Was Jesus a Democrat? (8-23-04)

Someone asked, in an e-mail that I’ve lost, if the TFN conference was overtly partisan. Media coverage emphasized that James C. Moore announced that “Jesus was the original Democrat” and received applause. Moore did say that. He did receive applause. It would be grossly inaccurate, however, to view that one statement and response as characteristic of the conference. Moore had a small part in a very large conference. There was a lot of criticism of both the media and of the policies of the current administration at the conference, but Moore was the only speaker who was overtly partisan – and there was a feeling that he crossed the line when he did so.

Undoubtedly, some of Moore’s remarks were ill advised. I did not applaud or approve of his comment about Jesus and the applause he received from others came with a laugh of surprise. It was neither loud nor sustained. Other statements he made – comments that were not overtly partisan – did receive loud and sustained applause. Overall, his speech was well-crafted, very insightful and highly entertaining. He also made one statement that fell completely flat. He said something to the effect that Democrats should be talking about God as much as the Republicans. I groaned "No" at that statement and so did several others.

Moore’s remark about “Jesus being a Democrat” was both inaccurate and out-of-place in my opinion. He was not, however, making a statement as a representative of TFN. He was speaking to TFN. Neither was he speaking as the leader of a non-profit. He was speaking for himself, a journalist.