Honestly thats not even a serious position. Religion has definitely had it's role in the darker moments of man's history but just saying that all people who are religious are prone to be irrational isn't really a serious position at all and if I'm being honest borders on bigotry.

Every candidate is a person who like everyone else builds their political beliefs based on their life experience including their religious beliefs (or lack thereof).  Its just something you have to factor in to your choice on election day.  To be honest I wouldn't vote for someone who would ignore their own moral values and principles, thats not the kind of person I want as president.

PS - I think we actually agree on the issues you listed, I just don't think being religious forces you into a set view on those things.

I agree with Sqrl. What kind of person would be elected and then act contrary to what he believes in.

What he believes in is what gets him elected in the first place.

for those dissing Obama, realize that the phrase:

"And make me an instrument of your will"

is common to prayers and religious songs, nothing new.

Here is a hymn that I quickly found on google:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace:
where there's hatred, let me sow love;
and where there is injury, pardon;
and where there is doubt, then faith;
and where there's despair, then hope.
It's in dying that I will be born,
and in giving that I will receive,
it's in loving that I will be loved,
this is my faith: it is what I believe.
Lord, make me an instrument.
Make me an instrument.
Lord, I am a stranger traveling
in a brutal yet wondrous land,
far from the promise of home,
on a journey, led by Your hand
to where the lion lies down with the lamb. Father, grant that I'd never seek
to be comforted as to console;
let the blood of Your Son cover me,
touching my spirit, seizing my soul,
Lord, make me an instrument.
Lord, make me an instrument.
Lord make me YOUR instrument.
Let Your divine mystery guide my heart:
it's in dying that I will be born,
and in giving that I will receive,
it's in loving that I will be loved;
this is my faith: it is what I believe.
Christ within me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ above me,
Christ beneath me, to my left and my right, Christ where I lie and where I arise,
Christ in the hearts of all who think of me, Christ on the lips of all who speak of me,
Christ in the eyes of all who see me---
make me Your instrument, Lord!
Make me Your instrument, Lord!
Make me Your instrument, Lord!
Make me Your instrument, Lord!
Make me Your instrument.

I am starting to dislike him more and more...

He wants to change things or he hope god will change things?

That's what I call my penis.

neither, he just wants to get elected.

Did anyone in the UK see the daily mirror headline for obamas visit to germany?

'obamania'

See what they did there?

The problem with that is that someone who has achieved a higher plane of thinking by embracing and believing in moral relativism would know that such factors are irrelevant when choosing a president. There is no such thing as right or wrong but merely ends by which one achieves their own self interests. Intelligence should be the only qualifying factor of a leader that embraces such moral relativism and not an artificial belief system that simply divides a country by only catering to certain groups that share that belief system.

What I meant is following the bible literally often leads to irrational acts, trying to force something to be a law because it is in the bible is exactly what I do not want from any political leader because it means they are ignoring the situation today for the situation 2000 years ago.

I think that if a politician believes that homosexuality is wrong because the bible says it is wrong that they shouldn't try and enforce that belief on the wider community, they honestly do have to draw that line between personal beliefs and their actions for the community. A politician should be acting for the good of society, not to enforce their own beliefs on society.

OK, so if someone believes homosexuality is wrong for a reason other than their religion that would be ok with you then?  I'm pretty sure you would disagree with them no matter what the basis for their reasoning was.

I mean it sounds to me, and correct me if I'm wrong, that what you are saying is that all other ways a person's decision can be influenced are acceptable...but if their decision was based on religion...well in that case thats just not right!

Its obvious you don't agree with the morality of many religions on these subjects (ie the ones you listed above) but I think you are just being dramatic when you say it's irrational.  An irrational view is one that lacks reason and they are absolutely using reason here, we just don't agree with that line of reasoning.  I hate to delve too much into the religious debate but I want to remind you that you believe there is no god and that the bible is simply a book on morals that was last valid some 2000 years ago and they believe there is a god and that the bible is his word with timeless validity.  Both are beliefs and until one is proven correct neither can be legitimately given the favored title of "most rational".