Obama's outreach to fundamentalists

[quinnox]

is bound to turn off some Democrats, because its the republicans who like to talk about religion and how they are holier than thou.

I'm not sure if this is smart for Obama to reach out to people who most likely will vote republican to begin with. These are by and large people who think Fox news is gospel, and watch people like Hannity religiously.

Maybe Obama should dial back the rhetoric about religion a bit.

[bunnies]

1. And what about Hillary's. Thats ok?

I just dont get the double standard. She actually hired an evangelical to help her woo evangelicals! How is that less offensive?

[quinnox]

2. I don't hear Hillary talking about religion

like Obama is doing. And I don't see her doing religious tours like Obama.

[bunnies]

5. So...

the difference is that she's putting no personal effort into wooing them while Obama, on the other hand, is. They both want those votes and they're both making efforts to get them.

[cuke]

10. Both the baker and the theif are just trying to make a living

so I guess "there's no difference" in how they go about doing so.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. or inviting homo-haters to speak

at her events.

[ClarkUSA]

19. Actually she did have a "faith tour" in SC using a high-profile campaign surrogate.

Obama prefers face-to-face retail campaigning.

[Vincardog]

3. May be Obama should take the same stance JFK took: His religion is a private matter between

him and God. And it will in no way impair his performance as President.

[quinnox]

4. thats good advice

[madrchsod]

6. when did he start talking to fundamentalists?

i thought he was talking to evangelicals but i missed the latest breaking news on obama.

[Clintonista2]

12. When he went on the 700 club.

Unless you don't consider Pat Robertson a fundy?

[madrchsod]

15. well i bet he did`t convert one single 700 club member...

i`ve tried to talk to people who are like these people and as soon as i started explaining my views on christ and his teachings i became the anti-christ. well i give obama credit for going into the lions den but he`d been better setting that one out.

[Clintonista2]

17. I agree

By appearing on that show, Obama has further isolated the GLBT community, as well as women, and athiests/non-Christians. Maybe it would be different if he had appeared on the show to DEBATE the views of Pat Robertson and co., but he did not do that. Sad.

[GodlessBiker]

7. I'm an atheist and I see no problem with talking about religion.

Religion is a very important part of the lives of a great many people. I see no problem with Obama or anyone else talking about it and going to see people who are religious and may disagree with his positions.

If the only people you talk to are the people who already agree with you, then you probably are not going to win many elections.

[Adelante]

8. Well said

I am an atheist also and feel the same way about this.

[cuke]

11. I am not an atheist, and I think a candidate can do too much talking about religion

No one has complained that Obama is talking about religion. It's HOW he's talking about it that is the concern

[Clintonista2]

14. I'm not an atheist either, and I think that what Obama said was way out of line

I have no problem with Obama speaking about his religion. I have a serious problem with him implying that he bases his public policy stances on religion, though.

[ClarkUSA]

21. Um, when did Obama say or imply "that he bases his public policy stances on religion"?

I'd like to have links and see quotes in context, not more opinions based on Clintonian partisan bias.

[ClarkUSA]

20. Ditto.

What GodlessBiker and WesDem said. :toast:

[RufusEarl]

9. The POTUS must be that to all americans,

No matter their beliefs, are lack there of.

Peace!

[geek tragedy]

13. Clinton's politics of polarization and 50% +1 is much better. n/t

[Perky]

23. Yep 4 more years of this crap is what the nation really needs.

Obama is CHange; Hillary is more of the same.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

18. It's a con-game that benefits no one but Barack Obama.

If Obama actually believes any of this stuff that's even worse, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and merely accept that he is the most cynical and fraudulent national candidate I've ever seen in this party.

[Perky]

22. O for the Love of GOD...He is not reaching out to fundamanenmtalists

He is reaching out to evangelicals. Fundies will never vote for A democrat... It is against their genetic disposition. Evangelicals are a very different thing. THere are Black evangelicals; there are green evangelicals....there are thoussand of young white evangelicals, disaffected by years of sexual scandals by preachers and politicians and are not disposed to fighting culture wars. Maybe they are not everyone's idea of a good liberal democrat but if they are willing to listen to what he has to say...there is no reason at all not to talk to them particualrly if he does so in genuiness rather than the platitudes the RW has been feeding the faithful since 1980.

We got 38 to 40% of the evangelical vote in the midterms. Pushing that number to 43 to 45% might win a southern state if Rudy or Mitt is the GOP standard bearer.

[HamdenRice]

24. Great point!

Very, very few people without a religious background understand the difference between evangelicals and fundamentalists.

Just to remind everyone: Martin Luther King was from an evangelical denomination.

[riqster]

25. If he'd just apologize for the McClurkin debacle

...and include the GLBT community in his outreach, I'd be OK with it.

This whole thing came about becasue of one stupid mistake and his refusal to admit it and make amends. The man's a rookie in the majors, no matter what he did in the minors. Obama isn't ready.

BTW-I am neither G, B, L, T, F or E - I am interested in having a president who won't step on the crank.