Bell criticizes Democrats for not discussing religion

[Judi Lynn]

Sept. 6, 2006, 12:14PM
Bell criticizes Democrats for not discussing religion

Associated Press

GEORGETOWN -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell has criticized his party for not talking about religion and values over the last 25 years, something Republicans have done to build majorities across the country.

"Jesus had the most radical social agenda in the world," Bell said during a campaign stop at Southwestern University on Tuesday. "Why don't Democrats ever invoke that?"

Bell said his Christian faith has in part inspired his political agenda, which includes calling for an increase in the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7 an hour.

"A lot of the issues that are driving this debate as far as I'm concerned come down to questions of morals and values: How are we going to take care of the less fortunate, the more vulnerable individuals in our society?" Bell said after his speech.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4167156.html



Chris Bell

[BlueJazz]

1. Well Chris...maybe it's because most Democrats are aware that...

...we are a country with many diverse Faiths or even none at all.
..and we don't care for smug people that constantly wear their Faith on their shoulder...
..or try to Ram it down other people's throats...

[0007]

23. ....well said

[shortcake]

29. Is that supposed to be Jesus?

If so, it's a nice depiction. Happy Jesus.

[0007]

40. That is Jesus laughing it up.

[Megahurtz]

67. He's laughing at these Fundamentalist Idiots! n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. !

:applause: :applause:

[riona]

42. I'm tired of it too

and don't want to hear any of it from our politicians. What we need is for them to start BEHAVING ethically. All this yammering about their faith hasn't been reflected in their governing. Talk is cheap.

[ladywnch]

73. EXACTLY!

talking about faith doesn't effect change.

I believe all this talk of values and faith is little more than the new US 'trendy' thing to do.....the latest thing, cause better than half of them don't live any of this stuff.....they just talk about it......with full righteous indignation. Their faith doesn't exist much past their lips, so why should we (Dems) waste time talking about something that is a very personal choice like it should be some kind of universal truth. I don't want to hear politicians talking about god or their faith. It ranks right up there with them telling me about their love life or their parenting......I DON"T CARE! It is their personal business. Tell me what you are going to do to make society better through education, health care reforms, environmental reforms. KEEP YOUR RELIGION TO YOURSELF.

[Castilleja]

82. Well, there ya go.

A nice concise answer, right there! :thumbsup:

[bamacrat]

2. BECAUSE RELIGION HAS NO PLACE IN GOVERNMENT.

Look what its gotten us.

[dsc]

19. Yeah abolition and civil rights really sucked

not to mention the progressive reforms of the early 20th century. None of the above would have happened without religious involvement in politics.

[TankLV]

24. You make a very good point - but so does the poster you responded to.

Both are equally valid.

The problem lies in trying to reconcile the two equal truths...

[Irreverend IX]

39. If the Repubs can cynically use religion to get votes, so can we.

The sheep will follow anyone who waves a Bible around, so why not do a little of that in the Bible Belt and tie it into social justice issues? With any luck, we might get some of those Evangelical tongues-speakers more interested in closing the wage gap than exorcising gays.

[SoyCat]

34. Bamacrat, I totally agree.

[VegasWolf]

45. Jeez, any more talk about religion and I'm going to puke. After Bush,

I've heard enough about religion to last me several lifetimes.

[Sherman A1]

3. Religion isn't discussed enough?

Jeepers between Faux News, The GOP and those odd fellows that make up the Christian Right. I think perhaps the Dems need to talk about Government, Social Issues and alike. There is plenty of time on Sunday to discuss religion at whatever services are being attended.

[karynnj]

14. Not to mention what seems to be a Newsweek cover a month!

I really think that there have been more Christian covers in the last 4 year than in the two decades before.

[Sherman A1]

17. Yes, and the page count really seems to have dropped

since early Summer. I doubt if I will resubscribe to it next time around.

[karynnj]

21. I thought that but wasn't sure - I read it mainly on-line

so I dropped our subscription in protest at one point. I saw it in doctors and dentists offices - when I took my kids in. Very thin. I wonder if the religion content will increase further with Meachum.

[clar8130]

4. Nobody will hear Bell anyway

over the noise made by Gov. Hair and Grandma Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn.

[orpupilofnature57]

5. Being part of the state, they promise not to talk about church ,separate.

Being part of a theocracy ,you have to talk about it ,inadvertently showing colors ,showing allegiance to God ,I thinks not.

