Liberal Oasis: Bridging The Religion Gap

http://www.liberaloasis.com/archives/081703.htm#082203

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...it’s safe to say that it’s perceived disputes over values that sets the Dems back in rural areas and the South.

(It can’t be because the South hates big government, as they benefit more from federal government largesse than supposedly liberal New York and California.)

And if Dems want to claim stable majority status, it can’t cede an entire section of the country.

So how can Dems bridge the cultural divide?

Creatively, and boldly, step into hot-button controversies, like the current one in Alabama over displaying the 10 Commandments in a government building.

Now, this is generally the last thing politicians want to do, for good reason.

There’s not a lot of room for win-win compromises with polarizing social issues. More than likely, you’re just going piss off a lot of people.

But when you run for President, you get asked about everything, especially what’s on the front pages.
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...such inclusive arguments, on this issue and future ones, may help Dems, over time, reverse the perception that the party is fundamentally antithetical to the core values of the very religious.

As well as mitigate GOP attempts to paint Dems as immoral.

Howard Dean may be the natural candidate to attempt such a bold strategy, as he has similarly tried to position his support for gay civil unions, and has talked of winning over voters who display Confederate flags by finding common ground on health care and education.

But other candidates should consider it, if for no other reason than if they want to steal momentum away from Dean, they need to take some risks and go to where the hot news is.
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that we are antithetical to fanaticism, and while there are many non-rabid voters in those areas, the voices of the rabid are louder and more persistent. People love loud rhetoric, and that's what fundies give 'em.

Intellectual spirituality is on the decline, while fanatical faith is on the upswing, and it's no coincidence.

you all are. We despise them, and they are our nosy neighbors. We wish they would all just shut up, because they are usually ignorant. There is a constituency here for someone to tap into.

of outspoken moderate christians in a given area. The fundies lose their appeal when a church working for the poor and demanding that we help them tells the rich preacher to shut the fuck up.

Why for example do you think fundies stay out of Urban areas? Because that is where the churches that aim to help the homeless and actually do gods work are found.