Eleison, LLC
Thursday, October 20, 2011
CONTACT: 202-215-2490

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Strider Comments on DNC’s Hiring of Rev. Derrick Harkins as Director of Faith Outreach

Burns Strider, former senior advisor and head of faith outreach for Hillary Clinton, former senior advisor to Nancy Pelosi and principal and founder of Eleison, LLC and President of The American Values Network, today made the following statement on the DNC’s hiring Reverend Derrick Harkins as Director of Faith Outreach:

“It is rare that I offer a formal statement, but this is a rare and important announcement from the DNC. I met Reverend Harkins when I was with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi in 2004 and since that day I have had a friend, trusted advisor and fellow activist in Derrick. I'm delighted about Derrick joining the leadership of the DNC. Derrick is open, welcoming and he understands and relates to both the new and old schools of activism residing within the nation's faith community. Derrick is the right reverend for the right job at the right time.

“America’s diverse faith communities encompass all segments of our nation creating the foundational building blocks of values on which sit all other issues. Americans see themselves and their world through the prism of values provided by our faith traditions. We fail in our politics and causes when we fail to dialogue with and build relationships in our faith communities. Derrick has a deep and profound understanding and respect for these communities. Chairwoman Schultz and the DNC have made a great choice in Reverend Harkins.

“Forward!”

PUBLIC DNC RELEASE:

From: DNC Press 
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:01 AM
To: DNC Press
Subject: Democratic National Committee Announces Hire of Rev. Derrick Harkins as Director of Faith Outreach

For Immediate Release

October 20, 2011
Contact: DNC Press, 202-863-8148 

Democratic National Committee Announces Hire of Rev. Derrick Harkins as Director of Faith Outreach

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, the Democratic National Committee announced the hire of Rev. Derrick Harkins to lead the Democratic Party’s outreach to people of faith. Rev. Harkins is a national leader in the faith community with strong and diverse ties to the African-American church, evangelicals and the progressive faith community. Outreach to people of all faiths is a key priority and trademark of President Obama, and Harkins is the right leader to continue the Democratic Party’s engagement of the faith community.

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

I am excited for Rev. Harkins to join our team. I look forward to working with Rev. Harkins to build on the successes we’ve had as a Party in reaching out to people of faith from all walks of life and backgrounds.  The faith community will be an integral part of President Obama’s successful reelection and the success of Democrats across the country in 2012.”

Patrick Gaspard, Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee, welcomed Rev. Harkins on board:

“In 2008, President Obama built an unprecedented religious outreach operation. We saw  gains with Catholics, Evangelicals, mainline Protestants and other communities of faith. The hire of Rev. Harkins to lead our efforts here at the DNC should be a clear sign to everyone that Democrats will be making our case to voters motivated by their faith and values in 2012.”

Regarding his appointment as faith outreach director, Rev. Harkins expressed his eagerness to get started:

“Justice, fairness and compassion are at the core of religious voters’ concerns, and they are central to President Obama and the Democratic Party. Working with religious Americans from across the country, we will ensure that those values are a part of the political conversation heading into this critical election. President Obama has been a leader on so many of the issues and values religious Americans are passionate about—from comprehensive and just immigration reform to the Affordable Care Act to maintaining and supporting the critical role of faith in public life. People of faith have a home in the Democratic Party, and I have every expectation that people of faith will be a key part of a successful election for Democrats in 2012.”

Rev. Derrick Harkins serves as the Senior Pastor at the historic Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Harkins also serves on the boards of the National Association of Evangelicals, World Relief and Faith in Public Life, a progressive faith-based organization.

END OF DNC RELEASE