Well, he’s criticizing his fellow Democrats for not being open to and respecting people of faith. Indeed, Democrats do not “acknowledge the power of faith in the lives of the American people”.
First, this isn’t true, as Steve Benen says. Yes, Democrats need to do a better job reaching out to, and making sure voters know they’re open to and respect, people of faith. But Democrats aren’t exactly hardcore secularists who oppose the very presence of religion in the public square. A few of them, perhaps, but at most a small minority of them and certainly not in the leadership.
Second, it’s a stupid thing to say publicly. It’s the Republican spin. On this, let me quote, in full, Atrios‘s open letter to Obama:
Dear Senator Obama,
If you think it’s important to court evangelicals, then court them. If, on the other hand, you think it’s important to confirm and embrace the false idea that Democrats are hostile to religion in order to set yourself apart, then continue doing what you’re doing. It won’t help the Democrats, and it probably won’t even help you, but whatever makes you happy.
Love and kisses,
Atrios
P.S. What Stoller says.
Sure, love and kisses from me, too. I like Obama a great deal. The thought of an ’08 presidential ticket with the junior senator from Illinois in the Veep spot fills me with pleasure (and hope).
And, yes, what Matt Stoller says. And also what fellow MyDDer Chris Bowers says: “Obama’s comments lend tri-partisan support (Democrats, Republicans and the media) to a narrative that Democrats are hostile toward people of faith. This tri-partisan support will result in a “closing of the triangle” against Democrats where it become conventional wisdom that Democrats are hostile to people of faith.”
See also David Sirota, who says much the same thing (saying it very well, mind you); Firedoglake’s Pachacutec, who doesn’t much care for Obama and who blames Bill Clinton; and AMERICAblog, where John Aravosis writes that Obama was “mostly” right (with crucial caveats).
My own open letter to Obama is here.