The trick for Democrats, Dean said, is to push the debate beyond abortion and gay rights, which he believes are the two biggest issues dividing Democrats from many Evangelicals and Catholics. "The Bible isn't fixated on homosexuality. We shouldn't be either," said Dean, who said he has read the Bible from cover to cover.
Some Democrats think Dean, the top fundraiser in the field, would have a harder time than others defeating Bush in the South because he is so closely affiliated with gay rights, which is replacing abortion as the top target for some religious conservatives. As governor, he signed the nation's first civil unions law. In Houston recently, Dean tested a new line that some Democrats see as offensive to some religious voters he is courting. "We've got to stop voting on guns, gods, gays and school prayer," he told the crowd.
As part of his strategy to broaden his appeal, Dean has started spreading a secular political message at black churches after singing and swaying along with gospel choirs and praying with mostly black congregations.
"Democrats should not write off communities of faith, including Evangelicals," Dean said. If he wins the nomination, Dean said, he will seek "common ground" with Christians on helping the poor get jobs, housing and health insurance.
"Democrats have to tip their hat to religion," said Andrew Kohut of Pew. "But they also have to acknowledge their own base takes a different view on social issues than highly religious voters do. That's the dance they have to do."
Not only were most of the Democrats raised to practice a quiet faith, they also are seeking the nomination of an eclectic party that includes Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, a high percentage of Jews, and a large number of atheists and agnostics. During campaign appearances this year, the party's activists frequently expressed strong feelings about the mixing of church and state, which makes some candidates wary of talking too much about their religious views.
This has left most of the candidates silent on spirituality. Take Edwards. The senator drifted away from religion during his college days but found God in a powerful way after his 16-year-old son, Wade, died in a car accident in 1996. Soon after, Edwards, whose father is a deacon, intensified his study of the Bible, including with his Senate colleagues, and co-chaired a national prayer breakfast. His faith came "roaring back," he said. By his admission, though, he talks about his faith only when asked and is "very, very careful" not to allow his faith to guide his policies. "Most people in this country do not want you to be beating them over their heads with your religious views," Edwards said.
washingtonpost.com |
