Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2000 who later crossed party lines to support Republican John McCain in 2008, has a column in the Washington Post — standing up for Republican contender Mitt Romney, against attacks over Romney’s Mormon religion.
Lieberman’s column discusses his own experience in 2000, as the first practicing Jew on a national ticket, and the place that he believes religion should have in American public discourse, balanced with the individual’s freedom of religion.
He then writes:
Now we have two Mormon candidates running for president in 2012, and one of them, Romney, may well be the Republican nominee. Once again the promise of religious freedom enshrined in our Declaration of Independence and in our Constitution will be tested, along with our Founders’ dream that America would be a shining city on a hill where religious freedom, diversity and tolerance would thrive. And once again, a barrier may be broken.
I hope and believe that Americans of all faiths — and of no faith — will not base their votes on the fact that Romney’s Mormon faith seems “different.” Just as Americans rose above differences when John F. Kennedy’s Roman Catholic faith was “different” in 1960, and 16 years later when Jimmy Carter’s Christian evangelical faith was “different,” and again in 2000 when my Jewish faith was “different,” Romney must be judged on his personal qualities, experience and ideas for America’s future.
My experience in 2000 gives me great confidence that the American people will again reject any sectarian religious tests for office and show their strong character, instinctive fairness and steadfast belief in our Constitution. That truly is the American way.
