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Should Democrats Get Religion?
cbs ^ | 11-4-04

Posted on 11/04/2004 9:40:21 AM PST by LouAvul

The Democratic Party's sharp defeat in the 2004 election has already produced a round of soul searching.

The GOP recaptured the White House and strengthened its hold on Congress with powerful support from churchgoers.

Now some in the party are saying that the Democrats need to reach out to these voters with a faith-based appeal.

"I don't hesitate to stand up in a crowd and express how important faith is in my life. It is important to be able to express that in a way that is believable, and Democrats have to get comfortable doing that," Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., told the Washington Post.

Other Democratic politicians and officials echoed her view.

Congressman Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., a former presidential candidate, told the New York Times that Democrats had failed "to speak to our faith, and to relate to people that we share their faith."

President Bush's faith-based appeal resonated in the South and rural and small town communities across the nation. And his opposition to gay marriage positioned him to take advantage of widespread voter opposition to same-sex unions.

According to CBS News exit polls, only 26 percent of all voters supported the idea of legalized gay and lesbian marriages, while 36 percent opposed any legal recognition of gay and lesbian relationships. Among this latter group, Mr. Bush held a greater than 2-to-1 advantage over Democrat John Kerry.

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


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Should dims "get" religion? Aside from the fact the statement itself betrays ignorance, "religion" is insufficient to get one elected. One must hold to the core values of conservative religion.

We have plenty of hypocrites. What attracts us to GW is that he walks what he talks.

To the Rats: get your mind right on abortion. It's murder.

Get your mind right on homosexuality. It is not an acceptable lifestyle.

1 posted on 11/04/2004 9:40:21 AM PST by LouAvul
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To: LouAvul

I would recomend kool aid, not religon.


2 posted on 11/04/2004 9:42:49 AM PST by exnavy
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To: LouAvul
These people can go on and on about their so-called "faith," but everyone knows their piety comes with the same gigantic BUT I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE crap that Kerry spewed. In other words, they are lying to us. They might as well just admit (to themselves first of all) that they are godless atheists.
3 posted on 11/04/2004 9:43:14 AM PST by madprof98
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To: LouAvul

Dems need to at least stop unilaterally supporting gay marriage and abortion if they want the Christian vote. I'm not sure they're capable of doing that


4 posted on 11/04/2004 9:43:22 AM PST by SBOinTX
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To: LouAvul

Yes, but then they'll be Republicans.


5 posted on 11/04/2004 9:43:30 AM PST by nina0113
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To: LouAvul

Liberalism is their religion -- and they are FANATICS.


6 posted on 11/04/2004 9:44:23 AM PST by BenLurkin
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To: LouAvul

Whatever their motives, I think it is a good thing overall. Religious speech is the right of everyone. Motive can be judged and weighed by the people.


7 posted on 11/04/2004 9:47:35 AM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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To: nina0113

You know, it's hard for me, an atheist to not resent this. I'm a Republican, and I'm a Republican because I can see the benefits that Republican policy brings, and I also see wehre Democratic policies fail. To say that if they found religion, it would make them Republican is insulting.


8 posted on 11/04/2004 9:47:49 AM PST by Melas
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To: nina0113

They need to get away from all the Hollywood phonies that have no beliefs and make fun of people that do. I'm sure that there are many Christian democrats, but the party appoints Hollywood non believers for their spokespeople.


9 posted on 11/04/2004 9:47:55 AM PST by dandiegirl
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To: LouAvul

Just heard on Wolf Blitzer's show that 80% of those who voted for the President did so on moral grounds.


10 posted on 11/04/2004 9:48:43 AM PST by discipler
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To: exnavy

Yes, that will stabilize them..


11 posted on 11/04/2004 9:50:54 AM PST by sheik yerbouty
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To: LouAvul

Until the Dem's reject abortion, homosexual marriage, the war that is being waged against Christianity, etc... they will NOT be accepted by the vast majority of Americans.

It's not about religion, it's about faith.

Twice in the last year I have seen the Christian community in this country rise up.

1. The Passion of The Christ
2. This Election.

In fact in some sense the first may have helped to mobilize Christians for the other.


12 posted on 11/04/2004 9:52:25 AM PST by CrazyJoeDivola
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To: LouAvul

Congressman Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., a former presidential candidate, told the New York Times that Democrats had failed "to speak to our faith, and to relate to people that we share their faith."

Same old excuse. "We didn't get our message out". When the truth is, the American people got their message loud and clear, and resoundingly rejected it.


13 posted on 11/04/2004 9:52:38 AM PST by Search4Truth (When a man lies he murders some part of the world.)
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To: LouAvul

The RATS have a religion. Its sacraments are homosexuality, bisexuality, abortion, lying, cheating, stealing, and tolerating all sorts of abominal behavior.


14 posted on 11/04/2004 9:56:48 AM PST by Lunkhead_01
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To: LouAvul

No matter waht label they put on the can, It's the same Crap on the inside.

When you take away the Supernatural, the only thing is the Unnatural! Chesterton.

The Socialist, they are not Democrats Anymore and Progressive is a sham, so let's call them what they are, -- Socialists. The Socialists will never convince any one on the right that a higher level can be reached by Sodomizing each other, the practice of Lesbianism and the teaching of our children that these practices are acceptable and normal.

Neither will they succed in convincing us that the murder of our children leads to this higher plane. For those of you want this, it's time for you to look else where to record your record of domocile. We mean to reset the laws and practices of this country. The laws of Man will be subserviant to the laws of GOD.

If you don't like it, as you have been told many times before, Leave. Leave peacefully, Leave now. You are facing a juggernaught of Godfearing men with the love for our Lord BURNING in our hearts. Know this: Not you or any Islamist piece of crap will ever succed in your quest without killing us all, everyone. The price will be high, but it will be paid, and I will be first.


15 posted on 11/04/2004 9:58:38 AM PST by 26lemoncharlie (Defending America)
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To: LouAvul
Oddly, this is the kind of question that only a liberal would pose. The author apparently believes the "religion" (and I guess he means Christianity) is some kind of monolithic edifice. Traditional Catholic, Disciple of Christ, Primitive Baptist, Confessional Lutheran - they're all the same!

If your religious values inform your decisions, it will show in the results. You can't just throw "religion" over big government or higher taxes like an old rug and expect conservatives to buy it. What a loon.
16 posted on 11/04/2004 10:00:42 AM PST by Gingersnap
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To: LouAvul

Kerry and Edwards have spoken in black churches on numerous occasions during the campaign. Doesn't that count?


17 posted on 11/04/2004 10:01:18 AM PST by randita
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To: LouAvul

Ridiculous lawsuits like the one about the Pledge of Allegiance ("under God") and the decision forcing the judge down south to remove the 10 Commandments from his courtroom also made an impression on Christians that their religious freedom was being threatened.


18 posted on 11/04/2004 10:03:46 AM PST by randita
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To: Melas

Here here.... but do like the rest of us here when the 'religious' folks start in around on FR... let it go in one ear and out the other.


19 posted on 11/04/2004 10:03:53 AM PST by Levy78
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To: LouAvul
I remember that Joe Lieberman said there was no reason that democrats could not get religous people to vote for them. I could think of hundreds of reasons otherwise, firt and foremost the left is not just agnostic, but openly hostile to religion.

I have heard democrats say this week they will "talk about national defense and values" but I can hear the parsing already - "talk" about issues, not actually do anything about it.

20 posted on 11/04/2004 10:05:48 AM PST by KC_Conspirator (I am poster #48)
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