Convention speeches show GOP doesn't have sole claim to God

According to a New York Times count, Republicans used the word "God" about twice as often as Democrats at the their respective conventions.

Shocking, I know.

But what's more interesting than a mere word count is how candidates in both parties employed references to God and religion. And when examined in that light, it seems Republicans don't have a stranglehold on religion after all. Sen. John McCain wins the award for most often mentioning God. In his acceptance speech, the Republican, who has in the past been criticized for his reticence on matters of faith, seemed to find his comfort zone.

Viewers heard him mention that he has had tough battles to fight in his life "for reasons known only to God," that everyone should have the chance to achieve their "God-given potential" and that "We're all God's children and we're all Americans."

He also said he thanks God every day for the privilege of serving his country, and that he wants everyone to be able to thank God for being an American. And while we're keeping track, he used the word "faith" three times, twice in a religion sense.

While this performance outdid Sen. Barack Obama in overt references to God, Obama nonetheless wins the award for the most Scriptural references. He mentioned "the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper," (see Gen. 4:9). He pointed out that it is "that American spirit" that "makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend" (see 2 Corinth. 4:18). And he noted, "At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise -- that American promise -- and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess" (see Heb. 10:23).

Curiously, though, he never mentioned the word "faith," and the word "God" only shows up in the traditional "God bless" closing.

Sen. Hilary Clinton mentioned God more frequently.

When it came to Vice Presidential hopefuls, the candidates were similar.

Even as Gov. Sarah Palin was doing her best Ann-Coulter-as-a-brunette impression, she found room in her speech for a few references to faith, mentioning that she, like other moms, says an extra prayer at night for the troops overseas. More blatantly, she ridiculed candidates who praise working people to their face, but then talk "about how bitterly they cling to their religion." She also mentioned the word God specifically, praising McCain because "he would bring...the wisdom that comes even to the captives by the grace of God...."

Interestingly, Sen. Joe Biden tied McCain for the number of God references: eight. But they were much more informal than McCain's: he twice said "How in God's name..." as the start of a question. He thanked God that his mother was able to be at the convention, and mentioned that she once told him, "Joey, God sends no cross you cannot bear." He also told viewers that his parents raised him and his siblings to live their faith and love their family.

While talking faith is probably not going to be the factor that sways the millions of undecided voters, the fact that Democrats are seeming as comfortable as Republicans doing it may mean the beginning of the end of Republican claims that their opponents, are, in the words of Ann Coulter, "Godless."

And people say miracles don't happen....


Brittany Hughes is a senior at Ohio University and an editorial writer for their student newspaper, The Post.