Democrats ought to fight fire with fire to woo voters

By Sylvester Brown, St. Louis Post - Dispatch, April 18, 2006

Poor, poor Democrats. Will they ever regain control of the White House, Congress or Senate? Is it possible for states like Missouri to beat back the wave of political dogma that's ushered so many Republicans into state offices? Sometimes I wonder.

The contest is no longer waged on the battlefield of reason and sound ideas. The weapons of the day are emotions and faith. Republicans have mastered the idea that they, and they alone, can save America from evil terrorists and godless liberals who lurk, fangs bared, ready to snatch our freedoms, our lives, our faith.

A resolution by Rep. David Sater, R-Cassville, last month to make Christianity the state's official "majority religion" will no doubt sink. Even though it passed the House Rules Committee, the adverse response was wide and diverse. Still, Sater scored points with Missouri evangelicals and positioned his party as more "religious" than Democrats.

A proposed constitutional amendment advanced by the Missouri House this month might prove more damaging for the Blue-staters of Missouri. House Speaker Pro-Tem Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, sponsored a school-prayer measure to clarify that Missourians have the right "to gather, pray and engage in religious expression." Part of the amendment would ensure public school children's right that "free exercise of religious belief shall not be infringed."

"Faith is under constant attack," Bearden claimed while debating the bill's merits.

While speaking in support of the amendment, Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, gave a personal example of the trials and tribulations confronting Christian children. While attending a school function, Jetton attempted to pray over a meal with his third-grade daughter. The child interrupted, he said, saying, "It was wrong to pray in school."

How is any politically career-minded Dem supposed to rebut Bearden's proposal or address Jetton's ordeal? Sure, they could point out that the Missouri Constitution already protects "freedom of religion" and the "right to worship." I guess they could advise Jetton to simply talk to his daughter instead of dabbling with the constitution. But those arguments would just be used by the GOP to further paint Democrats as anti-Christ politicians who deny children the right to pray in school.

Far-fetched? I think not. Remember last year when conservative politicians, pundits and Christian groups ran around pontificating that Christmas was under attack? Well, the battle cry didn't end after jolly old St. Nick finished his chores. Late last month, radio commentator Rick Scarborough hosted a two-day Washington summit, "War on Christmas and the Values Voters in 2006." The conservative speakers included Alan Keyes, Phyllis Schlafly, Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

The speakers warned about the discrimination and "persecution" of Christians and, according to a March 19 Washington Post article, even defined themselves as the "Jews of the 21st century." They spoke before an attentive audience. The same article pointed out that three-quarters of evangelicals in the U.S. believe they are a "minority under siege."

God help us all. Oh, darn, I forgot. . . . God's hanging with the Red-staters now.

Can Democrats ever turn back the political tide and reclaim the religious crowd? Perhaps, but they might have to fight fire with fire . . . err . . . brimstone with brimstone. Or, in other words, fight back with a faith-based arsenal.

Bearden hopes his school-prayer amendment will win Senate approval in time to be placed on the ballot in November. A faith-based measure will surely draw more evangelicals to the polls. And the Republicans know that.

Democrats can beat this thing, though. They can beat it back with Jesus:

"When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." - Matthew 6:6

Go forth, Blue-staters. Go with Jesus and reclaim thy reward!

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