June 6, 2007

The top democratic presidential candidates appeared Monday night on CNN in a unique forum about their faith. It was the brainchild of Jim Wallis, who publishes the liberal socially activist magazine, Sojourners. I know Jim Wallis and he’s a good man. Though he tends to favor democrats, I believe him to be an honest Christian.

The problem with the forum is that Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards only talked about “faith.” None of them spoke of being born again. Edwards said only that he sins many times a day and that his faith sustained him during his wife’s struggle with cancer. Hillary said her faith sustained her during her husband’s numerous affairs. Obama said his faith was important to him, but he was the most political of the group, citing as sins, Abu Grab, the Iraq war and the Guantanamo detention center.

Wallis said no party has a corner on faith and that’s true, but this forum appeared to me to be little more than using faith as a political tool. Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world,” but too many politicians act as if it is.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.