[GeorgiaDem69]

7. There's nothing preventing a politician

from talking about their personal faith or how their faith influences their values. Some Dems, I think, have lost sight of that fact. Because Dems have been afraid to discuss their faith -- fearing, I think, that it will piss off certain members of the party -- it has been easy for Republicans to paint Dems as faithless or even against people of faith.

A number of past Dems, including Martin Luther King, Jr. (though not an elected politician) and JFK, and some current Dems, including Warner, and I think Obama, haven't been afraid to express their faith.

[orpupilofnature57]

10. Faith and Values are two different things ,like Church and State.

[Exiled in America]

72. You're totally wrong.

I'm sorry but church and state separation is a concept / phrase first used by Jefferson and I believe it was in reference to the interpretation of the establishment clause of the constitution.

The clause says congress shall make no law with regard to the establishment of religion...etc. I agree with what I consider to be the appropriate interpretation, which is that church and state should be separate from our brances of goverment - the legislative branch should not pass laws that establish religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion. The executive branch should be the same, as well as the Judicial branch. What's more, I believe the broader principle of keeping religion private and the government impartial and secular is an excellent principle that should be just as sacred to deeply religious folks as it is to non-religious folks.

Having said that...

There's nothing ANYWHERE saying that being part of the state means you can't TALK about church. This is one of those great examples where people on our side of the fence tend to jump to hyperbole which it comes to what "church and state spearation" actually means.

A candidate running for office is more than FREE to say whatever he wants about his personal faith or not - whether you like it or not. That's part of his or her right under another pretty important part of our constitution - the first amendment.

What you ignore is the fact that while our government shouldn't be able to establish religion or curtail its free exercise, the majority of people in America define themselves as religious. Faith matters to most people - just by the numbers, not saying they're right or wrong. Peoples value systems, even really wonderful progressive people, are often shaped in part by religious views that are deeply important to them.

Taking a fuck off attitude toward the extremely important role that faith plays in most americans (including liberals) lives is a huge mistake, and its also pretty sad. IF (and i'm not saying that they actually do) but IF democrats were literally trying to run away from respect for people of faith, dialoge and engagement with them and an openness and inclusiveness to that part of the broader american dialog - then the democratic party really IS out of touch with mainstream america. And that's a shame.

I don't think that's true yet, though. I think we have ALL been a little shell shocked in the last decade by the take-over of radical fundamentalist extremist religious nutballs in conservative politics. They've driven all more moderate and balanced faith voices underground. I don't believe that the party is unfriendly to religion. But I do think the party is still struggling to find its message, that affirms and respects the faith community and the deeply cherished beliefs held by so many americans while at the same time remains committed to the best ideals of the founders for government and protection against the tyranny of a theocracy.

Democrats talking about religion is not a church-state violation. It's simply identification with a majority of americans. Sure, if you don't have faith then don't fake it! :) But if you do, then its another way to help spread a positive message about the wonderful marriage of faith and progressive ideals, and it provides support and cover for the countless number of progressive religious people who feel under seige by right-wing religous lunatics going LARGELY UNANSWERED by the left.

[HockeyMom]

6. Religion belongs in the heart, not on the Campaign Trail

I am old enough to remember when that was true.

[GeorgiaDem69]

8. There's nothing wrong with discussing your religious views

or lack thereof. If some "born-again Christians" really practiced Christ's teachings (care for the poor, don't invade Iraq unprovoked, etc.), instead of just paying lip-service, we'd have fewer problems today.

[orpupilofnature57]

11. I'm born again ,but My beliefs Shouldn't enter into a conversation about

Facts and figures in relation to government ,and caring for the poor is done mostly by people not running for anything.

[Art_from_Ark]

36. As a Georgia Dem, perhaps you are aware that the last prominent Democrat

to publicly talk about his religion in detail was your own Jimmy Carter-- and look what that did for his Presidency.

[GeorgiaDem69]

60. Well, Carter was just incompetent

[1932]

44. I want to know what's in the heart of the people I elect.

If their progressive politics is in fact motivated by religion, I'd like to know, because I think that that is good because it is not consistent with being motivated by, for example, greed, or a sense of entitlement to rule.

I would have voted for MLK for president for this reason.

[obxhead]

9. LOL $7.00 an hour? What kind of idiot is he. It takes at

least $20.00 an hour to raise a nice Christian family of four with mom staying home to home school the kids and all.

