Who Are These Mysterious Men?

The NY Times tells us about black church leaders who are torn between the two parties.

We note this mainly to goad (again) Michael Tomasky of TAP, who said in a NY Times Book Review round table that:

One of the Democratic Party's problems is that it doesn't have enough contact with its rank and file. Right-wing people in this country have a place to meet and talk politics -- their churches, increasingly the megachurches in the exurbs. There's not a meeting place like that for liberals and for Democrats.

If he happens to read this Times piece, we can just imagine his puzzlement - who are these "black clergy members" of whom the Times speaks, where are they meeting, and why can't Democrats and liberals do anything like that?

Comments

[richard mcenroe]

You can see the Ministers' problem:

Republicans: We believe what you believe.

Democrats: But... we're Democrats!

[Jumbo]

I differ with the assumption that politics is what is going on in "conservative churches". "Conservative" churches (by which we must assume is meant fundamental and/or evangelical local Christian denominations) are by and large quite serious about their primary, and usually exclusive, role of preaching the Gospel. Yes, some local churches and even nationally known ministers (I give you Jerry Falwell) are overtly poltically right-wing, but for the vast majority it must be said that socially and culturally conservative attitudes of its congregants are a natural result of their spiritual views, and that their poltical stances flow from those. And certainly not the other way 'round.

Tomasky clearly shows his ignorance and befuddlement in, one, implying that the churches of which he speaks are anywhere near as politicized as the black churches the Democrats historically used as de facto campaign headquarters when those institutions went (as most still do) with the Dems; and, two, that all that is needed for the Left's ideas, such as they are, to flourish and conquer is a regular time and place to meet. Sounds lile a cell meeting, comrade. In the words of the great philosopher and social commentator, B.Bunny: "What a maroon."

[sophy]

I do not know how to use the cheap mabinogi ; my friend tells me how to use.

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