shouLd we bother humoring the cuLtists

[sniffa]

in an effort to get their votes?

[Zenlitened]

1. No, I'd rather see our party engage the millions of eligible voters...

... who currently do not vote.

I'd rather see our party speak in terms of American values, rather than so-called "religious" values.

I'd rather see our party define itself, rather than embrace and attempt to tweak the paradigm established by the right wing.

[Warpy]

4. Same here. Put those working class money issues back on the table

meaning come up with practical answers to rampant and destructive offshoring of the infrastructure, raising wages to a livable level, securing FICA away from Congress's greed, establishing a rational single payer health insurance system, and reversing those egregious tax cuts to fat pigs who don't need them.

Then sit back and watch.

[ultraist]

15. What you said Warpy!

:thumbsup:

The Democratic party needs to return to it's core values: standing up for regular Americans, the working class and lifting people out of poverty. And we must not forget equal rights for all!

[Pushed To The Left]

25. Excellent ideas!

Those would be good issues that could grab working-class voters who might be conservative on social or religious issues. If we stress the importance of these issues in their lives, these voters may decide that health care, a living wage, and protecting jobs are more important to them than social issues that don't really affect them.

[Zynx]

9. Your math does not work

There are not enough non-religious, non-voters in any state to win those states if they and the other non-religious voters are the only supporters of the Democrats.

Especially considering that anything approaching anti-religion positions will drive the overwhelming majority of those moderate Christians who support Democrats - Catholics, mainline Protestants - right to the Republicans.

Like it or not, the Democratic Party MUST appeal on some level to voters who believe in God.

If you have a more narrow definition of "cultist" than "religion in general", that starts to be a plausible strategy.

[ultraist]

17. I don't think the OP is suggesting we shut out religious people

Democrats believe in FREEDOM OF RELIGION and seperation of church and state. Cultists don't.

Democratic core values do not conflict with people's religious beliefs but they do require a seperation of church and state---respect for our Constitution. Repukes are building a theocracy which limits freedom of religion and gives more power to the government. This is the message Dems should get out.

[sniffa]

18. peopLe are mentaLLy deranged

if they vote against their own best interests because of some arbitrary set of guideLines. fuck them. they're not going to vote dem anyhow.

[Zenlitened]

21. Well, I would argue that most voters are not "religious voters"

It's my feeling that a strong message based on American values, rather than a message couched in terms of religion, will have a very broad appeal.

So much so that voters who may have been taken in by the right's empty "religion" talk will respond positively to a more robust message based on notions of equality, opportunity, the checks and balances of government, and other hallmarks of our democracy.

In other words, while we're talking to disenfranshised voters, a certain percentage of the so-called "religious" voters will be listening in and will decide to join with us.

That's a winning strategy, In my view.

[mopaul]

2. not JUST no but FUCK no

fuckem

[randr]

3. Absolutely NOT

And we should stop refering to them as the "Christian Right".
They are not Christian.
They are not Right.
They are, more accurately the "Fundamental Fringe".

[Zenlitened]

22. "Fundamentalist Fringe" I like that!

:toast:

[terrya]

5. If it means us GLBT folks giving up our RIGHT to full equality...

than FUCK NO.

[sniffa]

6. thank you

;)

[Solly Mack]

24. Precisely

Anyone willing to sell me out isn't on my side to begin with...

[Junkdrawer]

7. If they're trying to pass legislation that affects me, they need to expect

that I will push back...

Them: "God says you can't have an abortion!"

Me: "Your 'God' is an anachronism not applicable in my life!"

Them: "How DARE you question MY beliefs!"

Me: :wtf:

[mondo joe]

8. But...but what if we lose one vote for acknowledging cultists

as cultists?

Wouldn't we be better off going full tilt pro cultist? It's not as if our values matter more than that!

[BlueEyedSon]

10. What's up with those uppercase "L"s?

[sniffa]

11. no idea

[BlueEyedSon]

12. i have a used keyboard i can seLL ya.....

[sniffa]

13. sorry

this one is very sentimentaL to me. but thank you for the offer. :D

[chickenscratching]

14. fuckem, fuckem all

pandering and humoring are the lowest form of nastiness.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. I Think It's Much Ado About Nothing

I don't think most of the people of faith offended by the things said at someplace like DU are ever going to pursue liberal policies and initiatives anyway.

I think true, compassionate, people of faith are looking deeper than the petty disagreements over religion or lack thereof.
The Professor

[ultraist]

20. I agree

I also think that "true compassonate people of faith" respect our Constitution and understand that Democratic positions support their endeavors: caring for the most vulnerable in our society, those in poverty, promoting equal rights, and supporting the working classes.

[BigMcLargehuge]

19. No

they have to possess the capacity to separate the good of the people from the good of their relationship with a god in situations where those two things are mutually exclusive. And cultists don't possess this capacity.

[imenja]

23. definitely not! Stick with your Neo-Rovian principles

People of faith are cultist, they are Nazis, they should be banned from DU and the Democratic party more generally. Stick with the principles of political cannibalism. Who needs their votes. 6% of the vote is plenty.


Hail the Neo-Rovian doctrine. Destroy the party and pave the way for permanent Republican rule. The Bush White House media buyout has spread to the web.

[sniffa]

27. i'm gLad we can stop humoring you then

[mopaul]

28. People of faith are cultist, they are Nazis...tsk tsk tsk

what if gary bauer gets ahold of this quote? then we're doomed.

[Az]

26. Advocating reason instead of picking fights with the religious right

Religious fundamentalism fills voids. Where there is silence it will spread.

We may not agree on our beliefs but over the centuries we have developed a means of understanding our society and improving our condition. This is made manifest through reason. Reason has brought us many valuable tools to light our way. But it cannot light the way if no one raises the light for all to see with.

We need champions of reason to speak up and fill the void that other voices seek to dominate. Reason cannot champion itself. We need passionate advocates for it to speak up and defend it.