June 07, 2005

A Wallis Quote Transmogrified, Reclaiming Democrats

I have been reading God's Politics by Jim Wallis recently.  I came across the following passage:

The root of the terror attacks is not a yearning for economic justice for the poor and oppressed of the world.  It is motivated rather by the ambition of a perverted religious fundamentalism for regional and global power; one that rejects the values of liberty, equality, democracy, and human rights.


What struck me is how this quote could be slightly changed to describe the Republican party here in America.

The root of the Republican law making is not a yearning for economic justice for the poor and oppressed of the world.  It is motivated rather by the ambition of a perverted religious fundamentalism for regional and global power; one that rejects the values of liberty, equality, democracy, and human rights.

This weekend I heard two young politicos bemoaning that if we could just get the facts out there, people would vote for Democrats.  I am no longer under the illusion that this will sway the voters.  I believe there is only 6% of the population that is not dedicated to one party or another, and perhaps only 1% of these actually make up their minds based on hard facts.  


However, I am left to wonder if there exists a large population of former Democrats that could be wooed back to the light.  In other words, can we move people from the hardcore Republican group into the hardcore Democratic group?  I think we can, and you might be surprised who they are.


Jim Wallis and the left-wing evangelical movement is sloughing off support from the radical right-wing evangelicals, which is where many of our former Democrats have fallen.  There is a core of evangelicals that are not just serving their immoral, earthly masters (Dobson), but whom are focused on the common good.  These people are the ones who are reachable, that care about what Christianity actually speaks to, compassion and caring for our fellow man.  Not same-sex marriage.  


This wing of our party could end up being a major factor in winning the next election.  But, just as importantly, it provides us with insights on how to win back voters that have become dissatisfied with the Democratic Party.  Impossible?  In a day and age when the war and House Ethics rules are being denounced by North Carolina's own Freedom Freak Walter Jones, anything is possible.

1 comment:

Chuck said...

Hi buddy!

Very happy to see you back in action! :)