http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00281.htmlWASHINGTON -- Sen. Barack Obama chastised fellow Democrats on Wednesday for failing to "acknowledge the power of faith in the lives of the American people," and said the party must compete for the support of evangelicals and other churchgoing Americans.
In addition to receiving far more in donations from religious institutions than ANY other candidate (Dem or GOP), Obama nearly matches Clinton II in terms of corporate fundraising (both of them substantially outdistance Edwards, and the GOPers as well).
Many people assume that American democrats represent the forces of secularism--- to a much greater extent than do the GOP, or libertarians--- but few people bother justifying that assumption. Yes, in general it's probably accurate--but only slightly. Like some of the fundies in the campaign (Huckabee), Obama has (as noted in a previous thread) in fact challenged the separation of church and state, or at least questioned it. Is that an effective tactic as well? Probably, to some.
But the real issue relates to "RealPolitik":--do Americans vote for some vague theological--- or platonic--- political "Good" or "Justice" in general (however that is defined---gut glueck); or do they vote for the person who is most likely to advance their own goals and economic interests? Most likely the latter. (and that's sort of what Hume suggested as well).