So I went to a Prayer and Praise breakfast a few days ago

[abowsh]

It was hosted by the Indiana Black Caucus. I have to say one thing....it was freaking scary. Everything that they accomplished in life, they gave all credit to God. They prayed that God strike down those that oppose the progress that President Obama has made. They said that "Keeping Jesus in the classroom is keeping our kids on the right path." I made a mention of a Pacers game I attended the night before where two gay men were on the "kiss cam" and the crowd at the Fieldhouse was not happy about it; nor was the group of people around me. There were many disgusted looks on the faces of the people around me.

And it made me wonder....why the hell is the Democratic Party so willing to court these people? All the legislators were Democrats. They made it obvious that religion was their first priority in their legislative agenda, that all law should parallel divine law. I felt like I was at a Republican rally in Tennessee.

I couldn't help but think....this would be totally different if these people were white (I am mixed, but I look completely white).

Does anyone have any thoughts on why devout Christians are treated differently by the parties based on skin color? They were saying many of the same things that usually get people on the left up in arms, but the head of the Democratic Party was there and was nodding in agreement with everything they said.

Has our political system devolved so much that it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you are willing to vote for us, we are cool? After this event, I'm having a hard time believing, at least in Indiana, that issues even matter. It's just about getting elected.

[rfranklin]

1. Do Democrats actually get any votes from this group?

Sounds like they would not.

[Yo_Mama]

5. Yes, probably over 95% n/t

[JHB]

2. Doesn't a "Prayer and Praise Breakfast" self-select for this type?

How do they act outside of that context? Do their votes put reasonably sane (or at least less insane than Republican) people in office?

How much of the "made it obvious" was playing to this particular crowd?

[abowsh]

6. I'm not sure

I was invited at the last minute. There were definitely some people there that I could tell were a bit uncomfortable with the rhetoric, but the majority were fully behind it.

Religious bills don't come up that often, and I think there is a reason for that. Just as there are many very religious people in the Democratic Party, there are many non-religious people in the Republican Party. I think party unity is so strong that they try to avoid issues like this that would potentially divide the parties.

I just felt a bit depressed leaving this event. Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of it was positive. But every few minutes, the speakers would say something that made me think of them as a bigot.

[Lint Head]

3. Being white and attending black churches I have observed that there is a difference how

they socially consider government. I noticed they don't want a theocracy in any way shape or form. The do not want religious fanatics running government and they do not want government running churches. Republicans want theocracy in a big way.

The civil rights movement started in the churches because the idea is that civil rights is a moral issue. Atheists can be moral as well as religious folks cab be immoral.

[asjr]

4. I think it becomes a contest to see who can act more

pious. Either that or it was held in one darn large closet.

[Honeycombe8]

7. I'd say that's an extreme small group and not representative...

of black Democrats or religious Democrats.

I'm white. My best friend is a black woman who is religious. She's "normal" religious, if you know what I mean. She's not like these guys at this meeting you went to.

These guys sound like the evangelical types. They exist. They are not evil. They just have these weird and illegal religious mixed with government beliefs.

I've noticed a trend over the last decade not to accept others with the same goal or viewpoint as you, IF the other people hold even SOME views that are different. There is a lack of toleration of differing viewpoints even among our own. People have different views and beliefs, even among those with a common main goal. That's the way it is. Take these people for what they are, accept that the end goal is the same as your end goal, and accept or ignore the rest (but mention to them the illegality of some of their beliefs).

[Gman]

8. Why would the Democratic Party court "these people"?

Sounds to me like you think the Democratic Party is supposed to be like DU and this is something wrong. I suggest you do a little research into what the Democratic Party is about and who the party is. Who all makes up the party and what are they like. Maybe then compare reality to DU. Sounds to me like you went to a typical Black Caucus event.

[Live and Learn]

9. I think it is representative of the majority of religious groups

A lot of it is because it has been accepted as a sin of the flesh for so long that it hard for people (even those who've been persecuted themselves) to see gays as just another minority.

And using God, gods or religion to smote ones enemies has been a human yearning since we devolved from apes is my guess.

[libtodeath]

10. I dont care what their fairy tale

beliefs are as long as they dont try to tell me I have to agree or put a government in place that does.
If they vote for the democratic party then they are not doing that so that is what matters.

[CJCRANE]

11. This post feels like a 'bouncy'.

Your anecdote may be true but the way you've framed it looks like an attempt to project a typically Republican fault (pandering to religious bigots) onto Democrats.

[Javaman]

12. +1 nt

[abowsh]

13. Not sure what a "bouncy" is, but I assure you it's true

As I mentioned in another post, most of the stuff was positive and I had no issue with it. However, there were a few comments that made me feel like I was sitting in a southern church and it just seemed really odd.

[LibertyLover]

14. Here in Maryland

several black Democratic state legislators as well as black ministers and black church groups are in the forefront of those who want to get our new marriage equality bill repealed via referendum in November. In a recent Washington Post article several of the ministers from churches in Prince George's county were interviewed. One or two said how some of their congregations were telling them that they didn't appreciate the stand the ministers had taken on what many perceived as a civil rights issue - they were deeply wounded by the accusations and kept saying that their stance was ok because it was Bible-based. One even opined that if the bill used some word other than marriage, which was a Bible word (not sure where he got that one), he would be ok with it. The author of the piece mentioned "separate but equal" and the minister indicated he was greatly offended with that linkage. So, yeah, if you vote our way we'll ignore the rest - whether you are black, brown, red, striped or spotted.