Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders made a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and it was a pretty good appearance. The conversation then focused on Sanders’ religious beliefs, and the candidate didn’t directly answer the question. Was it smart politically?
“You say you’re culturally Jewish, but you don’t feel religious,” said Kimmel. “Do you believe in God, and do you think that’s important to the people of the United States?”
If elected, Sanders would be the first Jewish president. However, he answered in such a way that didn’t engage with his cultural heritage directly.
“I am who I am, and what I believe in and what my spirituality is about is that we’re all in this together. I think it is not a good thing to believe as human beings we can turn our backs on the suffering of other people,” said Sanders. “And this is not Judaism. This is what Pope Francis is talking about, that we cannot worship just billionaires and the making of more and more money. Life is more than that.”
Will this hurt Sanders politically? It could, but it appears that Sanders doesn’t believe that his personal religious beliefs should matter. It certainly doesn’t matter to his supporters. Sanders and his supporters just want a better country.
For more on this story, visit the International Business Times “Is Bernie Sanders Jewish? Candidate Invokes ‘Spirituality’ When Asked About God On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’”
