Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The New Temptation Of Democrats
Washington Post ^ | 5/23/6 | Ruth Marcus

Posted on 05/23/2006 9:52:33 AM PDT by ZGuy

When mega-pastor Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church opened last year in its new Houston home, a most unlikely guest was on hand for the celebration: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

This month, Howard Dean 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."

Democrats these days are a party on a mission to persuade evangelical Christian voters to consider converting -- to the Democratic Party.

Just as Republicans have worked at peeling off some African American voters from the Democratic Party, evangelical voters are too big a part of the electorate (about a quarter) for one party simply to write off.

Evangelical voters aren't politically monolithic. Among the "traditionalist evangelicals," 70 percent identify themselves as Republicans or lean that way; they're pretty much a lost cause for Democrats. But among "centrist" (the 41 percent of evangelicals who have less doctrinaire religious views) or more liberal "modernist" (11 percent) evangelicals, Democrats have much more opportunity. Only 47 percent of centrist evangelicals and 30 percent of modernists are Republicans.

The Democrats' discussion with evangelicals has to get to substantive areas where the Democrats and evangelicals can find common ground: poverty, the environment, Darfur.

The question is whether differences on the much hotter-button issues of abortion and gay rights are nonetheless deal-breakers. For the traditionalist evangelicals, almost certainly they are. But some centrists may be reachable.

The risk is that, in the process of maneuvering, Democrats' reframing and rebranding could edge into retreating on core principles.

So, let Democrats woo evangelicals and cast the message in a way that speaks to religious voters. But in doing so, keep in mind: What does it profit a party to gain a demographic but lose its soul?

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 700club; chairmandean; christianvote; dncstrategy; pelosi

1 posted on 05/23/2006 9:52:34 AM PDT by ZGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ZGuy

One cannot imagine this making the any of Dean's supporters happy. Dean the "I'm a Metrosexual" guy is now "I'm an Evangelical" guy.


2 posted on 05/23/2006 9:57:52 AM PDT by trashcanbred (Anti-social and anti-socialist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZGuy
What does it profit a party to gain a demographic but lose its soul?

I have two comments about this particular line.

1) The Democrats have a soul? I thought they sold it as part of their entry fee.

2) This line could easily be attached to the current immigration debate when discussing the RINO's and the latinos.

3 posted on 05/23/2006 9:58:29 AM PDT by Personal Responsibility (Amnesia is a train of thought.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZGuy

The problem is that the democratic party only TALKS about being with groups, they rarely actually DO things for the groups. Most of the groups associated with the dems keep supporting them anyway -- but the evangelical community is a smart bunch who want to see real action.


4 posted on 05/23/2006 10:00:11 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZGuy
The risk is that, in the process of maneuvering, Democrats' reframing and rebranding could edge into retreating on core principles.

DIMs speak with forked tongues anyway, so what is the big deal?

5 posted on 05/23/2006 10:00:43 AM PDT by frogjerk (LIBERALISM: The perpetual insulting of common sense.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZGuy; All

SAME OLD THROWING SH-T AT THE WALL TO SEE IF IT STICKS!

THIS IS WHAT THE DEMS THINK OF CHRISTIANS:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1630821/posts?page=79#58

READ THE FBI FILE!


6 posted on 05/23/2006 10:06:57 AM PDT by alpha-8-25-02 ("SAVED BY GRACE AND GRACE ALONE")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZGuy
When mega-pastor Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church opened last year in its new Houston home, a most unlikely guest was on hand for the celebration: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Well, that should resolve the Osteen flamewars once and for all.

I bet Mrs. Pelosi and Mrs. Osteen got on famously.
7 posted on 05/23/2006 10:09:29 AM PDT by HostileTerritory
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HostileTerritory
I always felt that Joel Osteen was more or less an empty suit.
8 posted on 05/23/2006 10:26:46 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ("Over there, over there, We won't be back 'til it's over Over there.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ZGuy

then the serpent said to the woman, you will not surely die.
for God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will
be opened and you will b like God,knowing good and evil."
Genesis 3:4 And the serpent told thtruth-- as best he could.
for when Eve disobeyed God and ate -and seduced her husband
Adam their eyes wer eopened when they got kicked out of the garden.As there is nothing new under the sun -- I am safe in
speculation that should Christians allow themselves be wholy seduced by the Democratic Party we may well be kicked
out of the garden called the United States of America.


9 posted on 05/23/2006 11:35:08 AM PDT by StonyBurk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZGuy
Let's see, should I vote for the party that is for:

Abortion
Adultery
Al Queda
False Witness
Flag Burning

And against:

Boy Scouts
Christians
Marriage between one Man and one Woman
Monitoring Terrorists
National Defense

I think Not!

10 posted on 05/23/2006 12:43:07 PM PDT by sr4402
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson