Greetings from Sugarland Texas...and How to Appeal to Values Voters

The Christian voters of Sugarland Texas, Tom Delay's hometown, take their values seriously.  To win over these people and the millions like them around the country we have to show them that the Democratic party's values are in harmony with their Christian values.  Fortunately, this is easy.

I just spent 4 days in Sugarland, Texas, the hometown of disgraced former House Majority leader Tom Delay.  I knew I was in the right place because I drove past a road sign that said, "District Office of Rep. Tom Delay, Dist. 22, Turn Right."  I guess they don't update their road signs in Sugarland very often.  I wish I had a camera to record the moment.

For those of you who think people like Tom Delay and his supporters are gap toothed, beer guzzling, pick-up truck driving, cowboy hat wearing rednecks from the shallow end of the gene pool, you are sadly mistaken.  Sugarland, Texas is a thoroughly modern community of 6-lane interstates, housing developments, and strip malls.  There was a Border's bookstore and a Starbuck's within a stone's throw of the hotel I was staying in.  These are not businesses supported by rednecks, but people with educations and professional jobs.  Judging from the amount of construction going on, the place is booming despite the fortunes of its former congressman.  The single most important difference between Sugarland and other fast growing suburbs I have spent time in recently is this...the interstate is dotted with mega-churches.  About every 1/2 mile another large building surrounded by acres of parking appears, looking for the all the world like an office complex or shopping mall.  What gives the mega-churches away is that they have steeples.  Your major evagelical denominations are well represented here including Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, and Church of Christ.  The people of Sugarland, Texas take their religion seriously.

And that has been the problem of the Democratic party in places like Sugarland for years.  We have allowed our opponents to paint us as anti-religion, anti-American, anti-Christian-values elitists who coddle terrorists and sip chardonnay and suck down lattes.  There is no way a person who considers themselves a good Christian could vote for such people.  What our opponents say about us is complete hogwash of course, and shame on them for lying about us so vehemently.  However, shame on us for not fighting backand for not standing up for what we believe in.

Values matter to the voters of Sugarland, Texas and to many other voters like them around the country.  In support of what these people think is moral and right they will vote against their own economic self-interest, as was clearly demonstrated in the 2004 elections.  Traditionally, the Democratic party has had nothing to say to these people.  Or worse yet, has condemned them as "wingnuts", mocked their religion and way of life, and thus guaranteed they will never vote Democratic.  If we ever hope to become a majority party at the national level, we need to speak to these people...here is how.

We have to talk about our party's values.  Now, this does not mean we abandon what we stand for to adopt the "values" of the radical right wing of the Republican party.  What it simply means is saying what we stand for and then fighting for it.  Then we need to draw the connection between Democratic party values and Christian values.

As a Christian, my duty and highest calling is to emulate the moral example of the life of Christ (as Jimmy Carter clearly states in his book, "Our Endangered Values").  Christ loved the poor, the sick, and the downtrodden, and spent much of his time on earth ministering to these people to alleviate their suffering.  As the Rev. Jim Wallis (author of "God's Politics") points out, the Bible contains over 3000 calls for God's followers to help the poor.  The Democratic party has always stood for helping the poor and the downtrodden.  It is our party that brought America Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  It is the Democrats who are serious about universal health care and raising the minimum wage.  These are all expressions of our party's moral commitment to the less fortunate in America, and it is completely in sync with Christian values.

Jesus has been called the, "Prince of Peace".  He preached love, tolerance, and forgiveness, even for one's enemies.  Right now, the Republicans are the party of pre-emptive war, toruture, and domestic spying.  Our opposition to the Iraq war, toruture, and domestic spying is not because we hate America and want the terrorists to win, it is because we value peace, love, tolerance, the rule of law, and forgiveness....all Christian values.

On the major issues of the day it is the Democrats and not the Republican's whose values most closely emulate those practiced by Jesus during his earthly ministry.  We do not need to change our values to appeal to people of faith.  We have to have a respectful conversation with them and draw the connection between Christian and Democratic values.  This strategy might even be enough to persuade Tom Delay's former supporters from Sugarland, Texas to vote Democratic.