Rev. Wallis: Dems, GOP must cooperate (Dem radio address)

[cal04]

Democrats and Republicans should work together to find new ways to end poverty, curb government corruption and strengthen families, Rev. Jim Wallis said Saturday.

"Answering the call to lift people out of poverty will require spiritual commitment and bipartisan political leadership," Wallis, the head of the liberal Sojourners/Call to Renewal, an evangelical social justice movement, said in the weekly Democratic radio address.

"Real solutions must transcend partisan politics," he said. "It is time to find common ground by moving to higher ground."

(snip)
Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said he was pleased the nonpartisan Wallis gave the address -- even though the religious leader has been openly critical of Democratic politicians and titled his best-selling book "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It" -- because Democrats "need to move beyond partisanship in Washington and find common ground to move America forward."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061202/ap_on_go_co/democrats_radio_address_1


full radio address
http://www.dnc.org/a/2006/12/reverend_jim_wa.php

[Stargazer99]

1. First of all the Rep/Con has to give a damn about someone and

something else besides their own well-heeled hide.

[Kolesar]

2. I think Wallis is lost

Abortion is not the major issue driving politics. Wallis' campaign to reach a middle ground is a waste of effort.

[jefferson_dem]

3. Wha? Did you even read or listen to what Wallis had to say?

He mentions abortion only "in passing" as he calls for common ground on trying to reduce the number of them.

Rather, his well-delivered message focused on such themes as --

A government that works for the common good is central. There is a growing desire for integrity in our government across the political spectrum. Corruption in government violates our basic principles. Money and power distort our political decision-making and even our elections. We must restore trust in our government and reclaim the integrity of our democratic system.

and

Answering the call to lift people out of poverty will require spiritual commitment and bipartisan political leadership. Since the election, I have spoken with leaders from both parties about creating a real anti-poverty agenda in Congress. We need a grand alliance between liberals and conservatives to produce new and effective strategies.

and

This week, President Bush met with Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq, seeking solutions to the rapidly deteriorating situation in that civil-war torn nation. Nearly 3,000 Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died. The cost and consequences of a disastrous war are moral issues our country must address. Leaders in both parties are acknowledging that the only moral and practical course is to dramatically change the direction of U.S. policy, starting with an honest national debate about how to extricate U.S. forces from Iraq with the least possible damage to everyone involved.

and

Our earth and the fragile atmosphere that surrounds it are God's good creation. Yet, our environment is in jeopardy as global warming continues unchecked and our air and water are polluted. Good stewardship of our resources is a religious and moral question. Energy conservation and less dependence on fossil fuels are commitments that could change our future- from the renewal of our lifestyles to the moral redemption of our foreign policies.

...

[Kolesar]

4. I should write to Wallis

And tell him that we need somebody like him to take on the southern "evangelical" leaders like Dobson who have taken money from Exxon think tanks like the Acton Institute to adopt a pro business postion.

I have to go to an appointment, but check out the "Is God Green" story on www.pbs.org http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/green/

[bvar22]

5. The Republicans have been in complete control long enough...

The Republicans have been in complete control long enough to PROVE that they have absolutely NO interest in "Answering the call to lift people out of poverty...".

There IS NO common ground.

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[goforit]

6. It should say....Repugs must cooperate.

[Vincardog]

7. Co-operating with aWoL is one of the things that got TX as fucked up as it is

today. No to co-operating with the devil. Yes to investigation indicting and imprisoning the same.

[bianca2001]

8. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT

I would really appreciate it if the CLERGY would just look after the
spiritual welfare of their flocks and keep out of Politics.

After what we've been through with "men of the cloth", I have a
knee-jerk reaction when they open their mouth: whatever I ate last
wants to come right back up.

I could say a lot more, but I am trying to be NICE.........

[priller]

9. When the Republican voters stop electing people

who are nasty partisans (DeLay), criminals (Jerry Lewis), idiots (Pombo), or downright insane (Weldon, Inhofe), then we can talk about bipartisanship and "coming together". Until then, Dems will do better by ignoring them.

[deutsey]

10. I respect what Wallis is saying, but he of all people should

know that "cooperating" with the Bush junta and its minions means doing everything their way.