:banghead:

[MrPrax]

22. Bravo!

Jesus told me to tell you that workers are only worth $7.00US an hour. I guess he's the collective bargaining agent for God

:eyes:

[w4rma]

46. Good grief. Twist words often?

Some progressives need to stop going flip out crazy anytime someone talks about religion.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MrPrax]

65. I'll try again...

I don't like you...so I don't care about your opinion on anything...

on edit - yes the above deleted message was mine and it was inelegant...I do apologize to DU, the forum and the MOD ... good call.

[VegasWolf]

71. Hey, I thought you restrained yourself rather nicely.

:toast:

[Guaranteed]

12. Well, we do have real problems to deal with.

Especially now.

If you want to talk about religion, go to church. Or temple. Or mosque.

[daleo]

13. Jesus said "love your enemy"

- "turn the other cheek"
- "don't make a show of praying"
etc.

What American "Christian" politician takes any of that seriously anymore?

[orpupilofnature57]

16. Jimmy Carter is the only one that comes to mind.

[stepnw1f]

15. Take Your Religion

and stick it up your ass!

[onenote]

56. are you suggesting that as a Democratic party slogan?

[Cha]

18. It's all fake with the repukes..

turns me right off. It's not how much you fucking talk about it but how you live your life.

Get a clue.

[Castilleja]

83. I would guess it is mostly fake with both parties

Or at least the mentioning of it while campaigning, or governing for that matter. It seems to be something like an honor badge that one parades around to gain support and to prove you are part of the club. I don't have a particular problem with religion and it's importance in the lives of others, but I am incredibly sick of hearing about it continuously.

[Joey Liberal]

20. Keep church and state separate n/t

[54anickel]

26. No need to Chris. The non-wacky evangelicals are looking to distance

themselves from the right-wingnuts. You just have to be there with honesty, integrity, and with a sincere willingness to have a dialog. Please, we do NOT need to emulate what the Repubs have done. If you're sincere, they will come...just forget about the wacky ones, while they tend to make the most noise, their numbers aren't worth it. We need stories like the ones below to get in the mainstream.


http://www.beliefnet.com/story/187/story_18742_1.html
Why Evangelicals Are Bolting the GOP

snip>

Actually, it's about both—a fight over which party gets to claim the religious mantle. Nationally, and in states like Alabama, the GOP cannot afford to allow Democrats a victory on anything that might be perceived as benefiting people of faith. Republican political dominance depends on being able to manipulate religious supporters with fear, painting the Democratic Party as hostile to religion and in the thrall of secular humanists. That image would take quite a blow if the party of Nancy Pelosi was responsible for bringing back Bible classes—even constitutional ones—to public schools.

The holy skirmish down in Alabama, with its “GOP blocks votes on Bible class bill” headlines, may seem like just a one-time, up-is-down, oddity. But it's really the frontline of a larger war to keep Democrats from appealing to more moderate evangelical voters. American politics is so closely divided that if a political party peels off a few percentage points of a single big constituency, it can change the entire electoral map.

snip>

That's why, insiders say, the word has gone forth from the Republican National Committee to defeat Democratic efforts to reclaim religion. Republicans who disregard the instructions and express support for Democratic efforts are swiftly disciplined. At the University of Alabama, the president of the College Republicans was forced to resign after she endorsed the Bible legislation. A few states away, a Missouri Republican who sponsored a Bible literacy bill came under criticism from conservatives for consulting with Brinson and subsequently denied to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter that he had ever even heard of Brinson. But as for Brinson himself, he's already gone. "Oh, they're ticked at me," he says. "But it's because they're scared. This has the potential to break the Republican coalition."

snip>

The main item of business that day was what to do with Santorum's colleague, the pesky pro-choice Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.). Specter held a crucial position as chair of the Judiciary Committee and had recently outraged this group by telling the press that he would apply "no litmus test" to judicial nominees. Now they wanted him gone, ousted, stripped of power. When, in the midst of escalating rhetoric, Brinson spoke up to suggest that perhaps punishing Specter wasn't the wisest decision, the idea wasn't well received. "That," he says, "was my first inkling that I wasn't one of them." If being a player in this world meant calling for the heads of moderate Republicans and ginning up fake controversies like a supposed "war on Christmas," Brinson wasn't terribly interested.

