dangerous thoughts

I can't wait to see what the Kossacks have to say about this front-page article in today's Times detailing how the new Democratic leadership intends to govern from the center, particularly on divisive social issues.

My two cents: This is a triumph of common sense and an encouraging sign that Democratic leaders are on the path to building a more inclusive party and a sustainable majority. I was particularly impressed by these comments from South Carolina's James Clyburn and my home-state congresswoman, Rosa DeLauro, whom no one would accuse of being DLC-ers.

Over the past two years, Representative James E. Clyburn, Democrat of South Carolina, formerly the caucus chairman, now the majority whip, has led a “faith working group” in the House in an effort, Mr. Clyburn said, to get members “more comfortable with these issues and more connected with values voters.”

Part of this effort involved broadening the definition of values-related issues, he said, to include economic issues like raising the minimum wage, assisting low-income children with health insurance and shoring up Social Security.

“That’s Old Testament Bible, taking care of widows and orphans,” Mr. Clyburn said.

Some House Democrats said they had also learned to be more open about their own religious life.

“We, for a very long time, left the definition of ourselves as Democrats to others,” said Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, an abortion-rights supporter and one of 55 Catholic Democrats in the House who signed a Catholic Statement of Principles last year, essentially saying that their faith involved more than their position on abortion. “But I think people finally felt enough. Enough. It’s about who we are, where we come from, what our culture and environment has been.”

Amen.