Democrats in 2 Southern States Push Bills on Bible Study [Or: Howard Dean Finds Jesus] (NYT)

The NYT ^ | Jan 27, 2006 | DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 — Democrats in Georgia and Alabama, borrowing an idea usually advanced by conservative Republicans, are promoting Bible classes in the public schools. Their Republican opponents are in turn denouncing them as "pharisees," a favorite term of liberals for politicians who exploit religion.

...The Democrats who introduced the bills said they hoped to compete with Republicans for conservative Christian voters. "Rather than sitting back on our heels and then being knocked in our face, we are going to respond in a thoughtful way," said Kasim Reed, a Georgia state senator from Atlanta and one of the sponsors of the bill. "We are not going to give away the South anymore because we are unwilling to talk about our faith."

Democrats in other states are moving in the same direction, jumping into a conversation about religion and values that some party leaders began after the 2004 election, when President Bush and the Republicans rode those themes to victory.

In an interview, Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, promised that Democrats would do a better job talking about values to religious voters. "We have done it in a secular way, and we don't have to," he said, adding, "I think teaching the Bible as literature is a good thing."

Christian conservatives, however, say they have been pushing public schools to offer courses on the Bible for decades, and Republicans in both Alabama and Georgia say some schools already offer such electives.

"Their proposal makes them modern-day pharisees," State Senator Eric Johnson of Georgia, the Republican leader from Savannah, said in a statement. "This is election-year pandering using voters' deepest beliefs as a tool."...

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"This is election-year pandering using voters' deepest beliefs as a tool."...

Note to Dem lurkers: God has joined your party! (And, may be coming soon to Oprah's Book Club!)

PS And here I was, foolishly believing Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report when they claim only Republicans pander!!!

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FYI.

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FYI.

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FYI.

[gov_bean_ counter]

In an interview, Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, promised that Democrats would do a better job talking about values to religious voters. "We have done it in a secular way, and we don't have to," he said, adding, "I think teaching the Bible as literature is a good thing."

Later in the interview when asked if he believes Jesus saves, Howie responded...

It depends on where he shops.

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Well, PJ'S favorite Dem site has posted this, and the thread has 150+ comments so far. Obviously, some of them are having a rough time with it; others see nothing wrong with it now -- so long as it's Dems and not the GOP proposing it! LOL!

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I think this is how most Dem voters will feel about this:

MadHound (1000+ posts)
Fri Jan-27-06 10:46 AM
Response to Original message

139. I don't care who is proposing this idea, Dem or 'Pug
It is a very, very bad one. Unless you are presenting it in a class of comparative theology, keep the Bible out of our schools. Way too many chances for abuse with this sort of class, waay too many.

And Lord knows, we absolutely don't need the Dems trying to out-theocratize the 'Pugs as this point in our history. Too much religion is intruding itself into our lives and government already, no need to add more.

Stupidity, just flat out stupidity.

[Kuksool]

I got a laugh when I read this. The ACLU must be fuming mad.

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I agree with this poster, because I think some kind of 3rd party is on the way, as the Dem Party leaders try more and more to out-GOP the GOP:

Voltaire99 (1000+ posts)
Fri Jan-27-06 01:33 PM
Response to Original message

160. Another step that will hasten a third party.

Some here are fooling themselves about "study" being discreet from endorsement. Imagine, if you will, a US class being critical of the Bible.

The morphing of the Democratic Party into a closer siamese of the GOP is all good, though. We really need a third party, and this will help.

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That's right! I wonder if they will sue the Dem Party over this!

[joebuck]

Howard Dean is a deeply religious man. Remember during the primaries when he said Job is his favorite book of the New Testiment. (No....really, he did.)

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I didn't listen to him that much so I don't recall what he said. But, I do think the Dems are going to inmplode if they lose again.

[Rosary]

well, guess those awful floods in LA ,are waking someone up-the USA needs to get back to GOD.