I was prompted, this week, to the new Danforth book Faith in Politics after former Congressman Dr. Bill Roy (D-KS) wrote in his weekly column in the Topeka Cap Journal of the recent take-over between democrats Nancy Boyda and Paul Morrison in KS over conservative Christian incumbents Rep. Jim Ryun and Attorney General Phill Kline.
Dr. Roy asks us
"Surely by now, even casual political observers recognize the Kansas Republican Party -- and the national party -- are totally submissive to evangelicals such as Kline. Even the GOP's never-competitive gubernatorial candidate figured he needed religionist Sen. Susan Wagle on his ticket. Did Democrats also narrowly win nationally because of voters' belated rejection of America's religious party?"
We have seen so many attempts by democrats in the past few years since the 2004 election to appeal to the religious voters who were once working class families that were members of unions or social justice groups, on welfare, worked with the poor and homeless, and generally upheld strong democratic principals of tending to the least of us.
Many have asked this question before: How did Democrats Lose the God Vote?
I wonder to what extent the church crowd has changed and to what extent the democratic party has changed and how the GOP has benefited from both of those changes by capturing ample opportunities.
Lets look at this from a class prospective. Most Evangelical Churches are packed to the walls with pews of working class folks. People, who 50 years ago, would have been in jobs at plants and members of unions – but now are in service jobs, cubicals, entry or middle level positions in modest occupations. Not carrying the metal lunchbox to work the line. Messages in Evangelical Churches are hopeful ones. Promise filled messages that connect well with people in these jobs that help them understand that one day they too will rise up – with faith in God, they can be like the CEO’s of America or if you want this guy:
Is it possible that these people believe so faithfully that they will eventually join the ranks of the business elite that they actually vote like they are already there? Why else would so many primarily poor Evangelicals be in favor of the Estate Tax?
Or is it the ever popular values issues? Gay marriage, abortion, evolution, and slew of sex sex sex issues.
Onward Christian Soldiers.......
Did Democrats win because Republicans made major flubs by taking their Christian supporters for granted ala Phill Kline and the Slimfast Memo? Could that have simply suppressed not only Kline voters but Ryun voters as well (to the tune of 60,000 votes in 2004 vs. 2006) and energized the already determined democratic base?
A strategy developed from Howard Dean at the DNC added to the mix with dozens of new state party workers who were specifically there to coordinate and organize a faith based outreach program in states like Kansas, Mississippi, Georgia, and the like. The faith based outreach programs coordinated for The Common Good to develop messaging campaigns that resulted in coordinated talking points from some of the most successful and notable winners in 2006.
"When the Democratic senatorial candidate in Pennsylvania, Bob Casey stated "When we work together for the common good, we can overcome the great moral dilemmas of our time," In my opinion that is an optimistic message that enjoins all of us to work on the side of morality instead of dividing us." Mary MacElveen
"Former President Clinton is out there trying to reinforce that mood, talking up the joys of "the dynamic center" where political discourse contributes to the common good. Philosophically, he makes great sense." Seattle Post
And Gov. Sebelius at a conference for faithful citizens
"We're here today to talk about leadership and the common good and I'd like to share with you my vision for the kind of moral leadership we need if we are going to continue to move Kansas forward." Speech Text Here
But my personal favorite was said by Howard Dean 2 years ago when he attacked the religious right where it hurt
"The pundits have said that this election was decided on the issue of moral values. I don't believe that. It is a moral value to provide health care. It is a moral value to educate our young people. The sense of community that comes from full participation in our democracy is a moral value. It is a moral value to make sure that we do not leave our own debts to be paid by the next generation. Honesty is a moral value.
If this election had been decided on moral values, Democrats would have won." December 13, 2004
It turns a Democratic mind to wonder – if the fault, dear Brutus, is in ourselves. Is it simply that we have ignored these "morality voters" so long that we’ve not fully developed a way of vocalizing our policy and our positions in ways that both Christian and non-Christian voters can hear.
Senator Hillary Clinton has made headlines for years with her abortion stance Safe, Legal, and Rare.
"I'm also pleased to be talking to people who are on the front lines of increasing women's access to quality health care and reducing unwanted pregnancy -- an issue we should be able to find common ground on with people on the other side of this debate."
And two years ago when I was campaigning at the Mexican Fiesta in Chanute and got my 5th question "What is the stance on Abortion?" I realized that we were all going about this the wrong way.
6 months ago (9 months after Chanute and 30 pages of notes to the DNC later) I had lunch with two friends in Topeka, Kansas. One friend is a very loyal democrat who is a hard-line pro-life catholic who works strongly against the death penalty – the other – another hard nosed pro-choice friend who is a lobbyist for pro-choice legislation.
What I discovered was astonishing.
Here was this long time loyal democrat who didn’t have any idea why both pro-life democrats and pro-choice democrats were exactly the same people. And my lobbyist friend and I realized at that point that we as democrats, as women, and as avidly pro-choice activists had not been speaking a language that our pro-life friends could understand. And in all honesty – no democrats aside from Sen. Clinton have been doing the same – even the interest groups themselves falter so considerably with how they handle the issue of choice and too often concede to the religious right.
