed to be such a thing as seperation of church and state. Did you forget about that little rule? What a dumba**!

RA, if you can compare McCain to Kirstie Alley then he must be a Scientologist.

Thank you McCain for another reason why I will NOT vote for you…we've had it already with self-righeous religious zealots beating their bible all the way to the white house.