Another idea: let's recruit church leaders to run in elections

[Chomskyite]

This is one way we might be able to compete for the "values" votes in red states. Surely, with the amount of diversity in every institution these days, we have liberal church pastors in the South. Surely they're not all weeded out by the time they get into leadership positions. And surely some who started as Republican have become disenchanted with the Republican party.

[wildflower]

1. I think it's definitely worth considering. Though I'd prefer it be...

a Unitarian Universalist so that all faiths could be represented. Though I understand that some UUs are more judeo-christian based.

But someone who knows more about UU, and Christian denominations, might have something more well-informed than I to say on this topic.

-wildflower

ON EDIT: Wouldn't it be great to have a Mother Theresa-type icon who could trump them in the values arena.

[Chomskyite]

2. I think Unitarians

. . . are viewed by the knuckledraggers and the toothpick chewers as being a species of New Ager.

What we need is a Southern Baptist preacher or a Methodist minister who actually has empathy for the poor, for women, for non-Americans and for gays.

[berry]

3. What about Garry Wills?

I only know him from speeches he's given that got taped by c-span, but I've thought for a long time that he would have wide appeal. Not sure if he's an ordained minister--actually he may even be a lay Catholic. I think he's a professor of religion??

Huh. I thought I knew more about him... I'll have to google him later (no time now).

[tjdee]

4. We don't have to compete for the values vote.

We have to register the people in this country who aren't conservative fundies.