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But this isn't just about Obama. This is John Kerry post-2004. It's Rahm in 2006. It's Bob Casey. What I advocate in this article is not unusual for the Democratic Party. What is unusual is the kind of politics some have practiced over the last 4-6 years.

So in the article I seek to demystify faith outreach. It actually involves the same general areas of practice as outreach to any community a) direct, institutionalized engagement b) rhetoric/personal testimony c) policy commitments.

Note that these areas of practice will be particularized depending on who you're reaching out to. In other words, this is about all religious communities: all faiths, liberal and conservative, coastal and middle America.

I argue that the more my recommendations are embraced, the more successful the party will be in this outreach. So, yes, the party can simply decide to strengthen relationships with progressive faith communities, and treat their faith seriously, and that would be an improvement.

But new policy commitments or adjustments to existing commitments--on social issues for moderates/conservatives, but also thinking creatively about progressive leaning areas like poverty, family/life balance, etc--will increase the party's potential.

The changes I recommend here are not aimed at winning over the Religious Right. The vast majority of Roy Moore voters and Robert Jeffress acolytes will vote Republican. But...

The ideas I lay out in the article could result in both a revitalized, empowered and respected base of POC (who are overwhelmingly religious) and progressive people of faith, and a 5-10% swing among Catholics/evangelicals. That, my friends, is a national, governing coalition.