Does the DNC think that America will have a secular majority soon?

[true_notes]

That's the vibe I'm getting after reading the article on Dr. Dean saying the pugs are a "white christian party". To me, the doc's harsh criticism of the pugs is going to turn the thumpers off of the Democratic Party and stay with the Republican party, only through their propaganda machine.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Howard Dean IS doing our party good by puting our agenda and his heart on the party's sleeve, but I fail to realize how this is going to draw a majority, when the majority of voters are those avid church going Republicans. Can someone shed light on my young political inhibitions?

[sniffa]

1. um

Let them go. they're not the majority, regardLess of the present poLiticaL make up.

[ken-in-seattle]

8. Sadly they are the majority

and with the help of the Catholic church and home schooled evangelicals there will be more of them soon.

"So let us be blunt about it: We must use the doctrine of religious liberty to gain independence for Christian schools until we train up a generation of people who know that there is no religious neutrality, no neutral law, no neutral education, and no neutral civil government. Then they will be get busy in constructing a Bible-based social, political and religious order which finally denies the religious liberty of the enemies of God."
--Gary North, "The Intellectual Schizophrenia of the New Christian Right" in Christianity and Civilization: The Failure of the American Baptist Culture, No. 1 (Spring, 1982), p. 25

[GodHelpUsAll2]

15. No...... they are not

They may be the majority of the HALF that actually vote. But you can not claim a majority when you are 50% of 50%

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Dean's message

has been distorted, I think. While saying the GOP is made up of mostly "White Christians", Dean also mentioned that he is a White Christian-the implication that the Democratic Party includes everyone, of all colors and faiths, and not just Christians. I think progressives and Democrats who are Christians (and I know a few) aren't going to be turned off by Dean's rhetoric. They know what kind of "Christian" Dean was referring to when he talked about the GOP kind.

[longship]

3. They will definitely come, Ray.

Dr. Dean knew what he was saying, and most people of the ilk the Dems want to court knew what he was saying, too. Moderate Repugs probably don't like the neocons any more than we do.

If Dean builds it, they will come.

Have faith. I do.

[downwitbush]

4. actually

a majority of Americans ARE christians, despite what we want to believe. Thus, Dean may be actually hurting the party saying that. I live for the day the Dems come back to power, but this certainly won't help it. I know many Democrat christians (I am in fact one) and Dean's comments made them and me feel like we don't belong in the Democrat party.
...
I'm not tryin to sound republican here because i'm not.

[longship]

Actually, Dean's comments were more nuanced.

And maybe he should have qualified himself. We all know the kind of christian he was talking about. And we all know that what Dean meant was that the Repugs are intent on turning into a evangelical, biblical literalist party.

I think most people understand that Dean's words were not to be interpreted literally.

[downwitbush]

9. true

however, i know a bunch of people who were put off by what Dean said.
Or more correctly, by what the media said Dean said.

[GodHelpUsAll2]

14. I boggles my mind

at how people can still take what the media says at face value and accept it as fact.

I believe that people tend to "trust" the media as long as it is something they agree with. But when it's not, whoa nelly they are on the media bashing band wagon. Until the next little tid bit they agree with comes along then suddenly the media is credible again.

[downwitbush]

16. hm

its the sad truth; free press is only credible when you agree with it...

[GodHelpUsAll2]

12. What's all the fuss

and hurt feeling about? How on earth could saying the Republicans Party is the party of white christians make you feel like you don't belong in the democrat party?

I don't get it. I really don't. If he had said the Republican Party is the party of child molesting, drunken mother *$%&$# sexually frustrated people who are ugly as sin and dress like geeks I might could understand a little better. Not that I would disagree or even protest the comment, but I might understand.

Remember the Volvo Driving, NYT reading latte drinking blah blah blah commercial? Dick Cheney's Go Fuck Yourself", Or how about some of Santorum's nice little comments? Need I go on?

WHAT THE HELL!

[downwitbush]

17. maybe i should clarify

i wasn't talking about myself; I am talking about all the people i know who were put off by that comment. You know how it is with republicans; when they say it its no big deal but when a dem says it its a scandal.

I'm just saying that some moderate republican christians may have been slightly offended.

Sorry i wasn't specific

[aquart]

5. It makes admitting to be Republican an embarrassment.

Something a white Christian has to explain, as in, "Yes, I'm Republican, but some of my best friends are Jews."

[Toots]

6. Ummm being called a "white christian" is harsh criticism?

If you don't like what Dean has to say don't listen but he is getting many people curious to hear what he has to say. He always speaks the truth so I feel more will hear the truth by listening to him than they are currently hearing. Dean is attracting attention and what we need is attention attracted our way. Dean is a powerful speaker and those that listen to him come away better for it.

[true_notes]

20. I understand this

and I listen to Dean. I wasn't implying that calling pugs white christians is harsh, but you cannot deny that Dean has blood in his nose for the republican party!

[slay]

7. Religious idiots and religious intelligent people are not the same

Howard Dean said that he too is a white christian. The fact that people consider "white christian" to be an insult just shows how badly the Republican Party has damaged the image behind the words "white christian" IMO.

[downwitbush]

10. yes

think about it; all we see when we think of white christian is the religious nut; thats not the image i want to see...

[Book Lover]

11. Political sentiment in this country is not Dem/Repub

It's Dem/Repub/Don't Care/Third Party. Real repubs are not going to become Democrats ever, so why chase them? The winning course of action is to talk not to repubs but to the registered voters who didn't vote last November.

[GodHelpUsAll2]

13. BINGO!

[downwitbush]

18. huh

i used to be republican but i went to democrat; i see your point though

I wouldnt abandon the republicans however; some can still see the light.

[Book Lover]

19. I understand what you're saying

And yes, I made a very broad statement. But I think in terms of effective political strategies, if Dem party leadership focuses party efforts on changing the minds of the "don't care middle," we'll get a better return on that investment than if party leadership tries to convert Repubs.

[downwitbush]

21. i get it

number one priority is i think, however, to get ridda Nader. Thatll get us 5% more of the vote and with that we coulda beat bush. Arghhhhh stupid Nader.

[slay]

22. I would say number one priority is to

stop letting the Republicans steal elections. It's pretty simple when the Dems don't even care if our votes are counted. President Gore, President Kerry - yall was robbed!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. The truth often fails to be a majority opinion.

But, the Republicans, by aligning themselves with the radical clerics, are ensuring that a backlash will occur. Dean is ahead of the curve.

Now, he needs to speak out about the illegal war/occupation and call for immediate withdrawal despite the pablum wing Democrats timidity.