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Survey questions politicians on Jesus

Jeff Sharp, county attorney for Barren County, and a church youth group are surveying all Kentucky legislators and legislative candidates with a single question: "Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?"

Fifteen have replied so far -- all answering yes -- but Rep. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, filed a resolution yesterday asking her House colleagues to disregard the survey and all "theocratic tendencies."

Stein, who is Jewish, called the survey an "intimidating, bullying letter."

It is indeed an intimidating and bullying letter. And just in case anybody misses the point, Sharp sets it out explicitly:

The survey, which gives candidates space to provide an "explanation or testimony" after their response, tells candidates that the class may provide the survey results to local churches in each candidate's area.

Sharp said he's more likely to vote for a Christian "because I feel their values would be more in tune with my values." [emphases mine]

It should be said, first, that Sharp has every right on earth to decide how to vote using any criterion he thinks is appropriate. It should be said, second, that a man who believes that religious faith is the correct criterion for deciding how to vote is hopelessly foolish.

I'm guessing that some of the Righteous have already forgotten that Messrs. Clinton and Gore sold themselves as Southern Baptists. We all know how that worked out.

Sharp is promoting a species of tribalism, telling politicians: You belong to my tribe, or you are my enemy — and never mind that jivey business about how we all coexist peacefully in the great melting pot. That attitude is a threat to the nation's well-being, and I hope the Kentucky legislature has enough self-respect to tell Sharp to shove off.

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