On the August 7 broadcast of NPR's Morning Edition, national political correspondent Mara Liasson asserted there was “irony” in “a liberal Democrat showcasing his faith,” stating during a report about the presidential candidates' efforts to “court white evangelical voters”: “The irony of a liberal Democrat showcasing his faith is not lost on [former Republican presidential candidate] Gary Bauer, a leading conservative religious activist.” Liasson did not explain what she thought was “ironic” about such an action.

Media Matters for America has documented numerous instances of the media advancing the false notion that Democratic candidates shy away from discussions of religious faith.

From the August 7 broadcast of NPR's Morning Edition:

STEVE WALDMAN (Beliefnet.com editor-in-chief): If Obama can show himself to be a person of faith, it also helps him combat the idea that he's an elitist, that he's not a mainstream American. Because if he shows that he prays and he's a churchgoing guy and he's a religious guy, that's a very mainstream characteristic.

LIASSON: The irony of a liberal Democrat showcasing his faith is not lost on Gary Bauer, a leading conservative religious activist.