by Marijane Suttor

Created on: August 16, 2007   Last Updated: June 09, 2008

The curtain closed on the voting booth. Which candidate is vote worthy? Is it the one who would probably be best for the country or is it the candidate who represents the voter's personal religious views?

When a citizen is making the choice of whether or not to vote for a candidate, take all of the emotional issues off the table.

Way too many people allow emotional issues to cloud their judgements about candidates so that they don't really see through to what is best for the entire country. Unfortunately, the results of a good portion of the population voting in this respect is that the country gets led in directions that may not be the best. The country increases its debt for a war and tax cuts, but did anything change in our religions because of the choice for president? No. We can still worship as we see fit, abortion is still legal, and elementary students around the country still say "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Voting based on faith may feel good personally in the moment, but when making the choice for President or other offices, the good of the country should come first.

No one should vote for or against a candidate because of faith, a lack of faith, or because a candidate is from the same faith. Issues such as faith, abortion, and gun rights really have little to do with how successful a candidate will be able to lead this country.

Basically the candidate is applying for a job. If any of us citizens applied for a job and were hired based on our views on abortion, faith, gay marriage or gun control, we would consider it discrimination. When we stop looking so deeply at these pinpoint specific issues and start looking for the same skills that a CEO of a company would look for in his management, we will start to see this country prosper and strengthen.

I would expect a CEO of a corporation would look at work experience, education, communication skills, leadership skills, and life experience, not a person's faith.

This country can no longer afford to have citizens choosing a President based on how well the candidate will promote their personal faith agendas. Voters need to make intelligent decisions and realize that there is more to being a good President than how he or she will pander to specific social issues or beliefs, including faith.

Just as there should only be one person in a voting booth, faith should be left at the door and not overshadow the best decisions for the country's good.

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