Description
Book SynopsisWhat Democrats Talk about When They Talk about God is a collection of essays on the religious communication of members of the Democratic Party, past and present-in office, while campaigning, and in their public and private writing. While many books on the market address issues at the intersection of church and state, none to date have focused exclusively on Democrats as important participants in the dialogue about religion and politics.
Trade ReviewThe contributors to this book provide an important corrective to the view that only the GOP does "God talk." The collection is full of interesting accounts of candidates and officeholder religious rhetoric. Recommended. -- Clyde Wilcox, professor of government, Georgetown University
In recent years the Democratic Party has struggled to win over conservative Christian voters without antagonizing religious liberals, members of minority faiths and secular Americans. David Weiss has assembled eleven fascinating essays documenting and assessing the religious strategies of Al Gore, John Kerry, Barack Obama and other Democratic candidates. No student of politics and religion in the United States should miss this insightful and balanced evaluation. -- James L. Guth, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Political Science, Furman University
David Weiss and his colleagues have produced a fascinating collection of essays on the role of religion in the rhetoric of the Democratic Party and its leaders. Insightful, analystic and timely, this book reveals that religious language is not the sole province of Republicans and is likely to remain a staple of political discourse for years to come. -- John C. Green, University of Akron, and Director, Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics
Table of Contents1 Introduction: What Do Democrats Talk about When They Talk about God? Part 2 I: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives Chapter 3 1: The Religious Explorations of Thomas Jefferson and his Public and Private Expressions of Faith Chapter 4 2: Deities, Divisions, and Democrats: The "Political Left" and Religion Part 5 II: Past Presidents and Presidential Hopefuls Chapter 6 3: The Three Faces of John: Mutable Religious Personae in the 2004 Presidential Race Chapter 7 4: Bill Clinton's Looking Glass: A Metaphorical Analogy for the Faith and Values of the Democratic Party Chapter 8 5: The "Voice of God" in Democratic Political Rhetoric: Exploring the Social-Political Gospel of John Edwards Chapter 9 6: Al Gore's Rational Faith and Unreasonable Religion Part 10 III: The Religious Rhetoric of Barack Obama Chapter 11 7: The Audacity of Faith: An Inclusive Political Rhetoric Chapter 12 8: Dancing on the Wall: An Analysis of Barack Obama's "Call to Renewal" Keynote Address Chapter 13 9: Change the Context, Build the Coalition: Democrats, Abortion Reduction, and the Politics of Articulation Part 14 IV: Religion in Gubernatorial and Congressional Campaigns Chapter 15 10: Tim Kaine's Catholic Evangelical Rhetoric Chapter 16 11: Dwelling amongst the Righteous: Keith Ellison-Demagogue or Demon? 17 About the Contributors
