Monday, August 18, 2008

McCain: "Let Them Hire Who They Want"

When asked whether he would allow faith-based initiatives funded by the government to hire only those who agreed with their faith, McCain said that he would:



But his entire answer was largely just a pep-rally for faith-based initiatives, rather than a real discussion of the nuanced issue that was asked. Pastor Warren, sufficiently satisfied to be pandered to, didn't press the issue either. McCain's answer was sufficiently vague as to make some wonder if he had not heard the last part of the pastor's question regarding federal funds, but indeed he did. In fact, McCain's position on the matter is clearly outlined on his website.

This position is usually defended by the assertion that faith-based initiatives should have the "right to hire who they want". That seems like shaky ground to me. Do we really want to promote as a societal ideal that employers can hire whoever they want, for whatever reason they choose? As with all employers, candidates for a position should be evaluated on their ability to do the job. Of course, a youth pastor would not be a very good pastor if he or she disagreed with the teachings of the church. But, it makes no difference if a contractor hired to help cleanup after a natural disaster is Christian, Jewish, gay, straight, black, or white. If he can do the job, he should not be discriminated against.

On this issue, Obama was right to say that the details matter in these situations. It is the kind of nuanced position that Obama has mastered. Normally, nuanced positions don't score you many points in politics. But in this case he is right.

I am a religious person. The religion I belong to made a decision not to accept any government money for any of its charitable initiatives, to avoid any chance of the government meddling in its affairs. I agree with that position, and although I don't question how much good faith based initiatives can do, I question the premise of funding them with government money in the first place. If there is not enough faith from the people in the pews to find a way to fund the initiative the old-fashioned way, then should it really be called "faith-based?"

However, if faith-based programs are to be funded with tax-payer money, it seems more than reasonable to require them to follow the same rules as any other employer with regard to that program.

Wrong Rating: 1 out of 4 (spin)

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