re: #203 Anymouse

Intense religiousity? All those deists that signed the Declaration of Independence? Or the Muslims who fought in the Revolution (yes, there were Muslims in the Continental Army)?

Jefferson’s prototype for the I Amendment in the Province of Virginia guaranteeing freedom of religion and banning public support for churches?

Evangelicals throughout the history of the USA felt that politics was not an appropriate sphere, until such hucksters as Jerry Falwell and Ralph Reed came along and wedded themselves in an unholy alliance with Ronald Reagan.

I am old enough to remember in most political discourse that religion was a verboten topic in debates.

Though I am not old enough to remember President Kennedy, he was specifically questioned over being Catholic as there was concern his loyalty would be to the Church and not the nation.

Al Smith, as well. Perhaps someday in the near future there will be a dinner named after some Muslim politician who ran for president, but lost.