Fifteen minutes into the church service, as the choir sang "I Love You Jesus, Yes I Do," in cadences reminiscent of Aretha Franklin, the door beneath the altar suddenly swung ajar. John Edwards stepped quietly into the cavernous room, making no effort to greet the worshipers clad in their Sunday finery who were stamping their feet to the electronic beat.
That's how a politician is supposed to behave in Southern black churches. Rule No. 1 is, don't dare try to compete with the Lord. So Edwards skipped all his usual gestures, which include the happy-warrior wave, the pumped fist, and the thumbs-up sign. Yesterday, he just crossed the purple carpet and sat down.
He needs these folks badly in tomorrow's South Carolina primary -- his Democratic presidential candidacy is surely doomed unless he wins the state of his birth -- but he knew the best way to garner goodwill was to show respect.
| We'll see if the three rules of white politicians' behavior in black churches, mentioned in Dick Polman's Philadelphia Inquirer article "Mindful of political manners," are of any help in today's Junior Tuesday primary
posted in articles on February 3, 2004 3:39 AM | t (1)
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