Blanche Lincoln

In a well-named post, PRESSURE FROM THE LEFT CAN HAVE AN EFFECT, the Washington Monthly’s Steve Benen reports that Senator Blanche Lincoln (Democrat, Arkansas), who “has been one of the least likely Democrats to support the public option endorsed by most Democratic lawmakers, the president, and the public” is coming round to supporting it after all.

TPM and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (in an email, not on their site) ascribe this to the TV ads run by Blue America. And as TPM noted, Senate leader Harry Reid is hot for Democratic uniformity on this issue. But in a phone call with me this morning Jennifer Butler, the Executive Director of Faith in Public Life, wondered if a further influence had come into play: Rev. Joyce Hardy, archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas and deacon of Christ Church Episcopal Church in Little Rock, AK.

Hardy was the voice of the religious coalition for universal, affordable health care on Christian radio in Arkansas during the July 4 Congressional recess. Blanche Lincoln is an Episcopalian in Little Rock. Make the connection.

I expressed both gratitude and disappointment on this blog about the Faith In Public Life (FPL) press conference on that campaign last week, while Michael Lerner posted about the lack of prophetic boldness in other religious leaders who are engaged in this critical struggle to embody love in our republic.

But Jennifer Butler took time out of her busy schedule this morning to tell us about the tremendous press coverage that press conference garnered. She argued that different strategies need to be followed simultaneously if we are to gain universal health care. What is prophetic and effective on the coasts may be too far out to be heard in the states targeted by this radio ad campaign: Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska, and North Carolina. Butler believes that there is a large “moveable middle” in these states and throughout the country that can hear a strong message in favor of affordable health care for all, if it presents, as Ambinder describes it in the Atlantic, “an ethical argument, not a fiscal one.” Make the ethical and religious argument first, before focusing on the method.

Perhaps that will be the clincher in persuading Blanche Lincoln to adopt the public option. We don’t know. But I am grateful to FPL and their allies for this. I wonder if and when the secular Left blogs will pick up on it. There is an entirely different approach here to persuading America, an approach based in the sacredness of each human being and the religious imperative to love each other, and this FPL coalition and Tikkun are equally part of it, even when we differ in how to present our message.