Dems Must Find a Way to Embrace Faith On the Campaign Trail

All of the attention this week has been focused on the two presidential debates that took place in New Hampshire, but perhaps the most substantive forum was that held by Sojourners/Call to Renewal at George Washington University.

Moderated by CNN's Soledad O'Brien, the non-debate — more of a discussion — featured the three leading Democratic presidential candidates, Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and former Sen. John Edwards. It would have been much better to have that group expanded to include the other candidates, but the drawback to speaking to eight candidates — 10 in the case of the Republicans — would have made it unwieldy.

But to hear each candidate speak for 15 minutes on a variety of issues was a blessing in that we weren't forced to endure some of the silly bells, whistles and 60- and 30-second responses that we have come to expect.

O'Brien asked the candidates a variety of questions that have been typical in the debates — about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, the war in Iraq and gays in the military — but to hear the three speak to issues of faith was important because many believe it will be a defining issue of this campaign.

Ever since the Rev. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority kick-started its focus on politics in 1979, and was followed by the Rev. Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition, and now James Dobson's Focus on the Family, the religious right has dominated the evangelical political landscape, which has mostly been a debate about abortion and homosexuality.

And while GOP members embraced Jesus about as much as they wrapped themselves in the U.S. flag, Democrats treated evangelicals as if they were lepers, isolating them as nutty Christians hell-bent on destroying the nation.

In fact, during a post-discussion on CNN's "Paula Zahn Now," Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., essentially said Democrats acted more "agnostic" than understanding on matters of faith.

Yet it was refreshing to see Clinton, the most guarded of all the candidates, take the mask off and share more of herself with the public.

Either she's one heck of an actress or she was really genuine as she discussed her faith and how it helped her get through her husband's affair with Monica Lewinsky.

Edwards did a good job dancing around the gays in the military question during Sunday's debate, but O'Brien forced him to further explain his position, which was vital to better understanding what he meant. Sitting across from the person asking the question — and being the only one on the stage — makes it tough to avoid it. Even that grin of his gave it all away. He knew he couldn't escape it this time.

When the forum's organizer, Jim Wallis, asked Obama about how to deal with poverty in America, the candidate gave him a detailed answer, although he went on way too long. His answer was about seven minutes, taking up nearly half of his allotted time. But at least he raised the point about providing education opportunities for inmates, helping women with pre-natal care and increasing the minimum wage.

As Wallis even mentioned, poverty didn't come up during the Dems' Sunday debate. And it should have.

What these three candidates — along with the other five — must do is not treat the issue of faith as if it is a side issue. The reality is that for some, faith is a part of who they are. But for many, it's the essence of who they are. Edwards, Clinton and Obama showed their humanity by allowing a peek into their views on the issue, and that's a good thing.

Democrats can do themselves a huge favor by casting many of our domestic issues within a faith and/or moral prism. When it becomes ideological, it's easy to dismiss what they say as rhetoric. But by making it personal, and connecting it with the religious teachings many of us have grown up with, then it can cause a certain level of discomfort and introspection.

Or as the Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III of Dallas would say, they need to "bowl down your alley and sit in your pew."

Roland S. Martin is a CNN contributor and a talk-show host for WVON-AM in Chicago. Please visit his Web site at www.rolandsmartin.com. To find out more about Roland Martin and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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