"Roemer, and Frost too I felt, leaned on the whole terrorism/keep America safe thing pretty heavily, and it bugged me."

It wasn't just his loud hectoring on the issue of "safety" which bothered me (hey, jerk, I'm a New Yorker, and it was OUR city that was attacked, thank you very frigging much).  Even worse was the bombshell of which he delivered himself in the discussion of how the Democratic Party could make itself right with the faith community.  Frost's response was that the Democratic Party should make clear that "we believe in God".

I personally found this very offensive.  What's he saying?  That in Martin Frost's Democratic party atheists and agnostics need not apply?  Sounds like pretty naked bigotry to me, that's for sure.

The moment is chronicled in today's Washington Post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A47526-2005Jan29?language=printer (yes, the heckler was me).  As you can see, the reporter, Milbank, slightly softened what Frost said.  Milbank claims Frost called on Democrats in general to "embrace faith".  That's NOT what he said.  He said that the Democratic Party ITSELF should state categorically "we believe in God", which, I think you'll agree, is a rather different kettle of fish.

At any rate, that's my recollection.  But those interested in checking out this moment, or the event in general, can see it tonight on C-Span 1 at 630PM EST tonight on Road To The White House.  (C-Span doesn't list it, but they normally rerun Road To The White House at 930PM EST also.)

Yours in reform,

Charles