Democrats Win on Faith

One of the most significant revelations to emerge from the 2006
election is the Democrats’ enormous success with faith-based outreach. Democrats
who were willing to share their faith with voters consistently exceeded
expectations. Lost causes became close races. Close races became solid victories. 
Solid victories became landslides.

RELIGIOUS OUTREACH BY DEMOCRATS TRUMPS REPUBLICAN VALUES-SPEAK

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D(["mb","Statement by Jesse Lava, Executive Director of FaithfulDemocrats.com:

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One of the most significant revelations to emerge from the 2006nelection is the Democrats’ enormous success with faith-based outreach. Democratsnwho were willing to share their faith with voters consistently exceedednexpectations. Lost causes became close races. Close races became solid victories. nSolid victories became landslides.

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Bob Casey Jr. in Pennsylvania, TednStrickland in Ohio, and Harold Ford Jr. in Tennessee — somenof the most devout and faith-friendly candidates this campaign season —nare cases in point. Even in a political climate that was destined to be hard onnRepublicans, the Casey race was supposed to be a nail-biter; it wasn’t. nThe Strickland race was never expected to be a blowout; it was. Ford’sncandidacy was dismissed as quixotic; though we don’t know the outcome ofnhis race as of this writing, Ford made his race competitive and proved thenpundits wrong.

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Why? Because these candidates, among others, showcased their religiousnconvictions instead of hiding them — using moral and, indeed, biblicalnlanguage to communicate their values. This approach resonated with church-goingnAmericans of all denominations, from the traditional black base to conservativenwhite evangelicals — thereby trumping the values rhetoric thatnRepublicans usually expect to be their saving grace.

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//–>Statement by Jesse Lava, Executive Director of FaithfulDemocrats.com:

One of the most significant revelations to emerge from the 2006
election is the Democrats’ enormous success with faith-based outreach. Democrats
who were willing to share their faith with voters consistently exceeded
expectations. Lost causes became close races. Close races became solid victories. 
Solid victories became landslides.

Bob Casey Jr. in Pennsylvania, Ted
Strickland in Ohio, and Harold Ford Jr. in Tennessee — some
of the most devout and faith-friendly candidates this campaign season —
are cases in point. Even in a political climate that was destined to be hard on
Republicans, the Casey race was supposed to be a nail-biter; it wasn’t. 
The Strickland race was never expected to be a blowout; it was. Ford’s
candidacy was dismissed as quixotic; though we don’t know the outcome of
his race as of this writing, Ford made his race competitive and proved the
pundits wrong.

Why?  Because these candidates, among others, showcased their religious
convictions instead of hiding them — using moral and, indeed, biblical
language to communicate their values. This approach resonated with church-going
Americans of all denominations, from the traditional black base to conservative
white evangelicals — thereby trumping the values rhetoric that
Republicans usually expect to be their saving grace.

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As a result of such efforts — along with the work of leaders likenBarack Obama and the emergence of new organizations like ours — thenconversation in this country is changing. Republicans are no longer assumed tonbe the party of faith and values. Indeed, their recent litany of scandals,nabuses of power, and acts of corruption have laid bare the hypocrisy ofnRepublican values-speak.

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But even more importantly, Democrats are starting to provide a positivenalternative. A million flowers are blooming showing how Democrats can engagenthe faithful in a way that is genuine, respectful, and effective.

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Our party now has an opportunity to build on this success and solidifynthe trust of millions of devout Americans. To that end, we must continue tonappeal directly to religious voters and emphasize the moral values that informnwho we are — not the Republicans’ moral values, but our moral values: justice, opportunity,nand the common good. This approach is a winner both strategically and morally. nAnd we at FaithfulDemocrats.com are proud to have contributed to its success inn2006.

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As a result of such efforts — along with the work of leaders like
Barack Obama and the emergence of new organizations like ours — the
conversation in this country is changing. Republicans are no longer assumed to
be the party of faith and values.  Indeed, their recent litany of scandals,
abuses of power, and acts of corruption have laid bare the hypocrisy of
Republican values-speak. 

But even more importantly, Democrats are starting to provide a positive
alternative. A million flowers are blooming showing how Democrats can engage
the faithful in a way that is genuine, respectful, and effective.

Our party now has an opportunity to build on this success and solidify
the trust of millions of devout Americans. To that end, we must continue to
appeal directly to religious voters and emphasize the moral values that inform
who we are — not the Republicans’ moral values, but our moral values: justice, opportunity,
and the common good. This approach is a winner both strategically and morally. 
And we at FaithfulDemocrats.com are proud to have contributed to its success in
2006.