Texas Democrats strive to dispel notion that they're anti-religious
06/26/2002
One of the hottest bumper stickers at the Texas Republican convention advertised: "G.O.P: God's Official Party."
Democrats say they want to change that.
The party that in the past has criticized Republicans for mixing prayer with politics is trying to shake the rap of being anti-religious.
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Analysts say some voters welcome such a spiritual discourse, which they use to judge a candidate's character and background. Others are put off by the melding of religion and campaign rhetoric, saying the messages seem too calculated.
At both parties' conventions this month, religious references were plentiful in candidate speeches and platform debates.
Democratic candidate for governor Tony Sanchez spoke of his Catholic faith, telling delegates that although many in his church oppose abortion, he would veto legislation that interferes with a woman's right to choose.
The Democrats included in their platform support for a moment of silence in public schools – an idea that Mr. Sanchez backs.
Ron Kirk, Democrat for the Senate, has frequently talked about the close-knit church he grew up in, and his campaign's Web site tells visitors that the Kirk family attends St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.
During the GOP convention, Gov. Rick Perry and Attorney General John Cornyn, who is running for the Senate, spoke at the Texas Christian Coalition's dinner.
Mr. Cornyn recalled his fight on behalf of a school district that wanted to allow students to pray before a high school football game.
The next day, Mr. Perry told delegates that children should not be forced to abandon their faith at the schoolhouse door, and he said life is a sacred gift from "our creator."
Similar debates
Leaders from both parties debated religion's role in the platforms at their conventions – albeit with different results.
When Republicans gathered in Dallas, they crafted a party platform that mentions God and faith about a dozen times, deems the United States a "Christian nation" and calls for the return of Bibles and other religious books to "the shelves of all public schools."
When Democrats met a week later in El Paso, they struggled with the question of whether to include the single phrase "God-given potential" in their platform.
Eventually, the lone mention of God stayed in the document.
The debate underscored the Democrats' internal hand-wringing when it comes to religious issues.
"I'm tired of letting the Republicans define the Democratic Party because they lie about what we are," said Molly Beth Malcolm, the party chairwoman. "I resent very much for one party to imply that they have a hold on religion."
As Democratic leaders vow to aggressively defend their position on religion, they said they would not stray from the basic belief that church and state are separate.
"Most Democrats I know are very religious, but we also believe in the Constitution of this country," Ms. Malcolm said.
AP Texas Republican chairman Susan Weddington says Democrats are hostile to people of faith. "Democrats have been derisive to people whose faith is important to them," she says. |
Susan Weddington, the head of the Texas GOP, said faith is institutionalized in the Republican Party.
"There's a general recognition that our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles," she said. "The Democratic Party seems to hold to the idea that there is some sort of separation between church and state."
Republicans have argued that Democrats seem to be hostile to people of faith.
"Democrats have been derisive to people whose faith is important to them," Mrs. Weddington said. "They tend to think that people of faith are a little less intelligent."
Easier to talk about
Experts said Democrats and Republicans are becoming increasingly comfortable talking about prayer in the political arena. But the driving forces for each party's discussions are different, said Geoffrey Layman, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
Conservative Christians are a core group in the GOP, so it is incumbent upon Republican candidates to appeal to people of faith, he said.
And Democrats recognize the need to deflect criticism that their party has been anti-religious, he said.
In El Paso, Democrats attacked GOP accusations that the faithful aren't welcome. During a convention caucus titled "Faith-Based Response to the Religious Right," state Rep. Sylvester Turner of Houston said God would take care of those who help others, regardless of political allegiances.
RICHARD MICHAEL PRUITT / DMN "We've heard so much about the religious right," state Rep. Sylvester Turner (left) of Houston said during the Democrats' convention, "one would think that God only shines on one party." |
"We've heard so much about the religious right," he said, "one would think that God only shines on one party."
Charles Johnson, a Baptist pastor from San Antonio, told several dozen delegates that they could be faithful without wearing their religion on their sleeves in the political arena.
"God's not on our agenda," he said. "We don't recruit God as our mascot."
Ms. Malcolm said the GOP convention – which featured a prayer rally and a steady stream of gospel performances – seemed to be more church gathering than political convention.
A prayer for judges
At the Republican convention, state District Judge Faith Johnson of Dallas offered a prayer for unsaved judges in which she asked God to help them be righteous.
Mrs. Weddington said that while Republicans had prayed for moral leaders, they were not suggesting that candidates or officials must be Christian.
"Do I think there should be a litmus test? No," she said.
But much of the Republican Party's appeal is its acceptance of people who do want to pray openly and express their faith, she said.
"You can be comfortable expressing your faith in the Republican Party," she said. "Democrats have said faith has a role in society, stuck in a corner called church."
Dr. Layman said the Democrats were trying to strike a careful balance between welcoming conservative Christians and appealing to voters who are uncomfortable with the God talk.
"Democrats are saying, 'We're just as good of Christians, but we don't have to proclaim our belief in God,' " he said. "That's a way to walk a fine line, appealing to liberal party activists and a relatively conservative electorate."
Dr. Layman's book, The Great Divide (Power, Conflict, and Democracy: American Politics into the 21st Century), examines the religious division in party politics. For both parties, religion has become a way to relate to the electorate, he said.
"When such a large percentage of voters believe in God, it's a fairly easy way to connect with voters," Dr. Layman said.
Derek Davis, director of the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies at Baylor University in Waco, said much of the discussion of politics and religion stems from many people's sense that the country is in a moral decline.
More talk about faith
"Many politicians are speaking more about their faith," he said. "Many are genuine, but for some, it's a utilitarian use – they think they can win political points."
Mike Hannesschlager, executive director of the Texas Christian Coalition, said Christians were not using their religion for political gain.
They cannot simply check their faith at the door when setting their political agenda, he said.
"Our faith is where our politics come from," he said.
He also said the Christian Coalition counts a few Democrats as members.
"No party has a monopoly on Christianity," he said.
E-mail cmccain@dallasnews.com