"What does it profit a party to gain a demographic but lose its soul?"
Interesting & thought provoking op-ed column on Democrats courting evangelicals by Ruth Marcus.
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.
Just as Republicans have worked, and to some extent succeeded, 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.
Democrats have a shot at luring some of them, but it's a long shot, and one that poses dangerous temptations for the party as it tries to narrow the God gap.
[...]The risk is that, in the process of maneuvering, Democrats' reframing and rebranding could edge into retreating on core principles. It was unsettling to hear Dean -- in the process of cozying up to evangelicals -- mangle the party platform, saying, incorrectly, that it states that "marriage is between a man and a woman." In fact, while deliberately silent on marriage, the platform supports "full inclusion of gay and lesbian families . . . and equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections."
[...] So, by all means, 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?
Word. As a self-described Christian, I'm all about reaching out to religious voters in this country. We need them, and whether they know it or not, they need us too - the GOP surely isn't looking out for their best interests.
But we need to court the centrist religious voters, not the anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-everythingwestandfor demographic. Seeing Dean hang out with Pat Robertson is about the most disturbing thing I can possibly think of.
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.
Just as Republicans have worked, and to some extent succeeded, 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.
Democrats have a shot at luring some of them, but it's a long shot, and one that poses dangerous temptations for the party as it tries to narrow the God gap.
[...]The risk is that, in the process of maneuvering, Democrats' reframing and rebranding could edge into retreating on core principles. It was unsettling to hear Dean -- in the process of cozying up to evangelicals -- mangle the party platform, saying, incorrectly, that it states that "marriage is between a man and a woman." In fact, while deliberately silent on marriage, the platform supports "full inclusion of gay and lesbian families . . . and equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections."
[...] So, by all means, 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?
Word. As a self-described Christian, I'm all about reaching out to religious voters in this country. We need them, and whether they know it or not, they need us too - the GOP surely isn't looking out for their best interests.
But we need to court the centrist religious voters, not the anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-everythingwestandfor demographic. Seeing Dean hang out with Pat Robertson is about the most disturbing thing I can possibly think of.