NPR conducted a poll/interview/focus group with rural, GOP-leaning "values voters" about the Foley scandal. The result? They could care less. They don't hold GOP leadership accountable for the cover-up, and they assume that sex scandals are all part of the Washington culture.
One guy brought up a Democratic sex scandal involving pages from the early '70s. Clearly, he's gotten that information from the RWNM.
I think Barack Obama and all the DLC types must be forced to examine this poll. Those red state, rural values voters are not really voting Christian principles, so that we can woo by recasting our policies and philosophy into the language of the Gospels. They are political conservatives who use their "morality" as a pretext, a justification for their voting tendencies.
They are the backbone of the "red team" and they are not going to switch sides because the Democrats come out in favor of school prayer. If the House leadership's protection of an Internet predator is not enough to make a dent in their tribal identity, then mentioning the baby Jesus in your speeches is not going to turn Nebraska into Massachusetts.
The poll did not address the middle, independent minded voters. They will, I think, be effected by this scandal. How much is yet to be seen, and there may be some advantage to reaching out to their religious values. I myself am practicing Episcopalian (gin and tonics are used in the sacrament, heh), and I see the merit of acknowledging the important role religion can have in raising moral questions and offering ethical guidance. Since I returned to church after the birth of my first son, I can honestly say I'm a better person for having gone to church on Sunday and spent a few hours contemplating moral and ethical issues.
But let's stop pandering to the bigots parading as Christians. Jesus was a liberal; point that out, fine. But you're not going to turn Alabama blue.