Does The President's Religion Really Matter?

According to an online survey by a Boise radio station, 60% of the polled Idahoans believe that President Obama is a Muslim.  I don't mean to pick on Idahoans as I've heard this sentiment from a lot of sources.  I've heard it from my own family and I live in the apparently progressive Washington state.  Here are some of the comments from readers responding to the article;  
 
"What does it take for you knot heads to finally get it through your sheeple heads?
* Obama is a foreign-born Muslim! 
He endorses a Victory mosque at the 9-11 sight. 
He is destroying our nation. 
Muslims are instructed to kill infidels. You all are infidels unless you are Muslim. 
Obama is doing his best to see that our country becomes a third world country." 
 
"First, the non-believers condemn the President about the Church he was a member of. Look at his family. Do they look like they are muslin? He smokes and drinks. Like any good Christian man."
 
"NO QUESTION OBAMA IS NOT A CHRISTIAN!"
 
In response to this poll and the comments I immediately thought; who cares.  I want to pose a few questions to all of you.  Does the religion of our President really matter?  Does he/she have to have a religious affiliation?  Does a person's religion affect their job performance?
 
 I haven't been in a position to hire anyone as I'm a graduate student but my father has.  He has told me many times that there is a workplace-life and a home-life.  One can believe whatever they wish while they are at home.  That's their business and they are free to do whatever they wish.  But at work, everyone has to work together for a common goal.  He's a superintendent for a construction company.  Their goal is to build the highest quality concrete structures as quickly and as cheaply as possible so that their company can make a huge profit.  Where does religion fit in to this workplace environment and goal?  It doesn't.  He has told me he hires people based on their potential to meet the company's goals.  Whatever they do at home is their business just don't bring it to work.  I tend to agree with him.  
 
But, for some reason, we look at the president not as a person doing a job but as some sort of idolized role model.  Yes, his job is very important and he should be held to a higher standard then most.  But by what standard are we measuring him?  I would rate the president by his job performance.  I don't think one's personal life is relevant to their work unless one can't separate their work-life from their home-life and one adversely affects the other. 

But what would it matter if he did announce that he was a Muslim?  Would that be such a huge problem?  I know that Muslims have been stereotyped since 9/11 but what people need to realize is we are fighting against a group of people not a religion.  I know that many have realized this, and I may be preaching to the choir, but it worries me to see a poll like the one above, and the responses to the poll.  'News' like this perpetuates the idea that a religion, and its people, can be inherently bad.  It's sad.  It reminds me of how so many Jews have been treated over the years.  It saddens me to see how little we have progressed.  At times I hear people talk about how intellectually advanced we are in this modern day and age of advanced technology, growing research in medical fields, and so on and so forth.  Seeing things like this, I tend to disagree.
 
 
 
Source:
http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/08/31/idahopolitics/online_poll_kboi_listeners_obama_foreignborn_muslim   

In my experience it only matters to deeply religious people, because they have been taught all their lives that those who do not submit to the same beliefs that they do are lesser people that need to be pitied and looked down on for their ignorance. It's because of their ignorance they can't be trusted until they have been enlightened to think the same way they do. It's like they think that only religious people think things like stealing, murder, and rape are wrong and that by not following their religion you are saying it's ok to do those thing. So you obviously can't be trusted, because it's only a matter of time until you try to rape/murder me and try to rob me blind!
 
OBVIOUSLY this does not apply to every religious person out there so don't flame me letting me know how wrong I am because you follow religion XYZ. It is just that in my experience with people who take their religion very seriously that you can tell they always look down on others and feel like they are better then they are because they follow some religion. It's like you should be honoured that they are even taking the time to talk to you. 
 
EDIT: I would like to add that religion does plays an important part in who I vote for, because I don't trust people who come from deeply religious backgrounds. I feel that they will often times fall back on their religious indoctrination when it comes times to make important decisions, and since I find  about 99% of religion wrong I don't want the person leading my province/country to base their decisions on what some bible tells them is right or wrong.

