The story below is just another example of how democrats seem to still think that they can beat the repuglicans at their own game. When will they learn that you can't 'Out-God' them?

Obama: Democrats must court evangelicals

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent Wed Jun 28, 6:09 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama chastised fellow Democrats on Wednesday for failing to "acknowledge the power of faith in the lives of the American people," and said the party must compete for the support of evangelicals and other churchgoing Americans.

"Not every mention of God in public is a breach to the wall of separation. Context matters," the Illinois Democrat said in remarks to a conference of Call to Renewal, a faith-based movement to overcome poverty.

"It is doubtful that children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance feel oppressed or brainwashed as a consequence of muttering the phrase `under God,'" he said. "Having voluntary student prayer groups using school property to meet should not be a threat, any more than its use by the High School Republicans should threaten Democrats."

Obama, the only black in the Senate, drew national notice even before arriving in Congress last year, and has occasionally used his visibility to scold members of his own party. Widely sought as a fundraiser for other Democrats, Obama responded with a noncommittal laugh this spring when asked whether he wants a spot on the national ticket in 2008.

His speech included unusually personal references to religion, the type of remarks that usually come more readily from Republicans than Democrats.

"Kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side of Chicago, I felt I heard God's spirit beckoning me," he said of his walk down the aisle of the Trinity United Church of Christ. "I submitted myself to his will and dedicated myself to discovering his truth."

2 Comments:

At 6/30/2006 8:59 AM, Eric said...: 'At the same time, he said, "Secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering the public square."'

What!? When you come and ask other to pass a law, fund a group, or limit my rights you had better have a secular purpose. To let religion unduly influence politics is to have an argument where logic and reason are not welcome.

While courting faith groups is a necessary evil in today's society he should not fall victim to the belief that a "faith-based" government is a good thing. I would rather have a smaller government before I would accept government funds going to overtly religious groups to provide public service. If you want to help the community with government funds you must do so under *all* the same requirements as any secular group.

These limits are not some conspiracy to limit the reach of specific religions, but wisdom put into the constitution by our founding fathers in order to prevent the corruption of either religion or politics by the other. Once religious groups start getting funded by the government you are now bound by government regulations that may go against your core beliefs and a) have to stop or get alternate funding b) get funding under *different* rules that allow you to ignore public policy when it conflicts. Neither of these outcomes is a good thing ans we should *not* start down that path.
At 7/29/2006 1:26 AM, Stephen said...: The inevitable truth is our elections are turning into "Who would Jesus vote for?"