eahaddix
06-08-2007, 07:55 AM
Two former aides hired to spearhead religious outreach for presidential candidate John McCain say that they were virtually ignored by the campaign and that McCain's top campaign strategists are intent on winning votes of religious voters without having to develop serious ties to faith communities. The aides, who were fired in early April after roughly three months on the job, said the campaign staff declined to return scores of their phone calls and E-mail messages, denied them access to leaders of the McCain campaign, and pressed them to collect church directories—a controversial tactic—as the centerpiece of a strategy to woo "values" voters.
Source: "Fired McCain Campaign Aides Sound Off," by Dan Gilgoff, 5/31/2007 (http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070531/31mccain.htm) @ USNews.com (http://www.usnews.com/)
While an article by David Brody at CBN News (http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/168991.aspx) casually dismisses this issue, I believe that situations like this one illustrate politicians' true attitude towards Christian voters. George W. Bush paraded his alleged personal Christian faith around to get elected by the "Evangelical vote," yet does nothing to show a genuine personal Biblical faith during his time in office (i.e. see this YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_8GoF9SLas)). And now the Democratic presidential candidates have suddenly developed an alleged strong Christian faith, while the Republican presidential candidates are suddenly reluctant to express their alleged personal Christian faith.
Yet, despite this readily identifiable problem of sociopolitical duplicity among politicians, the "God, Duty, Country" mindset still thrives within the Body of Christ. This represents a giant logical disconnect, a disconnect which cannot be explained without recognizing a lust for political power and a presence of a doublethink. Put simply, Christians like Ralph Reed, James Dobson, and Pat Robertson have tasted worldly power and desire to keep it at great cost, as they did when Roman Emperor Constantine the Great fused Christianity into the state religion during the 4th Century.
In some ways White House power is like [J.R.R.] Tolkien’s ring of power. When you put it on, it feels good and it’s dazzling. But after a while it begins to consume you in ways you don’t realize. That’s the nature of White House power. I have no doubt that Christian political leaders have gotten involved for all the right reasons. I just think over time it becomes harder and harder to stand up against that ring of power and the White House, to say no and walk away.Source: " 'Seduction of Christians,' " by Richard Wolffe of Newsweek, October 16, 2006 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15292065/site/newsweek/) @ MSNBC.MSN.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/). So, did Jerry Falwell's legacy really produce anything new and innovative politically, or did he simply create another disingenuous political game where Satan conquers the Body of Christ itself politically?
Suggested Reading: "Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction," by David Kuo (http://www.amazon.com/Tempting-Faith-Inside-Political-Seduction/dp/0743287126).
Interviews with David Kuo: On Point with Tom Ashbrook Radio Interview (http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2006/10/20061018_b_main.asp), Countdown with Keith Olbermann Video Interview (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15228489/), Written Interview with John W. Whitehead of OldSpeak (http://www.rutherford.org/Oldspeak/Articles/Interviews/oldspeak-DavidKuo.html), Written Interview with Richard Wolffe of Newsweek (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15292065/site/newsweek/).
Source: "Fired McCain Campaign Aides Sound Off," by Dan Gilgoff, 5/31/2007 (http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070531/31mccain.htm) @ USNews.com (http://www.usnews.com/)
While an article by David Brody at CBN News (http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/168991.aspx) casually dismisses this issue, I believe that situations like this one illustrate politicians' true attitude towards Christian voters. George W. Bush paraded his alleged personal Christian faith around to get elected by the "Evangelical vote," yet does nothing to show a genuine personal Biblical faith during his time in office (i.e. see this YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_8GoF9SLas)). And now the Democratic presidential candidates have suddenly developed an alleged strong Christian faith, while the Republican presidential candidates are suddenly reluctant to express their alleged personal Christian faith.
Yet, despite this readily identifiable problem of sociopolitical duplicity among politicians, the "God, Duty, Country" mindset still thrives within the Body of Christ. This represents a giant logical disconnect, a disconnect which cannot be explained without recognizing a lust for political power and a presence of a doublethink. Put simply, Christians like Ralph Reed, James Dobson, and Pat Robertson have tasted worldly power and desire to keep it at great cost, as they did when Roman Emperor Constantine the Great fused Christianity into the state religion during the 4th Century.
In some ways White House power is like [J.R.R.] Tolkien’s ring of power. When you put it on, it feels good and it’s dazzling. But after a while it begins to consume you in ways you don’t realize. That’s the nature of White House power. I have no doubt that Christian political leaders have gotten involved for all the right reasons. I just think over time it becomes harder and harder to stand up against that ring of power and the White House, to say no and walk away.Source: " 'Seduction of Christians,' " by Richard Wolffe of Newsweek, October 16, 2006 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15292065/site/newsweek/) @ MSNBC.MSN.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/). So, did Jerry Falwell's legacy really produce anything new and innovative politically, or did he simply create another disingenuous political game where Satan conquers the Body of Christ itself politically?
Suggested Reading: "Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction," by David Kuo (http://www.amazon.com/Tempting-Faith-Inside-Political-Seduction/dp/0743287126).
Interviews with David Kuo: On Point with Tom Ashbrook Radio Interview (http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2006/10/20061018_b_main.asp), Countdown with Keith Olbermann Video Interview (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15228489/), Written Interview with John W. Whitehead of OldSpeak (http://www.rutherford.org/Oldspeak/Articles/Interviews/oldspeak-DavidKuo.html), Written Interview with Richard Wolffe of Newsweek (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15292065/site/newsweek/).