The 2004 election was, in many ways, the election where the Democratic Party at long last joined the battle that the right wing declared on them decades ago.
Regardless of whether you beleive the post-election spin that is was values, or terrorism, or whatever, that won it for Bush, they key fact of the election is that rural areas are becoming redder, and urban areas are becoming bluer -- and it is the values component that emotionally spearates the two Americas.
As we move toward the 2006 elections, our strategy must be driven by the fact that the GOP is expanding its rural base by convincing those voters to vote against their own self interest.
The GOP wins becuase they play on fear and misinformation to demonize their opponents. They make it a sin to vote for a Democrat -- and for people of deep faith, there is no more powerful arguement. The GOP understands this, and plays on it cynically. We Democrats tend to ignore this entirely, to our own detriment.
However, because they are voting against their own interest, they provide the single greatest opportunity for the Democrats to decisively break the back of the "so-called" GOP majority. To do this, it is critical to the long term interests of the party that Demcrats learn to frame their position on social issues as the "moral" position.
It is time to start taking advantage of the power vested in the Lord God to render judgement upon all creation, and begin pointing out that those who themselves judge are violating the directions of God, and treading on His turf.
It is time to start pointing out that the Democratic platform is the perfect embodiment of the fact that I am my brothers keeper -- in that we want to care for the sick, elderly , and the poor; and that we love all of mandkind, as does God.
We don't need to use their issues, we need to use their language. It is essential to convincing those voters to give us a hearing, and opening large swaths of the country to a progressive message.
Posted at my blog: http://www.ilpundit.blogspot.com