Today is the state primary election here in Missouri. Like most places who have either had their state primaries or face one shortly, we've had our share of negative ads and robocalls that make people want to turn off their landline and just stream movies until the general election. While I've been busy house sitting this past week I've had one thougth cross my mind.
Am I the one person out there sick of hearing a candidate blather on about their faith and "religious liberty?"
It seems every candidate on one party is trying to play like their the best and most faithful person out there. Ads show them praying with their families either just before or just after talking about being pro forced childbirth (or as they call it - "pro life") and brag about their NRA rating. It almost seems as if they forgot about the First Amendment and the concept of separation of church and state. Add to it a concept of "religious liberty" which seems to allow business owners of one type of Christianity (which is on the far right end of the religion) to deny services to employees (i.e.: contraception coverage) or allow them to legally discriminate against LGBTQ people and it seems that the sincere faith of a lot of people is being twisted and weaponized into something between a gimmick for votes and a subtle projection of battle against those on the other side.
It's especially bothersome during an election since this shouldn't be an issue at all. However, it has become one and how it's being played makes me wonder if t=candidates who do this realize their dog whistles can come back to haunt them. Especially when we all know damn well that an agnostic or atheist candidate for any office could never state in an ad that he or she didn't care about religion and wanted to focus on the job without facing a shitload of blowback from the same people who use "religious liberty" as a weapon against others.
After today some of the ads will subside and others will pop up against the other side. Either way, many people will be sick of this shit by the time the general election rolls around.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have shit to do.
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