Washington Post online discussion with David Kuo

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/10/19/DI2006101900767.html

"Former White House official David Kuo will be online Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. to discuss his book, Tempting Faith, and his assertion that the Bush administration manipulated religious groups for political gain."

Questions may be submitted in advance. I asked what he thinks about Dominionist programs to replace the Constitution with Biblical proscriptions (I worded the question neutrally to get a more honest response).

James

[dewdrop_world]

The online chat was interesting if a bit tame.

One of Kuo's comments echoes one of mine:

I hope that evangelical voters are very, very wary. When I got my Post this morning and saw the front page article about the White House put up a tent yesterday to invite in a bunch of conservative and Christian radio hosts I felt a bit ill. I wasn't shocked, of course, just amazed by how increasingly blatant this seductin of Christian voters has become.

They should feel like they are being used... because they are being used. In a way this isn't surprising. Politicians will appeal to any group to get their votes - from bass fisherman to Baptists. But the way that the White House has presented President Bush as a pastor-in-chief is deeply disturbing and threatens to rob Christians of their objective voice in speaking truth to power.


Perkins of the Family Research Council said he would not be surprised if derisive comments were made behind Christian leaders' backs.

"I have no misconceptions about how people in the Republican Party and the establishment view social conservatives. They are dismissive. I see how they prefer to work with fiscal conservatives," he said. "Having said that, I see it really as a marriage of convenience. We are not without significant gains by working with this administration."
OK, Tony Perkins is not exactly in denial. But it seems he doesn't mind being used.

James