Notes From D.R. | Random Thoughts on the Passing Scene

If Deval Patrick receives the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s gubernatorial nomination, a large number of African-American churchgoers will proudly support his campaign and work to make him the state’s first African-American governor. Patrick’s candidacy has already been touted in some circles as a golden opportunity to break ethnic barriers, and some have explicitly backed his candidacy for racial reasons.

African-Americans of faith will support Patrick despite the fact that he is staunchly pro-choice and pro-gay marriage, two positions which are anathema to traditional Christianity. In this respect, religious Bay State blacks are no different from the Catholics who support Tom Menino despite his heterodoxy.

It’s easy to figure out why many Bay State Catholics continue to support Menino and other so-called Catholics like Ted Kennedy and John Kerry; they are, for the most part, simpatico with the social liberalism espoused by all three men. Yet, blacks in this state will support Patrick even though they are somewhat conservative on the issue of abortion, and very conservative on the issue of gay marriage.

To a certain extent, this should not be a surprise: nationwide, socially conservative African-Americans tend to support socially liberal Presidential candidates like Kerry and Al Gore. This is a phenomenon that has occurred since the mid-1960s, when the Democratic Party skillfully exploited Barry Goldwater’s decision not to support the 1964 Civil Rights Act on libertarian grounds. (That other Republicans, most notably Sen. Everett Dirksen of Illinois, worked tirelessly to ensure passage of the Act has largely been forgotten).

However, the idea of anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, and deeply religious blacks rushing to the polls to elect a pro-choice, pro-gay marriage candidate who has wholeheartedly embraced the "secular progressive" vision of the world is still a rather curious one. And it really makes one wonder exactly what’s going on.

Are Bay State blacks so desirous of having a "brother" in a position of power that they will deliberately ignore his political stances, which are in direct opposition to the faith they supposedly cherish? Are they willing to overlook the Pandora’s box of problems posed by having someone so committed to the "secular progressive" worldview in a position of power? Are they willing to conveniently forget the fact that Patrick has no problem with anti-religious judges like Margaret Marshall recreating the traditional definition of marriage? Are they unconcerned about someone who openly defends the termination of over forty million pre-born lives as "a woman’s right to choose?" Does his willingness to stand in diametric opposition to traditional Christian morality not trouble this state’s black population?

Sadly, the answer appears to be "no." All indications are that Massachusetts blacks will place "racial solidarity" above traditional Christian morality and support Patrick’s bid for the State House. It’s a sad state of affairs, isn’t it? It’s fair to say that religious blacks who support Patrick have a faith that runs a mile wide and an inch deep. What else can be said of those willing to put color above Christianity?

UPDATE: Deval Patrick says he’s "just not bothered by gay marriage."