I came across a great blog this week talking about how the democratic party can't be a "godless" party because part of its "base" includes African American Evangelicals and Latino Catholics. You can read the article here. In addition to that, Barak Obama wrote a great editorial in the USA Today about his philosophy on how religion and politics should co-exist.

Before I get into this. I have expressed many times on my post and on the radio show that Jesus was not a Republican. I have a strong distaste for what James Dobson and the Christian Colliation have done in the political arena, not because I necessarily disagree with their political stances on some issues, but because I don't like the idea that largley due to them, "Jesus' political party is the Republican party." But I digress.

Jesus' values are represented in both political parties. Republicans have it right on abortion, where as Democrats have it right on civil rights, helping the poor, etc...I have yet to find a political candidate that was a true emobdiement of Jesus, and that's ok, because I probably wouldn't be either.

But here is why the Democrats will never develop the "Religious Left." Just like the blog posted above, I will acknowledge that Democrats have a strong religious base. But the difference between the Republicans and Democrats is the candidates, not their bases. Bush/Kerry was a prime example of this in '04. When asked what role religion played in their lives, Bush confidently (although he could have been lying) said that religion was a very important part of his personal life and his political decisions. Kerry on the other hand bumbled around the question, trying not to offend, which in the end basically sent the message that yeah I go to church from time to time (like most Americans), but my faith essentially stays at the door (like most Americans). It didn't matter if his voting populous was religious (which it was), he portrayed his candidacy and his party as being fairly "non-religious."

Now this is far from the truth, as many democrats have some of the strongest faith in Jesus Christ I know. However, as as long as the Democratic party keeps putting up PC, namby-pamby candidates that won't admit faith is an active part of their life, then it will be hard for the "religious" voting populous to get behind them. Now many out there might say, fine, we don't want to be a religious political party, and I totally understand that sentiment. But if that is the case, then don't complain about all the religious voters not joining the "Religious Left."