Should politicians attend religion related things, LGBT parades etc.?

If they kow-tow to one religion, they end up alienating people of another religion.

Take Trump. If he panders to the Christian right, he alienates Jews and Muslims and a lot of christians that may not be as fervent in their beliefs. Especially if he talks about abortion and the RFRA and other things that are controversial.

So for a politician it is a risk. A big one.

Religion, like sex, ought to be kept private.

I think they should. The more I know, the better.

Religion and LGBTQ issues are not even remotely the same category. Lumping them together like this is like adding apples and sofas.

Whether they are related or not is immaterial. Both groups are notoriously active politically. The “criticisms” are valid. They vote, therefore their votes are “cultivated”.

They should not have to.

@elbanditoroso What about LGBTQ parades?
@KNOWITALL and @kritiper Would you elaborate?
@Are salmon and oranges in different categories? Can they be lumped together?
@stanleybmanly But the OP is the opposite criticisms which is the correct one? They should not attend_or _they should attend?
@valycarrolito So, how about being criticized for not being clearabout his/her stand?

Should or shouldn’t is a useless question. They will do what they perceive required to be elected. If there are more atheists or gender bigots among your electorate, you stay at home. If there are more advocates for those agendas comprising your constituents, you show up for and endorse them “wholeheartedly”. Where I live it is absolutely irrelevant to one’s political career whether they are someone of faith—any faith.

It would serve no justifiable purpose. People are who they are and you can’t make them into what they aren’t.
@KNOWITALL said “The more I know the better.” But you have to want to know first. (Or, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”)

It’s depressing to thing LGBT parades are considered political. They shouldn’t be. This is about equality for human beings. That shouldn’t be a political issue. Everyone should be on board.

It doesn’t depress me that people can be blind to injustice and resistant to its diminution. That unfortunately is how we are. All parades are political, and as history has proven indispensable in matters of civil rights. The thing that should be appreciated is that as with women’s suffrage and segregation, the arrival of parades and other open demonstrations mark the certain upcoming doom of societal tolerance of the injustices involved.

Some of people on the pro parade side:
Even if he/she (elected political candidate) doesn’t belive in it he/she should’ve been at the parade.
vs some others on the pro parade side:
He/she showed up at the parade when he is against the parade, he/she is not really on our side.

So you’re either a hypocrite or a proponent of callous indifference. So you conform to what you suppose the majority of voters approve.

But if he/she doesn’t believe in it, i.e against it to whatever degree, then how can it be indifference, callous or not?

That will be the kindest accusation if you fail to show up in support, regardless of the reason.

It can be indifference because they don’t care about the subject, or the subject doesn’t directly apply to them.

@flo Sure I’ll elaborate.

Lets take Pence as an example.

He has passed more anti-LGBTQ legislation than just about any politician alive today.

He also purports to support exrreme Right religious beliefs.

To me, this is helpful. I know he’s not my flavor and I’ll never vote for him.

Thats what I meant.

Edited.
@stanleybmanly and @kritiper You got doesn’t believe in it/ is against it, and you turned it into indifference.
@stanleybmanly You are saying a candidate who doesn’t believe in it,/against it should be a hypocrite and show up.

@KNOWITALL That makes sense.

My last post edited.

I’m not saying anything of the kind. Should or shouldn’t is meaningless. A politician WILL do whatever is required to be elected

@stanleybmanly See @KNOWITALL‘s answer.

@stanleybmanly The sun is going to come out tomorrow whether we say it should or it should not?

Exactly. Should the sun come out? If yes, why? And if not, why not?

@stanleybmanly @flo I’m not sure what your difference of opinion is.

Fact is, each politician is different and will choose to pander or not, based on their perception of their supporters.
If you want the LGBTQ vote, you go to the parade.
If you are a conservative, you obviously wouldn’t go to the parade (unless you go to support the cause of moderates.)
And some politicians, and I truly believe this, truly don’t care about re-elections and just want the best for their constituents. #unicorn

KNOWITALL Can you name a politician who doesn’t care about his re-election? Do you suppose there will ever be a candidate who announces that he or she is probably not the best possible person for the gig? So should a politician attend a gay pride parade if he personally believes homosexuality sinful? Should a vegetarian political candidate attend the cattleman’s ball?

@stanleybmanly Nope, not at state level or above, it’s too lucrative. (Neither side of the aisle.)

For myself, if I thought homosexuality was a sin, I wouldn’t attend whether I needed their votes or not. Same with your cattleman scenario.

It’s a choice to pander, and I can only use my own experiences of great disappointment with a few people who will cast important votes to get re-elected instead of for the greater good.

Politics is about harnessing the prevailing winds——end of story. Whether you care to admit it or not, attainment of of office is about ends justifying means. You may not want their endorsement, but pedophiles, mysogynists, serial rapists, arsonists, drug kingpins, you want their votes (and their money)

@stanleybmanly I don’t, but the upper level politicians sure seem to. I won’t argue about that.

For instance, Trump not calling out White Supremacists is a form of pandering. What you don’t say is as important as what you do say. That being said, I honestly don’t believe he is racist, he just wants their votes.

There are those, like the Bushes, that are genuine believers and of course they should be able to go to services if they want. But I would imagine it would have be be a non-denominational service.

You can be pretty sure of where they stand when they do awesome stuff like this

@flo I don’t know how to explain it so my meaning would be any clearer to you.

I just read my own article, and it does a pretty good job of answering your question, @flo. When Michelle was first lady she had to “sneak out of the house” to be a small part of all the celebrating that was going on when they passed the same sex marriage law. To actually attend a parade like that just might not be possible from a security stand point.

@flo Since I am a heterosexual, Atheist male, I don’t think going to some religious or gay what-have-you would do me or anyone else any good. So I am indifferent. Certain topics don’t interest me, or don’t apply to me, so my attendance would be meaningless. If I was a politician, would you require me to go to religious or LGBTQ functions anyway?

Good question @kritiper.

Announcement: “I got nothing.”

That’s me saying that.

@kritiper No, if you dont care, you dont care. I wouldnt vote for you but at least you’re honest.

You would prefer someone who would lie to you @KNOWITALL?

@Dutchess_III I specifically said ‘at least you’re honest’, so no, obviously not.

“I wouldnt vote for you but at least you’re honest.”

You would vote for someone who pretends to be religious, like trump, or who pretends to be pro LBGT.

@Dutchess_III Oh I see, you’re taking my comment out of context to @kritiper.

@kritiper posted this:

”@flo Since I am a heterosexual, Atheist male, I don’t think going to some religious or gay what-have-you would do me or anyone else any good. So I am indifferent. Certain topics don’t interest me, or don’t apply to me, so my attendance would be meaningless. If I was a politician, would you require me to go to religious or LGBTQ functions anyway?”

I appreciate @kritiper‘s honesty, but I can’t respect anyone who lacks any interest whatsoever in issues or people that don’t affect his life.

That makes more sense. Thanks for the clarification.

@KNOWITALL You were clear on your 1st and second posts esp. 2nd. But if you don’t go some people would think maybe it’s because couldn’t make it.

By the way, the opposing candidates and journalists or “journalists”, are going to ask.