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This country was founded on the separation of church and state. Increasingly, we seem to be turning into a theocracy, if one listens to certain Republican presidential candidates, chief among them, Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor. According to his campaign literature, he is out to show people the American dream is still alive. My fear is that dream might have more in common with the current nightmare in which we find ourselves under the Bush regime. Mr. Huckabee wraps himself in his Christianity, carrying it on his sleeve. The former fundamentalist Baptist preacher might well have more in common with the so-called Islamufacists than people may realize. Like him, they don't believe there should be a separation of church and state.

In a shameless gambit to garner votes from the religious right in Iowa and throughout the country at large, Mike Huckabee channels singer Andy Williams in a Christmas wish ad that is supposed to be a departure from the politics of a very political season. In the ad, an eerie white cross can be seen over the right shoulder of Huckabee, as he appeals solely to Christians. There is no reference to Jews who celebrate Chanukah or African-Americans who observed Kwanzaa. During this same season, Muslims observe their Eid-ul Adha (the sacrifice of Abraham), of which no mention was made. We are a multi-ethnic, multi-religions society, but you would never know that by the narrow appeals some of the presidential candidates insist on making. This may come as a surprise to some, but this country was not founded on Christianity. The founding fathers intended us to be free to worship as we pleased. This is why they emphasized the need for church and state to be separate.

One's religion shouldn't be a campaign issue. It should strictly be one's personal business. Because of the perceived power of the religious right, candidates have placed their religion front in center in their campaigns. Mitt Romney has caught hell because he's a Mormon, which some have called a cult. He has spent as much time defending his religion as he has talking about what he plans to do as president. In an unguarded moment, Mr. Huckabee asked a reporter whether Mormons believed Christ and Satan were brothers? This gives an idea how from down the slippery slope we have gone in our politics. The founding fathers were clear that there should be no religious test, for those seeking political office. With much more frequency, religion seems to be the test. It's past time for us to wake up. How many times are we going to be fooled by things that have nothing to do with how well one will govern? We elected a born-again Christian president who appeared to be someone we could have a beer with, and you see how well that has worked out. This same fundamental Christian, George "Dubya" Bush, led us into an unnecessary war, costing thousands of lives. This same man has run one of the most corrupt administrations in the history of this country. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

The Christian right believes they are in direct contact with Jesus. Moreover, they speak with him directly. Huckabee is one of these individuals. Mr. Giuliani must be a born again Catholic because he has recently seen fit to put out his own Christmas advertisement. His however is more inclusive because he does wish everybody else a happy holiday season. We don't need any more hucksters. George "Nine-Eleven, Nine-Eleven, Nine-Eleven Bush is one too many.

Learn more about this author, Cedric Mcclester.
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