Democrats' religious coordinator resigns after criticism of her political

[Kadie]

Democrats' religious coordinator resigns after criticism of her political views

Friday, August 6, 2004


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(08-06) 10:59 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

The director of religious outreach for the Democratic Party says she resigned this week because of criticism over her support for removing the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Democratic National Committee is seeking a replacement for the Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson, who resigned Wednesday after serving less than two weeks in the newly created position. DNC spokesman Jano Cabrera said the party had nothing more to add to her resignation statement.

The Catholic League, a conservative anti-defamation group based in New York, criticized the political views of Peterson, an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), in three statements issued over the first three days of the week.

On Wednesday, Peterson resigned and cited "recent negative publicity" from the amicus brief in the pledge case that she and 31 other members of the clergy signed.


more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/08/06/politics1359EDT0614.DTL

[madfloridian]

1. Did only the Catholic League get critical?

She resigned rather than be a right wing target. Let's see, now....we must not give them ammunition?

Ok, I see.

[bobbieinok]

4. was being criticized on religious right news programs

as 'see how fake the democrats are about religion; they have a spokesperson, but she is extremely liberal theologically.'

In conservative, fundamentalist, pentecostal circles..... to call someone/some idea 'theologically liberal' is the kiss of death.

[bobbieinok]

2. campaign should decide what image they want, check out the

candidates, and then NOT CAVE IN TO THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT.

It seems to me the campaign made a mistake picking her; presumably her stance on 'under God' was known to them. It just provided red meat for the ravening right.

Someone, maybe from Sojourner Magazine, ought to be advising them. Someone who understands conservative christians.

I'm NOT saying pick a conservative christian; but, good grief, get someone who can help pick someone who is not completely 'in your face.'

[ibegurpard]

3. Really

Let's just let the Republicans make all of our decisions for us, shall we?

[Democat]

5. Democrats allow Republicans to pick our leaders

Great work, par for the course.

We allow right wingers to make the rules for them and for us.

[sangh0]

6. And all this time I thought

it was the Dem primary voters who picked Kerry

[Democat]

7. A right wing group got her removed

When is the last time a Republican allowed a liberal group to help pick their leaders?

[sangh0]

8. Since when is Kerry's religious advisor

a "party leader"?

Your posts are filled with hyperbole. You have no reasonable argument to make, so you have to hyperventilate about the rw "picking our leaders" and "making rules"

[madfloridian]

9. This is allowing the RNC to set our agenda. To take away our ideas.

Why should she not be allowed her own thoughts. Go ahead and jump on me, but this is just plain sad.

The DNC should have stood up for her and her right to have her own thoughts.

[sangh0]

10. Repeating something doesn't make it true

The Dems have the same ideas they did before this religious coordinator was even hired, and the coordinator still has her own thoughts. No need to get hysterical about it.

[madfloridian]

11. It is my party, too. I do feel the need to speak out on it.

They should not have let her resign.

[sangh0]

12. So speak

You have the right to say whatever you want, but that doesn't make it right to say things that are not true.

[Cheswick2.0]

13. WTF? Back off

MF was stating her opinion not stating facts. You're just speaking in circles.
I agree with MF, the Minister probably gave a very intellectual argument about the words under God in pledge and made a good case.
Surely the person chosen to reach out to religious people is not reacing out to the religious right, they aren't going to vote for Kerry. I would imagine her job is to reach out to the moderates and non voters in mainstream churches.
Why cave to the ignorance factor? I don't happen to care either way if the pledge has "Under God" or not. But I am not in favor of catering to the ignorance of people who would object to her point of view.