"On religious issues there can be little or no compromise. 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? I have to 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.'" --
Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, 1981.