You don’t see a lack of Dem politicians running to the churches come election time, looking good at photo ops and asking that folks of color turn out to fight the good fight at the polls.

But there is a not-so-quiet movement out there to unravel the coalition of color that Dems solidly rely upon. The GOP is masterfully creating a schism in the religious black (and I’d add Hispanic) community over gay rights by spreading patently false information and preying on fear and ignorance.

Where are the Dems and progressives on this? Where is the counter campaign?

Some black churches are doing what they can to keep black voters motivated. Turnout was strong in support of Kerry, but there were warning signs, with the state amendments to ban gay marriage passing so easily, that many people of color voted Kerry and for those amendments.

There are black churches out there that are not only increasingly, stridently homophobic, but they are also politically and publicly associating the left with moral decline.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, homophobic bigot pastor, Patrick Wooden, Sr. of Raleigh’s Upper Room Church gives it just as good as Falwell when it comes to demonizing the left.

Then we’ve got the Washington Post printing an advertorial targeted at the religious black community to incite homophobia with disinformation.

This is dangerous on so many levels (including a public health one, if you’re driving fearful queer blacks underground with the spread of HIV what it is). The publication is full of “information” such as:

— sexual orientation has no genetic basis

— gays die at the age of 41.

— that you can become an ex-gay

Dr. Derek Grier, pastor of Grace Christian Church and editor of the homophobic rag, BothSides, and the man behind the “junk science,” Paul Cameron.

Where has been the outcry by mainstream Dem talking heads about any of this GOP “strategy” as they watch their loyal base split apart? Folks will stay at home, or worse, gravitate to the enemy because Dems can’t make the sale.

And, in the meantime, the Dems are letting the likes of Falwell plan new coalition to recruit 10 million new evangelical voters for 2006 and 2008. Do you think that he and others of his ilk won’t gain some traction with religious minority voters? They’re working on a timetable, where is the Left?

The Dems obsession over courting the “NASCAR circuit” voters makes me sick. They’ve lost an election and are looking to recapture a hunk of the Jerry Falwell crowd? This while they let their most loyal base of voters be courted with this GOP-endorsed crap?

What in the hell happened to Dem backbone?

There a diary up at Daily Kos on this as well — Dems letting the GOP split religious black community.