Tony Perkins just sent out quite a fundraising letter (click here to read the whole thing...and fyi, I'm going to use a lot of quotes in this post-they are ALL really from Perkin's letter) asking supporters to give deeply so that the Family Research Council could fight initiatives by the "left" that "are being sold using Scripture" (his bolding, not mine).  According to Perkins, this horrible threat to all things Christian is likely to succeed at "peeling off votes that would normally go to true conservative, pro-family candidates."  That is, the godless, anti-hate-crime, pro-environment politicians who go around talking about the need to "feed the hungry and clothe the naked" (oh, the humanity!) might actually win over faith voters unless loyal Family Research Council supporters give money to Perkins. 

Whew!  Thank God, there is still hope and someone out there who can save Christians from being misled by what Scripture says and from politicians who are willing to talk about their faith and how it informs their policies (two things that have always been considered anathema by the religious right).  Now, if only the faithful would act before "the Left gets away with hijacking the language of faith, and the American public [is] fooled into endorsing public policies that will do irreparable harm" to the agenda of the right for generations to come...

In all seriousness folks, Tony Perkins should be ashamed.  There are a few fruits in this letter that might make it a little easier to recognize him and it for what they really are.  First off, the entire letter is unquestionably and solely based on fear.  It is all about demonizing and dehumanizing the opposition.  There is nothing hopeful or loving or unifying or Christ-like in this letter, which trusts solely in worldly power and money to overcome this "liberal success."  The only mention of any desire for divine assistance or guidance (other than the references to things Dems have said) comes in the final line where Perkins' request for prayers is sandwiched between two requests for money.  But it is also REMARKABLE that Perkins provides NO scriptural backing whatsoever to support his positions or justify his attacks on Democrats or the policies they have "sold using scripture."  All he offers against the Democratic alternative is hate and fear.  And in that, the sheep's skin is ripped off and his approach is exposed for what it is and his fear at our success is laid bare for all to see.

Now, we don't want to start proclaiming Mission Accomplished yet, but this letter is quite an affirmation of the work by groups like faithfuldemocrats.com and all the other Democratic and progressive individuals and organizations who have taken a firm stand and declared clearly to the nation and the world that the hate and fear-based version of Christianity advocated by Perkins and others is not what Christianity is about.  While we stood silent and abdicated the language of faith to the extreme right, they were given a free pass and never called on their hypocrisy.  But now that Democrats and progressives are engaging effectively and forcefully in this area, they are terrified.

We have always argued that the Democratic approach to faith must be one based on hope rather than fear and humility rather than arrogance.  And the Democrats that have succeeded in following that model have succeeded not only in winning, but more importantly, in reshaping this faith and politics discourse in this country.