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November 26, 2006

Barack Obama and His Good Friend Rick Warren

How fascinating that the rising star of the reputedly "Godless" Democratic Party, Barack Obama, is a devoted Christian who is playing heavily to America's evangelical Christian community and making great strides toward closing the "God gap" between Republicans and Democrats. And of particular interest is his friendship with Pastor Rick Warren, the author of "The Purpose Driven Life" and the man who sparked controversy last week when he spoke ill of America's Middle East policy while meeting with religious leaders in the Middle East. Obama's spokesman said the two men speak regularly by telephone and have become friends. Obama will appear on Friday at Warren's Saddleback church, a move some believe is part of Obama's effort to position himself for a presidential run. He also will speak at Warren's "global Aids summit" this week.

Obama has made some truly great speeches, some of which have focused on the need for Democrats to acknowledge the role of faith in American life. "I think we make a mistake when we fail to acknowledge the power of faith in people’s lives," he said recently. "We need to understand that Americans are a religious people. Substantially more Americans believe in angels than in evolution."

The Democratic Party has actually never been godless – rather, the party has respected the separation of church and state. I am curious whether this new effort to steal Christian voters away from Republicans will result in the same sort of theocratic tendencies on the left that we have in recent years seen emerging on the right.

Posted by Becky at November 26, 2006 09:19 AM