Can Dems Do Religion? (Rich Lowry blasts Chairman Mao-ard Dean!)

National Review Online ^ | 03-25-2005 | Rich Lowry

[Yashcheritsiy]

Howard Dean rolled into red-state Tennessee during Holy Week and promptly quoted Scripture twice. While Billy Graham shouldn't yet worry about being eclipsed by the Democratic National Committee chairman, Dean is an aggressive participant in a party-wide attempt in the wake of the 2004 elections to, as they say in the revival meetings, "get right with God."

There is much good in this: The Democrats need to demonstrate greater openness to religion, and in the past, faith has informed great liberal causes, including the civil-rights movement. But there has been a fumbling quality to the Democrats' recent grappling with politics and religion, bringing to mind the old Casey Stengel plaint about his hapless New York Mets: "Can't anyone here play this game?"

[Yashcheritsiy]

They keep trying' and trying' and trying'....

[lady lawyer]

Isn't Dean the one who thought it was stupid and wrong to campaign on "God, guns and gays."

Now, every time I see a Democrat talking head -- like Bob Beckel -- they are mentioning their religion.

This makes me sick. They hate everything that religion has traditionally stood for.

[bmwcyle]

Liberals can't just push God aside without pushing us also.

[GSlob]

Of course, they could do religion. Not only could, but actually do all the time. Why doesn't anybody here count the worship of Bacchus and Venus as religious exercises? Look at Ted Kennedy, and do not look any further. He is so spiritual a person that his spirituality blood level is at least 80 proof and sometimes rises to 86. QED.

[Gingersnap]

We need to watch this kind of thing closely. Most people haven't actually read the bible. When these nuts quote something and try to make it into a political issue, we need to quote back and call them on dubious or erroneous interpretations.

[philsfan24]

remember that deans favorite new testament book is job.

[hermgem]

The Democrats Saint is the ACLU.
Nothing else needs to be said.
It's a statement all onto itself:
Democratic party power for, by, and from the ACLU.

[libs_kma]

Rich Lowry is ok in my book. He gets it right, makes you think, and makes it funny all in the article.

I especially liked seeing him on Hannity and Colmes during the campaign. Every time he was on you knew the demon-rat countering him was toast. Rich has a sharp and quick wit and he rarely disappointed.

[randita]

Democrats try this tactic after every election, but putting on the trappings of religion is not the same as living a life of faith guided by God.