October 27, 2015
God & The Presidency: An In-Depth Examination Of Faith In The Bush White House
October 20, 2004
| COMMENT: Considering the rise of religious discussion in today’s political environment, it would be interesting to note that there has always been a flowing undercurrent of the same issues in the past. Books and articles reveal the differing opinions and conclusions. |
Journalist Ron Susskind examines how Bush’s belief in God has impacted his presidency, how some of Bush’s supporters believe he is an instrument of God and the growing concern among many non-Evangelical Republicans. One former Reagan/Bush official says, "Just in the past few months. I think a light has gone off for people who’ve spent time up close to Bush: that this instinct he’s always talking about is this sort of weird, Messianic idea of what he thinks God has told him to do." We also speak with Esther Kaplan author of the new book, "With God On Their Side: How Christian Fundamentalists Trampled Science, Policy, and Democracy in George W. Bush’s White House." [includes rush transcript]
With 13 days left until voters go to the polls in one of the most significant elections in US history, President Bush and Senator John Kerry are intensifying their campaigning, particularly in a handful of so-called swing states. Concerns abound nationwide that voters may be intimidated from voting and that a repeat of the 2000 elections may unfold. This campaign has been marked by extraordinary dirty tricks, personal attacks, and smear campaigns. All against the backdrop of multiple US occupations and US military deaths rising every day. Both campaigns say they will make the US safer over the next four years. But while Iraq and foreign policy dominate much of the public discussion on the elections, other key domestic issues are at stake.
The next president will have a major influence over the composition of the Supreme Court and laws governing a woman’s right to choose. And it is this issue of abortion that is one of the lynchpins of the support President Bush receives from increasingly powerful, right-wing evangelical Christian groups. Much has been written about the significant role these groups have played in supporting the Bush campaign. Bush has opened the doors of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to right-wing Christian groups more than any president in history. They are well-funded, well-organized and well-connected.
Today, we are going to spend the rest of the hour taking an in-depth look at the role religion has played and is playing in the Bush presidency and election campaign. In a moment, we will be joined by two journalists. Esther Kaplan is author of the new book "With God on Their Side: How Christian Fundamentalists Trampled Science, Policy, and Democracy in George W Bush’s White House." We’ll also be joined by Ron Suskind, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of "The Price of Loyalty: George W Bush, the White House and the Education of Paul O’Neill." His latest piece in The New York Times Magazine is called "Without a Doubt," which is about the role of faith in the Bush presidency. But first, we wanted to play an excerpt from the final presidential discussion at the University of Arizona on October 13, when the candidates were asked by moderator Bob Sheiffer of CBS News about the role religion plays in their lives.
Click on Link:
http://www.democracynow.org/2004/10/20/god_the_presidency_an_in_depth
