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Democrats pound home faith theme at service

By Paul Anthony, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 24, 2008 at 4:46 p.m.
Updated August 24, 2008 at 9:01 a.m.

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Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb wears a yamika with an Obama logo during the inferfaith service, Sunday, August 24, 2008.

Judy DeHaas © The Rocky

Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb wears a yamika with an Obama logo during the inferfaith service, Sunday, August 24, 2008.

Chaplin P.K. Roberts sings, prays and claps during the DNC interfaith service held Sunday, August 24, 2008, in the Wells Fargo Theater.

Judy DeHaas © The Rocky

Chaplin P.K. Roberts sings, prays and claps during the DNC interfaith service held Sunday, August 24, 2008, in the Wells Fargo Theater.

COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER — Democrats are people of faith, too.

That was the overriding message as Democrats of all ages, races and religions gathered for a well-attended inter-faith service this afternoon at the Colorado Convention Center.

"Democrats are, have been, and will continue to be people of faith,'' said the Rev. Leah Daughtry, who is serving as CEO of this week's convention. "And people of faith are, have been, and will continue to be Democrats.''

Among those in attendance were Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean, who sat in the front row for the service, and Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, who welcomed the congregation to the first official event of the DNC.

"There is a tremendous intersection of faith and politics,'' Ritter said. "Politics at its deepest root is moral.''

The 5,000-seat Wells Fargo Theater was about two-thirds full for the service, which twice was interrupted by dissenters.

"Barack Obama is a baby-killer!'' one man shouted during the musical prelude.

The man was escorted from the theater by security officers and the congregation responded with an emphatic chant of ``O-Ba-Ma.''

Another man was led away by security after interrupting Daughtry's introductory comments but the service otherwise was void of disruption or dissention.

The congregation was vocal and interactive, clapping along to the musical prelude of the Denver- based choir The Spirituals Project. Grammy-winner Richard Smallwood & Vision also got the crowd involved during two musical breaks that conjured images of a traditional Baptist service.

Comments

  • October 8, 2008

    10:56 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    olivestone writes:

    The man shown in the photo above is NOT Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb. Neither Rabbi Dr. Weinreb, in his capacity as Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union, nor the Orthodox Union itself, endorses or in any way supports or promotes any candidate for political office or any political party. We have asked the Rocky Mountain News to remove this caption and to issue a correction.