The political left (read Democrats) rolled out road shows in black and white this past week to advertise their program for courting the strong bloc of "values" voters. Dems see no reason to concede these folks to the Republican Party, so they're out to explain to people of faith why the Lord loves big government.

The black version, which took place in Dallas, was focused on a target audience of black clergy, and headlined by the usual line-up, including the Revs. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Joseph Lowery.

The white version, convened in Washington, was sponsored by the Sojourners, led by the Rev. Jim Wallis. This, also a clergy focused event, had hundreds in attendance from all over the country, and included speeches by Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and Republicans Rick Santorum and Sam Brownback.

Wallis' Sojourners call themselves "progressive evangelicals."

"Progressive" is the new term Democratic spinmeisters have come up with to try and shed the politically deadly baggage that the "liberal" label has become.

It's the political equivalent of the automobile companies transforming old, recycled "used" cars into elegant and prestigious "pre-owned" cars.

"Progressive" sounds so cool and modern. But, when we listen to the message, whether in black or in white, we discover the same old clunker behind the sexy new label.

Identical, politically choreographed messages defined both the Washington and Dallas events, and both were a pure re-hash of everything we have learned over the last 50 years that not only doesn't work, but actually makes things worse.

The lefties ("progressives") want "social justice" (eliminate poverty, social and economic inequality) as opposed to the focus on "personal morality" that they say the right wing "bible thumpers" want to focus exclusively on (abortion, gay marriage).

Now I reject claims that homosexual behavior is genetic. But I am beginning to believe that liberalism is. If being a liberal is not genetic, how else can one explain a complete inability to learn from history and a total incapacity to connect dots?

Might it not be possible that Americans are concerned because abortion (1.2 million last year _ 38 percent black), promiscuity and family breakdown (one third of all babies in America now born to unwed mothers), in addition to being morally repugnant, are major problems that threaten our society? Continued...