Not long after, while Brinson was still turning the taste of disillusionment around in his mouth, a Democrat called from Washington. Thinking that "maybe it wouldn't be so bad to talk to these Democratic people," Brinson agreed to come to Washington to sit down with some congressional Democrats. In quick succession, the lifelong Republican found himself meeting with advisers to the incoming Democratic leaders-Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.)-field directors at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and aides to Howard Dean at the Democratic National Committee.

What they found is that their interests overlapped: The Democrats wanted to reach out to evangelicals, and Brinson wanted to connect with politicians who could deliver on a broader array of evangelical concerns, like protecting programs to help the poor, supporting public education, and expanding health care. It had seemed natural for him to start by pressing his own party to take up those concerns, but Democrats appeared to be more willing partners. They even found common ground on abortion when Brinson, who is very pro-life, explained that he was more interested in lowering abortion rates by preventing unwanted pregnancies than in using the issue to score political points.

more...

[w4rma]

47. There is a need. They are looking elsewhere and Dems need to be

there while they are looking rather than turning them away.

[54anickel]

52. I don't believe I said anything about turning them away. Perhaps I

wasn't clear when I wrote: You just have to be there with honesty, integrity, and with a sincere willingness to have a dialog. Please, we do NOT need to emulate what the Repubs have done.

Sincerity is the key, they've been hoodwinked once by the "Pharisee" Republican's making "Christianity" part of their platform. I believe the "non-wack-o" evangelicals are on the look out for that.

Sure, Dems need to over-come the "anti-Christian" label the Repubs managed to pin on them. I think it is better to show that the Dem platform truly addresses the concerns of the poor, the need for justice and equality, stewardship of the earth, real compassion, etc. Things that are common goals - not only between Dems and Christians but all people of good character regardless of their "faith" or belief system.

The article in the OP has a "ME TOO!!!" sound to it. How is that any better than what the Repubs have done for over 20 years? To me, it's not. I know sincerity and politics don't go together, but you cannot truly be all things to all people either. The "big tent" "compassionate conservative" lie of the right wasn't so big and compassionate after all - and people are beginning to catch on to it, it's backfiring.

The Dem platform can, and I believe should, stress what their beliefs have in common with Christianity (and other "faiths" that includes no "faith" at all) without making Christianity the commonality. No "religion" has an exclusive claim on what being a decent, compassionate human being (or nation) is all about.

[w4rma]

54. Dems can't do that without even allowing the subject to come up, however.

"Dems need to over-come the "anti-Christian" label the Repubs managed to pin on them."

Which is why Dems have to be able to talk about this issue if they want to.

[54anickel]

64. I think we are in agreement on the Dems being "allowed" to discuss

the issue if they want. It is this megaphone tactic (as I stated in my first post) that I find distasteful. He is promoting the PARTY take on the "me too" mantra. He's politicizing it and basically "calling out" Dems that might not be as comfortable with the notion. He's using the real dilemma that Dems face, while reinforcing the Repub inflicted stereo-type as "godless" in doing so. All to boost his own poll numbers with Christians.

[w4rma]

78. We are in agreement. (nt)

[shortcake]

27. Bill Clinton talks about religion

and did so all during his presidency.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/6/15/222111.shtml?s=ic

[Telly Savalas]

28. Democrats discuss religion quite a bit.

However these days the focus of such discussions on religion invariably pertain to how other Democrats aren't discussing religion enough. It's starting to get rather tedious.

[54anickel]

30. Agreed, and if they keep it up it's bound to backfire on them as they

start to sound like pious phoneys....GOPers. Why use a megaphone to make this statement to your fellow Dems anyway? Oh yeah, election time and trying to sway a few "religious" votes.

[leesa]

31. Because that's what churches are for.

[Crunchy Frog]

32. What the fuck is it

with Democrats repeating Repuke talking points about their own party?:wtf:

Doesn't this guy have more effective ways of promoting himself than by talking trash about other Democrats? He's not even anywhere near the first Democrat to bring up social issues in the context of Christian values. Probably thinks he invented the wheel too.

[blogslut]

33. I'll be voting for Bell

Just because I'm angnostic, that doesn't mean I am blind to the fact that the majority of voters in my state are not. The man is trying to fight common slams against Democrats such as our supposed "godlessness". Come on folks, this is Texas we're talking about.

