More and More Faith Events Planned at Democratic National Convention

For those of you who are looking forward to even more pandering to evangelicals and so-called "values voters" Barack Obama and the "new" "Democratic" Party, you'll be happy to hear a "Unity-Faith Breakfast" and Interfaith event will open the Convention. This, of course, would be in addition to the daily invocation and benediction. It's all in this press release from the DNCC.

"Senator Obama is a committed Christian, and he believes that people of all faiths have an important place in American life," said Joshua Dubois, Obama For America Director of Religious Affairs. "He's proud to work with the Democratic National Convention Committee on a Convention that fully engages people of faith in dialogue, celebration and prayer. We are honored that so many religious leaders are reaching across partisan and ideological lines in this Convention to address the values that matter to Americans."

The religious leaders promoted to attend these events are not your typical progressive, activist, liberal mainline Protestant pastors one usually finds at progressive political events. The stated goal is to "reach out" to evangelicals. "Each night of the Convention, the official program will begin with an invocation and end with a benediction delivered by a national faith leader or an individual who is active in their local faith community. Among the group selected to deliver these opening and closing prayers are a Republican pastor of a leading Evangelical church in central Florida, a major young Evangelical leader, a nun from a diocese in Cleveland and a Methodist couple, both ordained ministers from Arvada, CO."

Rev. Otis Moss III, the newish pastor at Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, until recently Obama's spiritual home of two decades, will speak at a panel entitled "How an Obama Administration will Engage People of Faith." Moss is the same pastor who invited Chicago's Father Michael Pfleger to deliver that inflammatory, race-baiting sermon that mocked and ridiculed a sitting United States senator. Should be an interesting event and attended by at least several producers of Republican attack ads.

Is the "new" "Democratic" Party sounding more like the Republican Party?

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Some Background ...
Obama, McCain Agree to Forum at Warren's Mega-Church [R20]
Obama Will Expand Bush's Faith-Based Program [R20]
"Pastor Warren, Would You Let a White Supremacist Speak at Your Church?" [R20]
"Christians" Opposed to Obama[R20]
Far-Right Not Interested in Disease [R20]
Far-Right Not Interested in Disease Pt 2[R20]
Obama: Not "Very Christian" to Criticize Gays [R20]
Obama: Hospital Visitation for Gay Couples is "Not a Special Privilege" [R20]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [The Advocate + PDF]
A Tale of Two Cities [The Advocate]
I Have a Dream ... Ticket [The Advocate]

Comments

[TK]

As Obama takes his campaign further and further into Gore and Kerry "centrist = loser" territory I am beginning to despair.

Aravosis and Marshall are complaining today about how the campaign is deflating due to the lack of hard response to McCain's ever-more scurrilous attacks as Obama sweet talks the Christianists and moves ever more to the right, to no avail, according to the polls.

Come on, Obama! Let's see some hard hits against McSame! Give a little red meat to your base, for heaven's sake! Make us care and want to fight for you!

The base and the Democratic congress members are beginning to see the writing on the wall -- I hope your campaign advisors do to before it's too late. The Christianists and Republicans are NEVER going to vote you into office and this seems to be your main battle plan as you kiss their behinds time after time and your poll numbers in their camp never rise a single point while McCain is gaining on you. WTF?

If this is the Obama campaign's battle plan, we are doomed to yet another instance of the Democratic party snatching defeat from the jaws of victory thanks to asinine centrist campaign advisors. Blah.

[Mel Smith]

Obama want their support. But many of those Evangelical 'Christians' will not vote for him because he's a black man.

[Mel Smith]

I agree TK.

[Duwayne]

I for one am very happy about this. I know many Christians are looking forward to an Obama presidency because he is reaching out to a constituency that has not been targeted by the Democratic party since at least 1976 with Jimmy Carter. Go Obama!

[Derrick from Philly]

Duwayne:

I'm hoping you're right (I'm praying that you're right). It may be the smartest move a Democrat has made in years. Not that he'll get many more evangelicals, but he won't be a "boogey man" to them--to galvanize them to come out against him.

The Obama Campaign is not stupid--they had to be prepared for a general election strategy (especially on the issue of race). Let's see what happens at the convention, the vice-presidential choice, and the counter-attack against McCain before we begin the "doomsday" mourning.

[Luther]

And, more and more of a total turnoff to me, as I don't want faith and politics in bed together. But, to be shrewd enough to win, O knows, some of those church hypocrites are going to have to vote for him to win. Even Bush played them for a fool to get a vote.

[Rod Mc]

I'm all for the Democrats and progressives fighting for faith voters and have long said the Dems should not cede faith voters, or any voters, to the GOP. Actually, I was arguing for more progressive Christian voices last year before many of you began supporting Obama.

Now, it's a "smart move" if Obama and the Democrats can re-frame progressive issues with a faith pov, such as war, HIV/AIDS, universal health care, education, gay rights, discrimination, etc. But if they aren't re-framing the issues, only offering nuances and a wink or a nod, then it's simply pandering. Who knows who will be thrown under the bus to get or keep their votes.

It's very perplexing that many Democrats now say it's smart to ape Republican talking points or issues. The Democrats should be contrasting the differences, not offering Republican lite positions. If Republicans or independents want to vote for a Republican, they will vote for McCain.

[the uppity negro]

just as a matter of correction, Rev. Otis Moss III is the current pastor of Trinity UCC and his father is Otis Moss Jr. pastor of a church in Cleveland, Ohio.