The mood of the country has decidedly shifted from 3 years ago. Obama won't get away with calling mainstream American taxpayers "bitter Bible-clingers" in 2012 even if he thinks no one's recording him.  With the rise of the Tea Party, a non-entity in 2008, candidates right and left will be having jailhouse conversions.  Others like Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann will be defending past statements about gays, submissive wives and prayer vigils to open up the heavens.

This past week religion and politics were everywhere. Texas Governor Rick Perry who announced he's running for President presided over a day of prayer and fasting at Reliant Stadium in Houston. 30,000 evangelicals joined him.

There will be folks who think it's something else, that there are other motivations. But it's not about me...It's about Him.

That's why I'm calling on Americans to pray and fast like Jesus did and as God called the Israelites to do in the Book of Joel.

The preacher-politician persona did not work out so well for Mike Huckabee in the last primary season. But Perry is not apologizing for his faith or his campaign style.

On the other side of the aisle there was President Obama speaking at the White House Iftar dinner for Ramadan on August 10. Equally unapologetic for his support of Islam and Muslim Americans, Mr. Obama stayed on message as he has done throughout his presidency.

This evening reminds us of both the timeless teachings of a great religion and the enduring strengths of a great nation. Like so many faiths, Islam has always been part of our American family, and Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character of our country, in all walks of life. This has been especially true over the past 10 years.

An America that doesn't simply tolerate people of different backgrounds and beliefs, but an America where we are enriched by our diversity. An America where we treat one another with respect and with dignity, remembering that here in the United States there is no "them" or "us;" it's just us.

To the millions of Muslim Americans across the United States and more -- the more than one billion Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time of reflection and a time of devotion. It's an occasion to join with family and friends in celebration of a faith known for its diversity and a commitment to justice and the dignity of all human beings. So to you and your families, Ramadan Kareem.

This election season may be more about the candidates' religions than the last one.  Who can forget "Is he a Muslim or isn't he?" This year with the birth and rapid growth of the Tea Party Obama's remarks at the dinner pose a much more serious question.

Why does Obama vehemently support and defend Islam at an official Ramadan dinner while blaming millions of hard working American taxpayers for his failure of leadership? Why doesn't the Tea Party elicit the same respect from our President as Muslim Americans? Seems "there is not them or us" unless it's a patriotic bunch who want him to stop spending us into oblivion.

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, a staunch social conservative, was asked by Byron York at the Republican debate on Thursday about a previous statement she made.

York asked: "In 2006 when you were running for Congress, you described a moment in your life when your husband said you should study for a degree in tax law. You said you hated the idea."

And then you explained, 'But the Lord said, Be submissive. Wives, you are to be submissive to your husbands.' As president, would you be submissive to your husband?"

After a moment's hesitation reminiscent of the pause after Fox's Chris Wallace's "Are you a flake?" inquiry months ago Bachmann answered York.

I'm in love with him, I'm so proud of him. And what submission means to us -- if that's what your question is -- it means respect," she added.

I respect my husband. He's a wonderful Godly man and a great father. And he respects me as his wife. That's how operate our marriage. We respect each other, we love each other."

This weekend Bachmann made the rounds of the Sunday talk shows answering similar questions after various mainstream hosts played recorded statements made by the congresswoman regarding her views on same sex marriage and homosexuality. Does anyone see where this is going?

America is in serious trouble. Obama is in serious trouble. His cohorts in DC have called regular Americans who pay their salaries "terrorists."  The majority of Americans do not want their monies funding ObamaCare, Let's Move, free birth control or any other far left social program. Millions of homes are in foreclosure, tens of millions can't find a job and our President is leading us down the road to even more socialism instead of a free market system. But the Republican candidates' religious views will overshadow all of that thanks to the mainstream media. Do we really need this right now?

Where is the candidate who will say "no more" when asked these types of questions? Who will say "our President is an American-destroying socialist and you are asking me about religion? Are you nuts? "

Read more M.Catharine Evans at Potter Williams Report