And in the end – everyone loses.
So lets return to my original question ...
"to what extent the church crowd has changed and to what extent the democratic party has changed and how the GOP has benefited from both of those changes by capturing ample opportunities."
What is ... all of the above, Alex. IMHO - I think that the working class and the religious crowd has changed. The Catholic church isn't what it once was - filled with social justice Irish and Italian union workers loyal to Dems. Instead people are trading in that Good Old Time Religion for something a little less depressing and something more swanky with graphics, interaction, lasers, lights, and brought to you by Koch Industries. (don't look at me I'm Methodist.. I love my Pipe Organ)
Too - I think Democrats haven't evolved. We're still holding on for dear life after our loss in 1994. And we only win because we point a finger at the other side and say "look - they're screwing up ... and ... and see... we're not them!" With a national democrat at the top of the ticket leading the party our centrist democrats in all these new districts that gained seats ... they're going to lose. Because the national democrats will nominate another white male New Englander who doesn't root for the teams in the heartland. (please note this doesn't, however, make me a Vilsack fan)
So Here's My Solution:
1. Don’t allow a moral issue divide.
This seems fairly simple. But how is it possible that we’ve allowed there to be "pro-choice" and "pro-life" in this country? Is it the old women from the 60’s who still remember the Non-Roe days of women’s health? And can't let go that we now live in a new era??
So – I think I’ve decided it. I think I’m going to be pro-life. Seriously. I am going to say that I’m pro-life because I want to reduce the number of abortions in this country. It’s true. BUT - I refuse to be anti-choice. Most pro-life people are simply anti-choice. Anti's I’m taking back the label pro-life because that’s who we are. And those Anti people on the other side are quite simply anti-choice. And I do, I want to reduce the number of abortions in this country.
And the number one reason that women give for terminating a pregnancy is that they can’t afford it. From the prenatal care, to the tests, to the doctors appointments, to the time off from work for the doctors appointments, and what if she needs special prescriptions to take care of the unexpected, or she develops diabetes while pregnant, and heaven forbid she goes into labor and has to call an ambulance to take her to the hospital, or has to have a cesarean, & is in the hospital for more than a day or two, not to mention taking care of the child after its born with things like immunization or child asthma..........
Let’s be realistic. We want everyone to make enough to make the right decisions. But I live in the real world, I can't afford a BMW SUV and the only people who have any right to dictate the decisions a woman should make are the ones who are going to write the check to pay for it.
And as far as gay marriage is concerned – it’s the same deal. I want everyone to be in a position to make the right decision for their own family. I don’t want someone making that decision for me and neither do you. Clean your own house. Let's label Republicans as the Gladys Kravitz’s of America peaking in windows and crying witch.
2. Working Class doesn’t mean Industry Workers.
I love the union workers. Love them. My dad is one. But let’s face it – most people who are in working class jobs today are doing them in cubes in call centers. How you talk to those voters – what is important to them – is not the same as what is important to a union worker. And to lump every working class person into one voting block just shows how out of touch the Democrats are with working people.
3. Quoting the Bible and talking about Church doesn’t equate a message of faith.
Every time Nancy Pelosi makes some comment like she did after Hoyer was elected Majority Leader.
"As we say in church, let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with us. Let the healing begin."
I want to vomit. It’s not about the Bible and its not about Church... its about faith, the common good, strong morals, solid beliefs, and conviction. All of which build a strong leader. Using vocabulary that takes your own positions and issues and talking about them with conviction, sharing why those are your "beliefs" or your "morals" or how those ideals were taught to you by your parents or what you have faith in (which surprisingly is not always Godly or Biblical) can help people of faith come to candidates in a way that is comfortable for them. And THAT is the goal. To communicate with people in a way that is most effective and most comfortable for the VOTER not for the candidate. Its not about the candidate... its about the voters.
- Dialogue with those who disagree
We saw it with the GOP. Hubris! Pride brought down Sodom and Gomorra, Goliath, and all those souls Noah left behind when he floated away in his ark. Wake up! Talk to those who disagree. Understand them. Preach the Democratic Message to them. And never stop fighting for their political souls. The day we stop listening, dialoguing, and soliciting ideas and opinions it’s the beginning of the end.
I am so afraid that in 2008 we are going to see a slew of the same old people run for President. People who clearly don’t get it. Who read their strategy from a poll. Who don’t dialogue with the regular people – much less step inside a church. The same old white New England rich boys who think that faith based outreach is about saying "bible" or "church" every opportunity they get. Who have no concept of how to talk to these people. Who don’t build coalitions. Who don’t understand the daily lives of a majority of Americans and simply write them off as "not our voters." Please.... help me find a presidential candidate who is NOT this. And help my party wake up.
That’s all I got today. My god (in which ever form is most comfortable to you...) be with you.
Edit: I also recommend that anyone interested go over to Nick Stump's diary that addresses the ever increasing economic wage disparity in this country that also faces the same voters I'm talking about here.