Cal Thomas
Syndicated political columnist

Cal Thomas

Thomas, a veteran of broadcast and print journalism, writes a twice-weekly column that appears in over 500 newspapers around the world.

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Let Each President Decide

As "so help me God" is not in the Constitution for the oath of office, it should be up to incoming presidents (not the Chief Justice) to decide whether to utter those words, or not. So much of our public life is now wrapped in civil religion. Politicians genuflect in the direction of a God, but few have any intent on following His instructions (love thy neighbor; turn the other cheek; "If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor, you shall not exact interest from them"; if someone asks for your shirt give him your coat as well; don't think more highly of yourself than you should, etc.)

Politicians love to claim that God favors them and their beliefs more than those of their opponents; otherwise they wouldn't have won the election, right? Lincoln noted the error of such thinking when he said that each side in the Civil War prayed to the same God, but that both can't be right because they were praying for different outcomes. He correctly said it was less important to ask whether God is on our side, than it is to wonder whether we are on God's side. Humility is among the first signs that one sincerely seeks to know and to do God's will. Unfortunately, this is not the first character trait one notices in most politicians. Leave the oath as it was written by the Founders and allow the one taking it to add whatever fealty he might sincerely have for the Almighty, which is what George Washington did. If that was good enough for the first president, it should suffice for the 44th president and all those to follow.

By Cal Thomas  |  January 13, 2009; 11:44 AM ET
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THE U.S.A. IS A NATION UNDER GOD NOW. UNTIL THAT IS CHANGED BY LAW, A OATH OF OFFICE WHOULD NOT HOLD WATER WITHOUT THE WORDS " SO HELP ME GOD ".

Posted by: usapdx | January 14, 2009 1:42 PM
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Vatican cares what BArack Obama says. Israel cares what BArack Obama shall say. we may care Unity and Togetherness. we are a wide family with Elders and Grandparents. this is not a case of argument but comprehension. these eight years shall be the couriership of language and verbalization. let it be sustaining, fullfilling and speedful. we may teach each other. i may invite my friend to eat my food. all disagree with slavery but education and friendship that give Love and Light to all. did Williams Bush ask Dalai Lama for the proper date for the oath? 2009 is the year of astronomy and planets. and we are on Earth. the ship next to us change the wave on the sea, and so do the planets passing by.

Posted by: congratulations | January 14, 2009 12:30 PM
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Barack Obama spoke from His Heart. He united and gathered all. He within His own verbalization shall invite Compassion Judgement Love and Wisdom. He spoke with His spirit, connected. he is a channeler and a natural leader.

the more USA is together in Unity, the more healthy and sound are the movement and decision. before the oath, i must ask why He eats fat not.

shall Israel reach Mediterranean Sea "the hot waters", the sea after MArmara and Twelve Islands?

Russia had asked to reach the hot waters, mainly on land through Germany. Russia had stopped on the east of Black Sea after Georgian Case. American ships had passed through the gates of MArmara Sea to Black Sea of Hydrogen Source.

in the Roman land in Gebze, a giant automotive factory of Germany shall be built. is it a Roman company?

Posted by: congratulations | January 14, 2009 12:16 PM
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i sometimes am surprised with the messages of CAll Thomas, how Heavenly Gallic He Calls! this is a serious time in USA as far as i sense. Italian and Israelian Ways shall be existent.

Posted by: congratulations | January 14, 2009 12:15 PM
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I mean, yaknow, Christians.

I'm just wondering, before you claim the right to absolute control over my life and the most formidable military in human history...

Do you have any experience whatsoever in *not* beating the crap out of anybody you could?

Posted by: Paganplace | January 13, 2009 8:33 PM
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""If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor, you shall not exact interest from them"; if someone asks for your shirt give him your coat as well; don't think more highly of yourself than you should, etc.)"


Yah, funny how you've been defending the Bushchristian 'Invisible Hand Of The Market' since you been here.

Advocating coming into *my* life and that of those I love dearest for your 'moral absolutism' while, of course, defending those in the Neocon Republican world who somehow claimed, while apparently giving me equal rights in marriage would disastrously confuse straight couples, that there's no need to blink when Bush repealed American laws against *usury.*

Or let people sue for punitive damages when corporations dump mercury into their fish.

Stuff like that.


Reverend.


"Politicians love to claim that God favors them and their beliefs more than those of their opponents; otherwise they wouldn't have won the election, right? Lincoln noted the error of such thinking when he said that each side in the Civil War prayed to the same God, but that both can't be right because they were praying for different outcomes."

You had a notion everyone in America should be praying to *that* same God ...to defeat the other half... or else... *why* again, Reverend?

How about... No.


Your God don't like it, well...


Posted by: Paganplace | January 13, 2009 8:25 PM
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Common sense that is so lacking with the lefty loonies.

Thanks, Cal. Keep the faith!

Posted by: Rob-Roy | January 13, 2009 5:39 PM
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