ElectionScope #1: Moral Voters

I repeatedly hear phrases such as the following, and they really provoke my curiosity:
- "Mormons = Republicans."
- "If you're Baptist, how could you vote for a Democrat?"
- "I don't believe in God, so I'm not going to vote for a Christian..."

Tell me, now, in all seriousness. Can a person really say these things? Are people so ignorant as to actually hold such positions? Because Romney was Mormon, people disliked him. Huckabee, a Baptist minister, got his share too. Now, people are already focusing in on the religion and morals of John McCain, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton. Why?

Moral issues, moral political issues, are one thing. It is important to have a solid stand on abortion, same-sex marriage, stem cell research, separation of church and state, and all such countless issues regarding morality or religion. Of course it is. But here's the catch: don't let the candidates religion, or lack thereof, decide your vote. Decide it upon their stances on the issues!

When people use stereotypical labels to vote with - when they vote for a person's religious affiliation, color of skin, race, heritage, or party label, are they not being close minded and shallow? Or do people simply not understand this concept?

My firm belief is that an election, especially one as important as this race for the Presidency of the united States of America, is not a question that should be decided upon based on any one of those characteristics alone. Focus on the candidate. Their positions, stances, ideas, and promises.

Yes, I vote mostly Republican. But I guarantee you that if the Republican candidate seems unfit, I would vote another direction. And yes, I am Mormon - but I would not have chosen Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nominee, had I a say. I do not consider myself to be held captive by those chains of fallaciousness, but would rather use my mind (whether that's a good thing or a bad one for anyone else, haha) to mull it over and come to my own decision on matters.