I'm not making excuses, I don't even support this guy. And if I were in his district, I would take his religious beliefs into account and vote against him. As would be my right.
I'm simply pointing out what is and is not covered by the US Constitution. The Constitution pertains to the government, not the people. It limits what the government can do, to include making religious tests a qualification for office, but does not say a damned thing about what the voters are allowed to consider.
He's telling voters what he'd like them to do. He's allowed to do that, and voters are allowed to take religious beliefs into account when casting their ballots.
How would you even enforce a rule that prohibited voters from doing that? Particularly on a secret ballot?
The overwhelming majority of people who have been disqualified under the 14th amendment were never charged with a crime. That's simply not how it works.
I'm not making excuses, I don't even support this guy. And if I were in his district, I would take his religious beliefs into account and vote against him. As would be my right.
I'm simply pointing out what is and is not covered by the US Constitution. The Constitution pertains to the government, not the people. It limits what the government can do, to include making religious tests a qualification for office, but does not say a damned thing about what the voters are allowed to consider.