ping pong politics

American politics. Wonderful. Mainly because it allows us in this little country to ignore the farce that is politics over here. We can overlook our first minister's wife and her discriminatory comments on national radio and instead be entertained by the circus, US style.

I try not to comment on american politics too often - Mainly because, let's face it, I haven't a clue what I'm talking about - but I was amused to hear the problems both candidates are having of late. It is ironic that the religious leaders being courted to win votes are turning out to be political liabilities, no?

John McCain is obviously trying to out-do Barack Obama's Rev Wright issue. Why have one problem pastor when you can have two? Earlier in the year he accepted endorsements from John "Hitler was sent to help the Jews" Hagee who, I believe, once described the Catholic Church as a whore. Another former supporter, Pastor Rod Parsley described Islam as “the mouthpiece of a conspiracy of spiritual evil,” and that Islam is an “anti-Christ religion that intends through violence to conquer the world.” McCain distanced himself from both of these men, and will undoubtedly lose some evangelical support for doing so.

Hopefully the incidents on both sides will force the agenda off religious posturing and onto real issues. I really do hope so for I am very concerned about the example these public religious leaders are setting. You see I don't recognise the aggressive, confrontational, suspicious, hate-filled rant spewing that seems so prevalent. Of course as a Christian you have to stand up for what you know to be the truth - but there are ways of being assertive that don't involve insular paranoia. If I were to offer advice it would verge dangerously into overly simplistic waters – Don’t put your faith in religious leaders, no human is perfect. In fact don’t try to win religious votes by courting pastors at all – win them by incorporating Christian values into your policies. If you are going to follow anything surely it should be God’s teaching, not Pastor Parsley’s.

Personally I would like to see a separation of Church and State when it comes to electioneering. That is not to see that I think that candidates should suppress their spiritual beliefs – I feel it is important that the people in charge should have a working faith. I want the Church to step away from the political system because, by getting involved, it appears corrupt and divided, and the Church should never be either of those.

Instead of the candidates batting religion back and forward maybe they could follow the Chinese and Japanese leaders’ example and bat a ball about. Apparently the two countries’ relations were greatly enhanced when the Chinese President, Hu Jintao , took on two Japanese Olympians at table tennis. The Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, had planned to play against him but decided to “chicken out” Now that’s diplomacy.

Can you imagine if Obama and McCain fought out the presidency on a ping pong table – best of five. It would save a lot of time, money and make for scintillating viewing. And best of all Florida would have no say in the result!