DNC: Livin' on a Prayer?

The heavy participation of religious figures, especially rabbis, at the Democratic National Convention has turned a lot of heads. The convention opened with a multifaith ceremony of prayer and scriptural reading on Sunday. The DNC’s “Faith in Action” committee has made a concerted effort to tap into the energy of faith that caught so much attention after the last presidential election. Rabbi David Saperstein (photo at left), Director of the Reform Movement’s Religious Action Center, offered the invocation at the start of tonight’s proceedings.

Not everybody is so happy that the DNC is bringing so much faith and religion into the party and politics. Abe Foxman, Director of the ADL, criticized the DNC, noting that religion is no longer an element in understanding the character of the candidate but a central part of the party platforms. Barry Lynn, the director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State has pointed that while there's nothing illegal about religion at the conventions, it sends a troubling message. He told JTA, “It's a troubling trend to emphasize so often the connection between a party and a particular religious outlook.” Several members of our congregation stopped me at services and over the week to express their anger or disappointment in the DNC. Others are less surprised. One of our members has long told that the only difference he sees between the Democratic Party and the Reform Movement is the holidays observed by each.

Of course, the real problem is not the rabbis participating in the convention. The greatest introduction of religion to the convention will be the appearance of a voice more influential than any clergy. After Barak Obama's speech tonight, the stage will be given to a man who carries the weight of religious experience for millions of Americans: Jon Bon Jovi. It is not yet known if he will sing his signature ballad, “Livin’ on a Prayer” or one of the more recent Nashville inspired songs. In any event, Jon Bon Jovi is considered a god in many circles. His appearance overshadows the religious power of any prayer or scriptural reading. And I, for one, protest this infusion of religion into the election. It’s not just inappropriate to give a god a role in American politics. It’s plain unfair.


post-script from shortly after Obama's speech:
"Then Elijah said to the people... 'You will invoke your god by name, and I will invoke the Lord by name and let us agree: the god who responds is God'... So they invoked their god by name from morning until noon, but there was no sound and none who responded." (Abridged)

No Bon Jovi at the convention. Maybe the rabbis really did steal the spotlight. See more: http://app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080828/POLITICS/80828035