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Ear to the Ground

Democrats Wooing Evangelical Christians

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Posted on May 23, 2006

Just as the GOP tried to pull African Americans away from the Democratic Party, so too are Democrats going after the Republicans’ base: evangelical Christians. But a Washington Post columninst asks: “What does it profit a party to gain a demographic but lose its soul?”
Earlier: The Religious Left Rises Again


Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus:

When mega-pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church opened last year in its new Houston home, the city’s former professional basketball arena, a most unlikely guest was on hand for the celebration: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), a minister’s son who chairs the House Democrats’ Faith Working Group, headed to Dallas a few months later to worship with Bishop T.D. Jakes, an African American Pentecostal minister who’s been called “the next Billy Graham.”

This month, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean—yes, that would be the Howard Dean who dismissed Republicans last year as “pretty much a white, Christian Party”—went on Pat Robertson’s “700 Club,” asserting that Democrats “have an enormous amount in common with the Christian community, and particularly with the evangelical Christian community.” Randy Brinson, founder of Redeem the Vote (think Rock the Vote meets Jesus), met last week with the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.

Democrats these days are a party on a mission that might sound impossible: to persuade evangelical Christian voters to consider converting—to the Democratic Party.

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By mrm, May 24, 2006 at 4:52 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I have just as much of a problem with the Evangelicals (i.e.; Joel Osteen and T.D.Jakes) allowing these politicians a free pass…why didn’t Joel turn to Nancy and say “Why do you sit here in our midst and pander to us when you do not even practice the basic tenant of our faith that every life is precious…why do you not repent to God for your sin?”  There are times the evangelicals are just as guilty as politicians for pandering to the powerful.

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By Don Albert, May 24, 2006 at 3:56 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I don’t think it’s a good idea because I think all the nut cases should be kept in one party.

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By ruben, May 23, 2006 at 3:05 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

you’re damn right. you don’t see republicans reaching out to NOW or NARAL or the SIERRA CLUB, they get to be as conservative as they want and they keep winning. once again i feel like registering as an independent because even though i’ll probly end up voting for a dem, they don’t speak for me for me anymore. and we have hillary clinton talking about finding common ground on abortion? voting to ban flag burning? wtf? so who’s gonna speak up for seperation of church and state?

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By Scott, May 23, 2006 at 1:35 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I wonder if atheists qualify for minority rights?

Actually what they really need is their own homeland.

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By PamAlonia McCrary, May 23, 2006 at 1:18 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Democrats appealing to Evangelicals is like Jews praying to Jesus.  How the party has betrayed itself.  I relinquish my Democratic voting status. 

http://www.godisajoke.com

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By donnad, May 23, 2006 at 9:12 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Why does this seem absurd? Not all evangelical Christians espouse reactionary politics. And the Democratic party’s platform actually relfects some of the values that Jesus preached about.

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By AlanSmithee, May 23, 2006 at 6:58 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Well, lessee, the donks have dumped gun control, gay rights and abortion rights - and for what?  The right to compete for the few fundies that vote for the Constitution party?  ‘Cause they’re sure-as-shootin’ not going to “peel off” any Republican voters.

Pathetic.  Unutterably pathetic.

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By JP, May 23, 2006 at 3:51 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I dont’ think loss of soul is a problem, as I don’t see them advocating repeal of Roe.  Yet I don’t think that if they strengthen their language against abortion (example “making it less common”) that it will be ignored by evangelicals either.

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