God's Politics - Jim Wallis blog, faith blog, religion, christian, christianity, politics, values

No doubt there are critics who will dispute Jim's description of the Religious Right as having an overly narrow agenda. Case in point: Witness this dynamic observed by Faith in Public Life's (former Sojourner intern) Dan Nejfelt, live blogging from the FRC Summit on Friday:

Earlier [FRC head Tony] Perkins said "values voters" aren't single issue voters. Brownback - "you're right, I care about two issues." [Okay, that's a paraphrase, but he said it. Those issues are abortion and "restoring decency" to America's culture.]

"Restoring decency" - I guess that's a shorthand way of letting listeners fill in the blank with their favorite cultural boogeyman. But even with that deliberate ambiguity this narrow assertion is surprising given Brownback's outspoken concern for poverty. But, like any good politician, he knows his audience, and when speaking to this crowd, he knows which buttons to push.

Then again, Brownback is dropping out of the race, which may say something about how much appeal either an agenda focused on abortion and "decency" - or one that includes a strong concern for poverty - may have within the Republican party. Discuss.

Ryan Rodrick Beiler is the web editor for Sojourners.

Comments

If anyone would like to consider a third way of looking at the abortion issue,
you might read one of Suzy Smith's books - "The Book of James,"
or "Ghost Writers in the Sky". Real mind openers for seeking and
thoughtful persons.

A minister friend who had the finest and most comprehensive mind and heart of anyone I have ever encountered through the written or spoken word, inside or outside the Church, introduced me to this thinking.
It is like a breath of fresh air. You will not be disappointed.

"New age" is a Biblical term.

Posted by: linda | October 23, 2007 4:39 PM

Then again, Brownback is dropping out of the race, which may say something about how much appeal either an agenda focused on abortion and "decency

I wonder what you will say when Dennis Kuccinch drops out ? Will it say it may something about how much appeal either an agenda focused
on socialism and indecency or one that includes a strong concern for the Rights and Freedoms of ALL Americans .

Posted by: Mick Sheldon | October 24, 2007 2:33 AM

If Kucinic drops out, all it will say is that he didn't have the money to win over the Dems

Posted by: squeaky | October 24, 2007 11:33 AM

Squeaky ,

That was just my point about Brownback .

Posted by: Mick Sheldon | October 24, 2007 4:09 PM

I am having somewhat of a problem. I look at all politicians as dishonest, salesmen and saleswomen related to either used car salesmen or horse dealers. Both of those got real bad press in the past. But what I seem to be reading here far too often is that only Republicans are like that. If you truly believe that, then I have a nice piece of ocean front property for sale for you in Arizona. I am not a Republican, just an independent, and having lived in the South for a long time, I saw some horrible examples in the past of Democrats you would bring home to Momma.
Let us be a bit more open and honest.

Posted by: Arthur Keith | October 27, 2007 12:10 AM

How Many Values Does it Take to Make a Values Voter? (by Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

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