The “new religious left” story has become a staple of newspapers, but much more revealing, we think, is this little snippet from today’s NY Times, about the anti-poverty group ACORN, a tough, locally-minded outfit that cares more about rotten landlords and rip-off utility bills than electing milquetoast Democrats to Congress:

“The utility protest in Gary illustrates how Acorn creates a new chapter. Eric Weathersby, 43, is a church leader in Gary who wanted to get more involved in politics. After brief training in Chicago, Mr. Weathersby started as head organizer for Acorn in Indiana on April 17.

“Heating bills soared last winter, and many poor residents resented their utility, the Northern Indiana Public Service Company, for what they saw as harsh policies for delinquent payers. Mr. Weathersby used the issue to recruit, going door to door himself, and by early June had 113 members.”

That’s as far as this piece goes with its exploration of the religious left, but it’s farther than another interview with a talking head. This is the kind of stuff reporters who want to profile what MAY be a movement in the making should look for.