Goldwater Speaks Out

"There is no position on which people are so immovable as
their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can
claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or
whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful
weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be
used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing
throughout our land are not using their religious clout with
wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into
following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with
these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they
complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or
both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers
across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be
a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who
do they think they are? And from where do they presume to
claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am
even more angry as a legislator who must endure the
threats of every religious group who thinks it has some
God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the
Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every
step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions
to all Americans in the name of 'conservatism.' "
-- Barry Goldwater - (1909-1998) US Senator (R-Arizona)
Source: Congressional Record, September 16, 1981









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