[MisterP]

35. yeah! by, uh, reinforcing the attacks

[AnneD]

74. I've heard Chris Bell speak,

and I have met him personally. This is the guy that took on Tom DeLay about the zoning etc when most other DEM'S were pissing in their boots rather than confront DeLay. He has had an uphill fight over our incompetent Gov. Goodhair aka Slick Perry, Carolyn Strayhorn (Scott McClellan's mom), and Kinky Friedman (I love ya Kinky but your a spoiler-shame on you). Chris is decent and has some great ideas and has worked very hard. It is silly to snipe at him over these remarks. This is Texas, and we have lots of folks that go to church and DEM'S have let the GOP co-opted religion and use it against us. Chris had my vote because he was a DEM. But after hearing him speak, and especially after he handled (with tact, thoughtfulness, and respect) some questions about abortion rights from some folks in the audience-I am an enthusiastic supporter.

I have always said how can you be religious, be a Christian and NOT be a flaming liberal. I have gotten into some heated disagreements with some right wing fundies because I can speak their language and throw Bible verses right back at them (usually the quotes written in red!). I don't push religion down anyone's throat, but I don't back away either when it comes to professing my faith. I believe in a separation of church and state, but I am thankful that men and women of faith have been in government and used their faith to guide their decisions. I am thankful, very thankful that my studies in my faith have taught me to know and recognize people of real faith.

[tammywammy]

76. I'll be voting for him too

Bell's a good guy and good for Texas.

I'll be washing my car this weekend (hopefully it doesn't rain again, it always rains when I plan on washing my car), and putting my Bell sticker on.

[kurth]

37. Yes, Chris, "morals and values" are giving the GOP their Third Reich

which is supposed to last 40 years or until November 7th, whichever comes first.

[w4rma]

48. Quit flipping out when you hear a good guy talking about their religion.nt

[DoYouEverWonder]

38. Maybe because people who take their christianity seriously

believe you are supposed to live it, and shouldn't have to talk about it. It should already be obvious.

[moondust]

41. Which religion?

There's a lot of them in the USA. Which minorities do you want to alienate, Chris?

[shadowknows69]

43. What the fuk is there to discuss

we have freedom of religion in this country. Enjoy it and STFU already.

[VegasWolf]

49. Let me guess, this clown's idea of "values" is forcing every woman to

carry unwanted babies and bashing gays.

[blogslut]

53. wrong

Maybe you should read about him instead of assuming things.

Chris became a prime target of the infamous 2003 Republican redistricting effort in the Texas Legislature, and he was defeated in his bid for reelection after his district was redrawn.

Not content to stand idly by and stomach the violation of laws and abuse of power that accompanied the redistricting effort, Chris filed a formal ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in June, 2004, breaking a seven-year "ethics truce" in Congress. Four months later, the House Ethics Committee responded by unanimously admonishing DeLay on two of Chris's charges and leaving a third on the table pending a criminal investigation in Texas...
http://www.chrisbell.com/about

Bells gets 100% rating from both NARAL and Planned Parenthood.
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=MTX52661

[VegasWolf]

62. Well, good for him. I lost any appetite to read further about him after

seeing all the praise jesus stuff. As I said, I was guessing. Seeing Jesus used too many times in a paragraph sets off alarm bells.

[blogslut]

63. okay

I'm voting for him regardless. :)

[VegasWolf]

68. Free the Pony!!!!

:toast:

[blogslut]

75. Please do

:) Tell your friends. :)

[onenote]

57. Let me guess. You don't know squat about the guy and are too lazy

to look it up before spouting off.

[VegasWolf]

61. I said I was guessing, did you miss that genius? I've had enough

religious preaching to last a lifetime.

[CollegeDUer]

50. This my friends is why Friedman is so popular

He can be populist without being polarizing and insulting to his own base.

[Czolgosz]

80. Friedman's 13% support is due to the fact that he tells the audience what

he thinks they want to hear, even if he told a different audience something entirely different.

Here is a sample of Kinky's flip flops from http://stopkinky.blogspot.com/

FLIP: "PRESS RELEASE: Immigration policy Kinky Friedman today said he ... supports a portion of the House bill, which calls for the construction of 700 miles of security fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and which would make illegal immigration a felony."

FLOP: "Friedman said Tuesday that he never called immigrants felons, calling a reporter "full of (expletive)" before apologizing... a spokeswoman said the initial statement was posted erroneously."

