Excerpts from DNC Chairman Howard Dean's Remarks at the National Baptist ...( WASHINGTON Sept. 6 -- Democratic...),Health

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean addressed the National Baptist Convention this afternoon. In his remarks, Dean discussed the important role faith and morality play in defining the issues most important to the Democratic Party, as well as the work people of faith do every day to address the problems facing our country and planet, including reconstruction of the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina and the global crisis of HIV/AIDS. In addition, Dean spoke of the work Democrats in Congress are doing on behalf of African American families to make our country stronger and the importance of electing a Democratic president next year to change course in Iraq.

Under the leadership of Chairman Dean the DNC's Faith in Action Initiative has worked to strengthen and build relationships with members of the faith community through regular outreach based on our shared values and priorities. These efforts include national and state level outreach to diverse faiths in coordination with the DNC's 50 State Partnership program.

Below are excerpts of Dean's remarks:

On the DNC's Faith in Action Initiative

"Under the Faith In Action Initiative, over the past two years I have been meeting with leaders from many different faiths about matters important to the faith community. As part of our 50-state strategy we are a new kind of campaign, a two way campaign. We do not go into states and into communities to talk at people -- we listen first... We now have a year round outreach effort which involves prominent members of the faith community in the activities of the Party.

Democratic Party's Values are Moral Values"

Democrats are strong people of faith and convictions but for too long we have allowed others to define our values and what we stand for.

"But the tide is changing. Our Democratic candidates for President...aren't we proud to have a slate of Democratic candidate runn
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