Here's an aggressive idea for the Democrats

[Onlooker]

The Democrats chould challenge very forcefully the Republican core. They should attack the Christian evangelical movement as suffering from racism, greed, selfishness, and sexism, and provoke a battle. By doing so, they will attract incredible media attention in a war between the Republican core and the Democratic Party. It won't be a pretty fight, but if the Democrats win it, they'll pick up a huge pool of conservative Independents and who are not religious.

[quaoar]

1. Are you suggesting a culture war?

[Frodo]

2. No. It's important not to waken that giant.

The so-called "Christian Right" is actually a prett fickle group. Many of them DON'T VOTE because even Bush is nowhere NEAR conservative enough for them (he hasn't banned abortion yet for instance).

When they get agitated they show up at the polls by the millions. They were THE margin of victory for the Republicans' sweep in 1994 (over gays in the military, government funded abortions, etc).

Leave them alone and half of them won't show up. There isn't anything to get them excited.

Make THEM the issue? And you lose more votes than you pick up.

[Onlooker]

3. We should wake them up and take them on

The Evangelical Christian movement is quite large and dangerous, but no more dangerous than the movement that spawned a 500,000 strong anti-Bush demonstration in New York. It wields a bizarre amount of power and is inherently the enemy of everything liberal. I think its strength is somewhat overrated and if their small-mindedness and selfishness (e.g., anti-health care) was exposed it would embarrass some people into supporting the Democrats.

If we want to frame this election than frame it around the so-called morality of the Evangelical Christian movement. That will create a frame out of which Rove and company will have difficulty escaping.

[Blue_Roses]

8. they are already awake

the gay marriage amendment did it for them this time.

Oh, they're awake alright.

[woo me with science]

10. kinda like fire ants or wasps nt

[angee_is_mad]

4. what about the base?

The black community who traditionally tend to be devote Christians or at the very least very spiritual? Would we antagonize them to get independents?
Talk about being taken for granted!!!!!

[Onlooker]

6. I meant evangelical Christian white

It seems to be the black evangelical Christians are more liberal, more tolerant, more compassionate, and have a more loving God.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Back in the day

of televangelism, they used to be widely exposed as the money grubbing opportunists using religion as a tool that they are. Not any more though.

True story: Yesterday I went to my usual discount tobacco shop to pick up smokes. Almost every one of those shops around here are owned and run by Middle Eastern or Indian people. This one is as well. When I walked in, the clerk was watching Pat Robertson on the television. :wow: A woman was calling in asking Pat what she should do about the money she will inherit when her dad dies and how she can protect it from the 'death tax'.

[roseBudd]

7. We have to undermine Bush perceived strength

print and distribute this image en masse

[finecraft]

9. How true. When did whacko become mainstream?

People like her are the ones that are just going to love bush's* "Ownership Society", until they turn around 10 years from now and realize they own nothing, and everything they had is gone.

[Vincardog]

11. Don't attack the Evangelicals Attack the Rabid Radical Right

We need to show the NeoCons for what they are a minor fraction of the republican party that has hijacked the party for it's own purposes. We need to attack the Rabid Radical Right and show them for what they are. Their own platform will do them in if we let the people and even the Republicans know what it is.
They want to outlaw all abortions.
Outlaw Homosexuality.
Do Away with Social Security.
Bankrupt Public Education and eliminate the Endangered Species Act. These policies are not compassionate.
Bankrupting the Economy by fighting illegal immoral wars so there is no money left for any social programs is not conservative it is Fascist.

We only need to keep their policies in front of people and we can not loose.