Barack Obama is meeting with evangelical groups next week. CBN News reports:
The Brody File has learned that conservative Evangelical groups will meet with the head of the White House Faith-Based Office NEXT Tuesday March 24th. The meeting was originally schedueled for this Tuesday but it was postponed today by The White House.
Concerned Women for America and the Family Research Council will meet with Joshua DuBois, the man who leads the administration’s office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Wendy Wright, the president of CWA reached out to the Obama administration and they responded by inviting CWA and some of these other conservative Evangelical groups to The White House. The meeting plans to focus on the need to reduce abortions in the country and on responsible fatherhood programs. Also present at the meeting will be Tom McClusky, Senior Vice-President of the Family Research Council as well as representatives from the Christian Medical Association and Care Net, a pro-life Evangelical pregnancy crisis group.
Wendy Wright from CWA sends the following via email to The Brody File:
“The Obama administration says they want to be inclusive and represent all Americans. The White House faith-based office is now tasked with reducing the number of abortions – something that pro-life groups have very good experience in accomplishing. Pregnancy resource centers and regulations on abortion have a terrific track record in helping women choose alternatives to abortion. Funding abortion or abortion providers is one of the worst things that could be done. What the government funds, we get more of. We hope to begin a dialogue that results in policies which actually work, not just financially benefit certain interest groups like abortion providers.”
Brody concludes:
Say what you want about White House policies as it relates to social issues like abortion but look, I’ve been covering this religious team over at The White House for a few years now. I don’t think there’s any question that they are sincere in engaging conservative minded Evangelicals on the abortion issue not to mention other important topics too. They are not shy when it comes to ‘breaking bread” with the so-called “other side”. It’s refreshing to see. Whether it can lead to some middle ground remains to be seen but the effort is a valiant one.
Considering the fundamental disagreements, I agree it remains to be seen whether they can come to any middle ground. I also applaud the effort. This is a welcome change after a president who avoided contact with those holding any views other than his own. I can’t imagine a similar meeting between George Bush and groups such as The American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, or Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
I have mixed feelings about this. The ‘moral’ part of me thinks it is extremely dangerous to flirt with reactionary groups. They can’t be reconciled to good, pragmatic governance and accommodating their demands damages good, pragmatic governance. The realist in me understands these groups are not going to go away and some way to deal with them without letting them hijack government has to be found.
The real ‘bipartisan’ solution would be for both parties to entirely dismiss all these organizations from the process… but I am realistic to understand why that doesn’t happen too.