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Washington Post - November 27, 2003 A Spiritual Struggle for Democrats By Jim VandeHei The nine Democratic presidential candidates all consider themselves religious, though most keep their faith and spiritual views to themselves when campaigning. Their silence stands in contrast to President Bush, among the most overtly religious presidents in generations, and could undermine the Democratic nominee, as polls consistently show that voters want to hear more about faith from their national leaders. Democrats "have been very hesitant to talk about faith . . . and in doing so we have lost a connection with a lot of people," said Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), an Orthodox Jew and one of only two candidates who frequently talk about God. Long-shot candidate Al Sharpton, an ordained minister, is the other. "Democrats ought to pay attention to the fact that the two Democrats who have been elected president since [Lyndon] Johnson were Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton . . . and both talked a lot about their faith," Lieberman said. In interviews, most of the candidates said they are uncomfortable discussing their faith as publicly as Bush does or Clinton did. Yet most agreed the party must do a better job of connecting with religious voters, or risk not winning the White House in 2004. Voters "want leaders, particularly a president, who they trust and who they think is a good person," said Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), who was baptized a Southern Baptist at age 16 but has joined the Methodist Church. "If you are a person of faith, I think it adds weight to that issue of whether you are a good person." Bush's faith plays a big part in his political strength, pollsters say, as he receives high marks from the public for providing moral and trustworthy leadership. Bush is a born-again Christian who frequently studies the Bible, prays and candidly discusses his faith in God. "If you can connect with people spiritually, that is an important connection," said retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark, a Catholic who frequently attends Presbyterian services. "That's what George Bush tries to do." Clark, in one respect, is trying to emulate Bush: He recently talked in depth about his faith for the ecumenical Web site Beliefnet. An overwhelming majority of Americans consider themselves religious. A recent poll conducted by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that nearly 70 percent of Democrats and 80 percent of Republicans expressed strong religious beliefs when asked questions designed to measure these attitudes. In a recent briefing for national, state and local politicians, the centrist Democratic Leadership Council cited Bush as a model for how to talk about religion without offending voters. The DLC's policy director, Ed Kilgore, told the audience that "natural use of scriptural language and allegories connects with people of faith," and he urged them to "connect policies with religious values." For example, they should talk about "God's green Earth" when advocating environmental policies, he said. Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), a Catholic, said Bush sometimes mixes too much of his religion into his administration's policies. "The faith-based initiative crossed that line overtly," Kerry said. Bush's base includes conservative white Evangelicals, those Christians who, among other things, see abortion and homosexuality as going against the Bible. They have become an increasingly powerful and loyal voting bloc for the GOP over the past two decades and are unlikely to vote for any candidate who does not share their religious and cultural beliefs. Bush is relentless in courting these voters and frequently sprinkles his speeches with references to New Testament teachings. When asked about gay marriage at a news conference, he said, "I caution those who may try to take the speck out of their neighbor's eye when they got a log in their own." To the secular voter, this may sound odd. To Evangelicals and other Christians, it is a reminder straight from the Gospel of Luke to be careful not to judge, lest be judged. Karl Rove, Bush's top political strategist, tends to this flock of voters, meeting with Christian leaders and communicating through Christian publications such as World magazine, which often features interviews with top White House officials. Democrats do not anticipate breaking through to these voters, though even a small shift could make a difference in states such as Tennessee, Virginia and Florida, where a few thousand votes could decide next year's winner. But there are millions of devout Christians, Jews and Muslims who desire a candidate of faith and do not cling as tightly to litmus-test issues such as gay rights and abortion. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16613-2003Nov26.html |