.

FLIP: "When I talk about the five Mexican generals, people think I’m joking but I’m dead serious. I will divide the border into five jurisdictions, assigning one Mexican general to each and providing a trust fund for that general. Every time a person crosses illegally, we subtract $5,000 from the trust fund."

FLOP: "QUESTION: Other candidates have laid out policies on illegal immigration, including the use of the National Guard. Are you sticking by your idea of paying Mexican generals to keep would-be illegals on their side of the border? FRIEDMAN: No."

.

FLIP: "My immigration policy is 'Remember the Alamo.'"

FLOP: "Asked about his own strategy for securing the border, Friedman said, 'I'm not sure. I don't have a plan.'"

.

FLIP: "All of these politicians are afraid of offending Hispanics. I want the border off the evening news until we get something resolved."

FLOP: "I want the border on the nightly news every night."

.

FLIP: "Good fences make good neighbors, and, Mr. Fox, help us build that fence."

FLOP: "Kinky believes that the U.S. Senate is on the right track--with a plan that includes limited amnesty for hard-working illegal immigrants."

.

FLIP: "Kinky Friedman on Thursday asked Travis County prosecutors to investigate Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn for possibly misusing state employees to help her campaign."

FLOP: "Kinky Friedman on Saturday disavowed the criminal complaint that his campaign for governor filed against independent rival Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, but Friedman declined to withdraw the complaint or apologize to Strayhorn."

.

FLIP: "I'm not pro-life, and I'm not pro-choice. I'm pro-football."

FLOP: "Should Roe vs. Wade be overturned? Friedman: No. ... Are Texas laws too restrictive for adult women? Would you favor adding new restrictions or repealing current ones? Friedman: I have mixed feelings on parental notification. On the counseling requirement, I'm not sure, but I know the less I talk to social workers, the better. No issue with the public-funding restrictions, but I would want to investigate further."

.

FLIP: "I am not anti-death penalty."

FLOP: "Let's do away with the death penalty."

.

FLIP: "Who did you vote for in 2000? Friedman: I voted for Gore then."

FLOP: "According to Kerr County voting records, Friedman voted in the 2004 presidential general election but not in any other contest since 1994."

.

FLIP: "After your bid for Justice of the Peace in ’86, you said you were leaving 'that worthless tar baby that is politics.'"

FLOP: "Kinky walked up the steps to the Secretary of State's office in Austin and submitted the paperwork necessary to make him a candidate for the office of Governor of Texas."

.

Why can't Kinky make up his mind?

"I've been stoned a lot of times... And I don't regret any of it. I quit doing cocaine," Kinky says, "when Bob Marley fell out of my left nostril.

[JNelson6563]

51. Keep your religion out of my politics!!

And quit assuming we all think just like you.

[54anickel]

81. Keep your politics out of my religion!!

And quit assuming we all pray just like you. :evilgrin:

Sorry Julie, I just couldn't resist! :hi:

Hope the revolution is still going well in your neck of the woods.
:toast: For all you do!!

[lumpy]

55. I have a sneaky feeling there are no

honorable politicians in Texas.

[errorbells]

59. If you want Texas to stay RED! then keep slamming Chris!!!!

I have met the man and he is bright, thoughtful and yes he
believes in God.

This state is overrun with Evangelical-dumb ass-GOP-loving
Christians. He knows it.

There is no God in my world, but I will vote for C. Bell
because we want our state back and he is a big first step.

This is war folks,
and you are fighting on what side?

Send his campaign money if you believe in the Democratic party.
or keep Texas red....
You who don't know him or understand what has happened here
keep this crap up and gloat when he doesn't win.

You will be sorry....
I have been crying for my state for so long .

[Megahurtz]

66. Oh Please!

Isn't this Fundamentalist Shit getting old yet???

[VegasWolf]

69. One would think ...

:toast:

[Megahurtz]

70. Seriously, I'm sick of it too!

If someone wants to act "Christian like", then they should just shut up and be a good example (compassion for the poor etc. etc.) not constantly preach that they are so.

Those types are usually full of hot air and they are such a shitty example that they embarass themselves.

Religion has no place in politics anyway.

[and-justice-for-all]

77. I dont want my elected officals talking about religion....

..its also called SERPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!!

[Solly Mack]

79. mixing religion with politics makes right wingers happy