Q: Do you think push polls are unethical?
A: Yes, I do. They are basically manipulative and dishonest, and they are meant to change public opinion by deception. I'm not sure what would be honest about them. What would be ethical about them? Nothing.
Q: Is it ethical for a candidate to invite a politician they don't agree with to a fund-raising event because the person will attract donors?
A: It depends on what they disagree about. There are some disagreements that would not rise to the level of being unethical, and there -are some that would. If I disagreed with someone about a tax bill or about a spending bill, or if I disagreed with someone about a foreign policy, I don't think it would be necessarily unethical to invite him or her. It would be unethical to invite someone you were in disagreement with over a moral issue. If someone were segregationist or racist, it would be unethical to invite him or her. If someone who was pro-choice invited someone who was pro-life, that would be unethical. For a strong opponent of gay marriage to invite someone from the gay and lesbian caucus would be unethical. It depends on the nature of the disagreement and how much.
Q: Is it ethical for a lobbyist to work as a treasurer or finance director of a campaign? [A July 30 article in U.S. News and World Report reported that lobbyist Timothy McKeever has been the treasurer of the campaign committee of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, RAla., for the past 25 years. McKeever has lobbied for bills for the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Stevens is a member. Another questionable relationship is that of lobbyist Gregg Melinson, who is the campaign treasurer for U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.]
A: I'm not sure it's unethical by definition, but because of the appearance of possible conflict of interest then I don't think I would do it. You're raising money for a candidate you're then going to lobby.
Q: Is It ethical to switch parties if you think it will help you win?
A: No, I think that your party allegiance ought to be based on your values, convictions and beliefs, not on convenience. I wouldn't trust someone that switched parties, unless they were doing it out of conviction. For instance, U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm switched parties from Democrat to Republican and resigned from the office after declaring himself a member of the new party, ran in that party, and won. He felt the Democrats had separated from his beliefs. His values were more aligned with the Republican Party. But to switch parties to help win an election? Unethical.
Editor's Note: Next month, Rabbi David Wolpe, of the Temple Sinai in Los Angeles, Calif., will take your questions. Please send any ethical dilemmas to highroad@camuaignline.com.
[Author Affiliation]
Dr. Richard Land has served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission since 1988. During his tenure as president Land has represented Southern Baptist and other evangelicals' concerns inside the halls of Congress, before U.S. presidents, and as a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. In February 2005, Land was named one of "The Twenty-five Most Influential Evangelicals in America" by Time magazine. He has been featured on various television news programs, including "BBC World News, " "Meet the Press, " "CNN Presents, " and "Hardball with Chris Matthews." As host of a weekday radio program, For Faith & Family, Dr. Land is heard by more than 1.5 million listeners each week.
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