Senator Barack Obama (Dem-Illinois) says that Democrats must “court evangelicals.”

Sen. Barack Obama chastised fellow Democrats on Wednesday for failing to “acknowledge the power of faith in the lives of the American people,” and said the party must compete for the support of evangelicals and other churchgoing Americans.

“Not every mention of God in public is a breach to the wall of separation. Context matters,” the Illinois Democrat said in remarks to a conference of Call to Renewal, a faith-based movement to overcome poverty.

“It is doubtful that children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance feel oppressed or brainwashed as a consequence of muttering the phrase ‘under God,’ he said. “Having voluntary student prayer groups using school property to meet should not be a threat, any more than its use by the High School Republicans should threaten Democrats.”

Reaction from the modern base of the Democratic Party was swift:

• Bulls***. What a disappointment he has turned out to be.
• Does this really surprise you? Another DLC-blessed “Democrat”.
• a monumental disappointment … this is what a “centrist dem” is and it sucks!
• I tell ya, I am really tired of hearing what the ‘evangelicals’ want and don’t want. A larger, more vicious group of whiners would be difficult to find. It’s not all about them. There are others here who are very offended by the ignorance in the social conservative agenda. What about us?
• Sen. Obama is exactly right. And I think there are too many kneejerk reactions among a few progressives to anything that mentions religion. Religion isn’t going to go away, it’s a *huge* part of too many folks’ lives.
• Agreed…appear as anti-Christian and we will lose, lose, lose. There was a time when the democratic party could count on the support of a substantial portion of so-called evangelicals. They’re not all rabid homophobic anti-choice wingnuts [Ed: No?] . But they become offended very quickly at the suggestion that their faith must be hidden, behind closed doors.
• Religion is the most divisive corrosive institution on this earth. Why not leave religion out of it and enunciate our social justice values. If that fits your religious beliefs fine, if it doesn’t don’t vote for us. We do not need to put a faith based title on this. The progressive Dems represent what Jesus taught in the New Testament. Stick to that and don’t put a label on it.
• Yeah, that’s what we’re missing. Rightwing fanatics. Brilliant.

That thread also includes a plethora of “deleted” comments. Wonder what went on there?

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