It shouldn't, seeing as the government is to be run completely outside of religious barriers to ensure impartiality and equal representation for all people. People who call Obama a Muslim just don't like him and are bitter that the neo con didn't win.

It shouldn't and it doesn't.

It's pretty sad that this whole issue is even still a controversy. It really shouldn't make a bit of difference what the president's religious beliefs are, so long as they do not preclude the separation of church and state.

It matters if you're a fucking xenophobe.

If our next president was a devout Unitologist, shit would be awesome. 

Oh baby, I was just skimming through this, read your quotes in the second paragraph and thought that they were your sentiment. I had a buttload of verbose-laden hate-crimes to launch at you... and then I read the rest and saw that you were not crazy. 
 
Bullet. Dodged.

Rednecks are fun, huh?

It shouldn't. Although I'd like to see the reactions if our next President turned out to be a Scientologist.

No

You'd be a fool to think it doesn't factor into some people's voting behaviour.

Man,live and let live,it shouldn't  but many people do.  

Well, it really doesn't matter. Ideally, I'd personally like a president that can at least claim to be agnostic, but it seems like it'll never happen. 
 
As long as he's doing things that progress the country, then religion doesn't matter.

It shouldn't, but hoo boy 
if you want to get elected you'd better check off that checkbox

A president's religion shouldn't matter at all.

I don't care what our president believes, as long his or her moral compass is guided by something beyond themselves--and that they uphold the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.

No, not really. It only counted for Kennedy, and like Obama's race, people forgot about it kinda quickly. At least I forgot that race was a factor rather quickly.

Where did all these "Obama is a muslim" rumors come from?

In reality it shouldn't, but heavy Christians dominate such a big part of the vote you have to portray yourself as one. Even here in the UK the PM has to act in a Christian manner despite probably not having a care for religion at all.

noooooooooo

It absolutely matters, Christians, Jews, Muslims, they're cool with me, butI don't want to be led by a Scientologist, or a member of the flat earth society.

In the sense that it would sway voting in certain areas, yes. As far as being a decent President, no.

no it shouldn't matter on what people's religion are. i don't care to much about that kind of stuff. i do agree with keep work life in the work place and keep home life at home.

It only matters when they try to impose it upon others. It also only matters if they try and take away religious freedom for all. Religious persecution is one of the most heinous crimes a leader can allow to happen. It leads to all other sorts of evils.

Don't ask, don't tell!

" It shouldn't. Although I'd like to see the reactions if our next President turned out to be a Scientologist. "

" Where did all these "Obama is a muslim" rumors come from? "

How else would you know if he's a secret muslim that hates America and Freedom?

Politics and Religion in one? I am astonished at the lack of comments/views this thread has.

