There are several threads out there right now dealing with evangelicals, Obama's outreach, Jay Fawcett and Fort Dobson. The deabte rages over whether "we should talk to them" - that's the wrong issue.
The issue is Faux News, Rush Limbaugh, HER and others - especially Karl Rove. The concept of monolithic evangelicals is one they desperately want DEMOCRATS to believe. Why?
Because that is their power base. The image of 20 million automatons turning up every other November to pull a single party lever has three appeals to them: one, if they are right, it's really cool for them; and two, if Dems believe the monolith theory, then Repugs don't have to spend time and money on anything except getting them out to vote - saving money for smear ads and other fun stuff; and three, if Dems believe it and don't talk to the evangelicals, there is no reason for the evangelicals to change the behavior.
In Fort Dobson, we see the change. Jay Fawcett, just endorsed by KOS has taken out adds against James Dobson in COLORADO SPRINGS and has gotten positive responses. Anna Lord, whose campaign I work on every day has been talking to all stripes of Republicans in Fort Dobson. You know what their issues are - schools, the environment, the war. Their response to the FMA - why is the government wasting time on that?
Yes, women's choice is an issue - one Anna doesn't back down on but one that is also not as monolithic as Faux News portrays. The evangelicals are ready to listen. Why?
Because in the end, their biggest concern is honesty and trust. They need to understand why Anna believes the way she does, that her choices are grounded in honesty and fairness - nothing more.
You cut off the avenues of communication from the evangelicals and Faux News and Karl Rove win. Are you willing to let them win? Are you afraid to have someone tell you they dislike you - you already think they do. So what do you lose? If five curse you and two listen - you've won. We get 10% of the evangelicals and the map turns blue. Is a little discomfort worth sticking it to Rush? I thought so.
So support people like Jay and Anna - because they feel it is worth the abuse to find the evangelicals that will listen, that aren't like Faux tells us and that can make the difference. Fort Dobson will turn blue and then what lies can Faux and Rove tell then?