The "Joshua Generation" - The Story of Jericho Resonates with South/Evangelicals

[CorpGovActivist]

Obama just proved he can be viable in the South, with that one line.

Moses didn't see "The Promised Land," but his successor - Joshua - completed the struggle.

Southern Evangelicals learn both the Old and New Testament. The ability to speak in that kind of shorthand has been sorely lacking in the Democratic Party since Bill Clinton.

- Dave

P.S. I feel for Hillary's speech writers right now. They've got their work cut out for them.

[lectrobyte]

1. Really? Skeet Ulrich just doesn't seem like a post apocalyptic hero in any

way, shape or form to me. I'm only Southern, though, not Evangelical.

[CorpGovActivist]

2. I Assume You're Pulling My Leg...

... but just in case: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jericho

This is a cultural reference that cuts across many denominations' pulpits in states that Gore didn't carry in 00.

- Dave

[lectrobyte]

3. Yeah, just goofing, I hadn't heard of Obama's speech.

[CorpGovActivist]

6. Phew! Unfortunately, I Meet Many Dems Who Disdain...

... these references, and think it is beneath the party to court the votes of people who go to church every week.

The fact of the matter is, the abdication of the battle for those voters is short-sighted, and fails to tap into a rich vein of progressive thought found in the stories these voters hear from the pulpit each week.

- Dave

[eleny]

4. All I could think was....

Bill Clinton might be wishiing he could be backing Obama right now.

Not a dry eye around here right now, btw.

[CorpGovActivist]

5. I Got Goosebumps...

... and - assuming that his Joshua/Moses references get repeated during the next news cycle - he's going to get a much warmer hearing in purplish border states.

Yeah, I wonder who Bill would be supporting right now if Hillary weren't in the race.

- Dave

[eleny]

8. And he's dealing with education and voting

Uncle Jethro needs to stop watching Sports Center and go register to vote and then vote. And doing well in school isn't a bad thing or "too white". Those got the crowd onto its feet.

Very powerful now talking about "the oppressor in us". Amazing and important stuff.

(Obama inspires while Hillary orates.)

[chimpymustgo]

9. He's speaking the truth. Powerful.

His words cross racial and generational lines.

[CorpGovActivist]

14. The Unofficial Wristwatch Test

I remember being little, and laughing when a sermon was flopping. You could always tell: the deacons - especially the older ones - started checking their wristwatches and huffing out loud.

I wonder what the unofficial wristwatch test would have looked like, if there had been neutral observers at the back of both congregations?

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

12. He Interspersed the Political with the Pulpit...

... quite nicely, I thought.

Hitting the root causes of the things that could prevent "the Jericho Generation" from realizing their/our promise and potential was important.

- Dave

[Island Blue]

7. This is one way to guarantee that this Southern will not be voting for him.

I get a sickening amount of other people's religion hurled at me on a daily basis. If I want more, I'll go to the Baptist church two blocks from my house. I don't want to hear it from my presidential candidates. Sorry. I just don't.

[CorpGovActivist]

10. So What Should Democratic Candidates Talk about When Speaking in Churches?

*puzzled look*

- Dave

[malaise]

11. Very good question

I don't mess with religion but both Obama and Hillary are speaking in churches commemorating Selma today. Clearly they are speaking to church groups. Obama touched more on the serious problems re the next generation and pretty much used Bill Cosby's line. I thought he was very good.

Hilary up now.

[CorpGovActivist]

13. The Context and the Venue Seems Appropriate...

... for those sorts of references.

- Dave

[HardRocker05]

16. i don't know, maybe national political issues. it's a slippery slope when political leaders

start preaching from the pulpit. it inevitably excludes people who are not a member of that religion.

[bobbolink]

20. Dance?

~~gigglesnort~~

[mike_c]

15. I agree-- I'm so sick of the role that religion plays in public life...

...in America. Can a religious christian ever really represent my interests? I wonder.

[malaise]

17. We all wonder but

sadly we are the minority. Still who would you tolerate more - the Quakers or the Virgina or Anglican slaveholders? Clearly I'd take MLK over Falwell.

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. True. It doesn't so a thing for me either but give me that nails on a blackboard feeling

[bobbolink]

19. It was personally inspiring to me. I've felt like giving up, also.

I still think someone else should be sent.

:rofl: