Can Tom Perriello help Democrats find religion in the Trump era?

[rug]

By GRAHAM MOOMAW
Richmond Times-Dispatch
1 hr ago

When an atheist asked Tom Perriello how his Catholicism would affect his approach to governing Virginia and whether he could keep the two separate, the former Democratic congressman answered carefully. Faith, he said, is both “one of the most powerful forces for justice in the world” and a vehicle for “repression and dehumanization.”

“My relationship with my church is complicated,” Perriello told the crowd in a small room at a Richmond LGBT community center in mid-March. “And my faith is complicated.”

Once a leading light of the religious left who made faith-based outreach a key feature of his successful 2008 run for Congress in the conservative 5th District, Perriello’s political comeback bid has focused more on the secular than the sacred.

Summing up his political calling in past campaigns, Perriello often quoted the biblical prophet Micah’s description of what God asks of his followers: “to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” When Perriello talks about what motivated him to make a surprise run for governor and challenge Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam for the Democratic nomination, the story has been a little more ominous. And it starts with the election of President Donald Trump.

http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/can-tom-perriello-help-democrats-find-religion-in-the-trump/article_5e885d96-ec23-5f40-90a2-1806c26a2a29.html

[hrmjustin]

1. I would describe my faith as complicated.

[elleng]

2. No, thanks.

[rug]

4. He's been endorsed by Warren, Sanders, the PCCC and more than 30 staffers from Obama's White House.

What am I missing?

[elleng]

5. I'm not interested in 'finding religion.'

[rug]

7. How do you feel about finding a Democrat in the governor's chair in Richmond?

[elleng]

8. Better than the alternative.

[Dawson Leery]

3. No.

I respect his right to his church so long as he respects my right to be secular.

[rug]

6. Nobody's denying your right to be secular.

Except the republican gubernatorial candidate in Virginia.

[Htom Sirveaux]

9. Abortion is the last retreat for Republicans in search of moral high ground.

That and anti-gay discrimination are all religion means to them. Because somehow, it's ok for them to bring their view of religion on those two issues into government, but issues like caring for the poor are a strictly individual effort that has nothing to do with government. Their real religion is political conservatism, and Jesus is made into a mouthpiece for that.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Only if he concentrates on educating and calling out the media

The Democrats never 'lost' religion, but fishwraps like the Richmond Times-Dispatch encourage the idea that they did with stupid headlines like that. It didn't start with Trump, but that has been the worst example of the media listening to evil wankstains like Trump and Franklin Graham, while ignoring honest religious Democrats such as Hillary Clinton.

In reality, there are loads of religious people in the Democratic party, and always have been. But they don't play the victim the way Republicans do, and they don't use their religion as a way to stir up mistrust and hatred of out-groups. Perriello needs to call out the media when they talk to him.

[rug]

11. "In reality, there are loads of religious people in the Democratic party, and always have been."

Absolutely correct. No one here should forget that.