Why I don't make fun of Mormons or Mormonism, or any other religion.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

38. So what?

It's like you're desperately casting about for some excuse to despise people. Trying to find some little known codicil to the "Code of Behavior" to disrespect someone just because they're Baptist. Respecting persons and respecting their beliefs is part of living in a pluralistic society.

And here's the thing. According to the 2008 American Religious Identity Survey, somewhere between 80-85% of Americans identify as holding some type of religious faith. And given the most significant demographic trend in the 21st century is the continuing influx of Latino (read: Catholic) voters, that number isn't going down any time soon and will likely go up.

So as a Democrat, do you want to sit back and take pot-shots that 85% of the electorate and mock their beliefs? Do you want to tell them, "You're fucking stupid, but vote for my candidate anyway?" Good luck with that. And good luck winning elections by actively alienating a sizable majority of the voting public.

That sort of disrespect and dog-whistle politics are EXACTLY the Republicans are pulling minority votes in the upper-single digits. We're supposed to be smarter than they are.

And we're supposed to be better than they are.