Former Democratic National Committee chairman David Wilhelm, a former top aide to Bill Clinton, has launched a new website designed "to rally Christian Democrats and attract socially moderate evangelicals," according to USA Today.
Faithful Democrats state that:
We are an online community of Christian Democrats - religious leaders, political leaders, writers, and regular Americans who are committed to the Gospel and the common good. We discuss, we debate, we take action. And we will make our voices heard in the 2006 election season and beyond.
We don't believe that good Christians have to be Democrats. Nor do we believe that one religion has a monopoly on faith. But we make no apologies for rooting our identity as Democrats in our faith as Christians. That is who we are. And we are eager to act on our beliefs to make the country we love a more just and compassionate place.
Most of the time I have some sort of advance notice when projects like this get started - but not this time (though they are linking to my site).
I'll be interested to keep track of the site and the causes it advances. I appreciate their very appropriate declaration that "we don't believe that good Christians have to be Democrats. Nor do we believe that one religion has a monopoly on faith." I agree. But I also agree that Democrats need to openly proclaim their faith - not to misuse faith for political gain - but to speak in a language that most Americans understand. Democrats will do a better job of connecting with voters when they reject the language of policy wonks in favor of arguments born in our town halls, churches, and temples.