" According to an online survey by a Boise radio station, 60% of the polled Idahoans believe that President Obama is a Muslim.  I don't mean to pick on Idahoans as I've heard this sentiment from a lot of sources.  I've heard it from my own family and I live in the apparently progressive Washington state.  Here are some of the comments from readers responding to the article;    "What does it take for you knot heads to finally get it through your sheeple heads? * Obama is a foreign-born Muslim!  He endorses a Victory mosque at the 9-11 sight.  He is destroying our nation.  Muslims are instructed to kill infidels. You all are infidels unless you are Muslim.  Obama is doing his best to see that our country becomes a third world country."    "First, the non-believers condemn the President about the Church he was a member of. Look at his family. Do they look like they are muslin? He smokes and drinks. Like any good Christian man." "NO QUESTION OBAMA IS NOT A CHRISTIAN!"   In response to this poll and the comments I immediately thought; who cares.  I want to pose a few questions to all of you.  Does the religion of our President really matter?  Does he/she have to have a religious affiliation?  Does a person's religion affect their job performance?   I haven't been in a position to hire anyone as I'm a graduate student but my father has.  He has told me many times that there is a workplace-life and a home-life.  One can believe whatever they wish while they are at home.  That's their business and they are free to do whatever they wish.  But at work, everyone has to work together for a common goal.  He's a superintendent for a construction company.  Their goal is to build the highest quality concrete structures as quickly and as cheaply as possible so that their company can make a huge profit.  Where does religion fit in to this workplace environment and goal?  It doesn't.  He has told me he hires people based on their potential to meet the company's goals.  Whatever they do at home is their business just don't bring it to work.  I tend to agree with him.    But, for some reason, we look at the president not as a person doing a job but as some sort of idolized role model.  Yes, his job is very important and he should be held to a higher standard then most.  But by what standard are we measuring him?  I would rate the president by his job performance.  I don't think one's personal life is relevant to their work unless one can't separate their work-life from their home-life and one adversely affects the other.  But what would it matter if he did announce that he was a Muslim?  Would that be such a huge problem?  I know that Muslims have been stereotyped since 9/11 but what people need to realize is we are fighting against a group of people not a religion.  I know that many have realized this, and I may be preaching to the choir, but it worries me to see a poll like the one above, and the responses to the poll.  'News' like this perpetuates the idea that a religion, and its people, can be inherently bad.  It's sad.  It reminds me of how so many Jews have been treated over the years.  It saddens me to see how little we have progressed.  At times I hear people talk about how intellectually advanced we are in this modern day and age of advanced technology, growing research in medical fields, and so on and so forth.  Seeing things like this, I tend to disagree.     Source: http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/08/31/idahopolitics/online_poll_kboi_listeners_obama_foreignborn_muslim    "

I think the real concern is that the President is bald.
 
I'm kidding. 
 

I feel that the President's religion does matter, because that is what will inform his/her decision making process.  You can separate church and state on paper all you want, but you can't remove it from influencing the individual; it is part of who they are.  As a Catholic, I make decisions that are based on my faith.  They're not blind decisions, mind you, but I definitely have my morals guiding me in every part of my life.  It's part of who I am.
 
The problem, as the OP pointed out, is gross ignorance.  Muslims aren't taught to destroy infidels (especially not the way that particular poll-taker indicated), just like Catholics aren't taught to threaten others with eternal damnation.  So many people aren't smart or responsible enough to do some research of their own before making ridiculous accusations.  It's frustrating to read these things, and I am shocked that so many ignorant people can spew more hatred than the very people they're criticizing.

It's not what religion the president is, but whether or not they're willing to put their faith before their people that makes a difference.

" @TheSeductiveMoose said:

" Where did all these "Obama is a muslim" rumors come from? "

His complexion. "

It's not supposed to.

" Politics and Religion in one? I am astonished at the lack of comments/views this thread has. "

It really shouldn't but people can get real retarded when it comes to religion.

@melcene
 
I live in Washington and have for my whole life.  There are times when I get real tired of the whole 'progressive' nonsense.  It's snobbish and arrogant and I don't think we are as progressive as we would like to think we are.

@TonyBlue87
 
I see where you're coming from and I agree to an extent.  One's religion will dictate how they behave and how they think.  But I've always believed that one's job requires broader, more objective thinking.  I can't help but think that religion can only lead to passionate, subjective lines of thought that may not be very beneficial in a workplace setting.  There's nothing wrong with that line of thought but I think a job requires different ways of thinking.

It's more important than anything ever.

...or at least that's what I've been led to believe.

Unless he's the second coming of Altman I'm utterly unconcerned.

" @melcene  I live in Washington and have for my whole life.  There are times when I get real tired of the whole 'progressive' nonsense.  It's snobbish and arrogant and I don't think we are as progressive as we would like to think we are. "

This just in: Rednecks are fucking stupid.

It matters to people because you want someone who thinks the way you do, believes what you believe.  Makes you feel better I guess.  But no, it should not matter.  Though in my belief, the person running this joint should not be religious.  Religion always seems to fuck shit up.