A Loss Of Faith

Former White House Insider Tells Lesley Stahl Staffers Called Evangelicals "Nuts" And "Goofy"

(CBS)  David Kuo is an evangelical Christian and card-carrying member of the religious right, who got a job in the White House in the president’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. He thought it was a dream-come-true: a chance to work for a president whose vision about compassionate conservatism would be matched with sweeping legislation to help the poor.

But Kuo says the so-called compassion agenda has fallen short of its promise and he blames President Bush for that in his new book.

As correspondent Lesley Stahl reports, he also says the White House was a place that cynically used religion for political ends and that White House aides ridiculed the very Christian leaders who helped bring Mr. Bush to office.

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In his book, Kuo wrote that White House staffers would roll their eyes at evangelicals, calling them "nuts" and "goofy."

Asked if that was really the attitude, Kuo tells Stahl, "Oh, absolutely. You name the important Christian leader and I have heard them mocked by serious people in serious places."

Specifically, Kuo says people in the White House political affairs office referred to Pat Robertson as "insane," Jerry Falwell as "ridiculous," and that James Dobson "had to be controlled." And President Bush, he writes, talked about his compassion agenda, but never really fought for it.

"The President of the United States promised he would be the leading lobbying on behalf of the poor. What better lobbyist could anybody get?" Kuo wonders.

What happened?

"The lobbyist didn’t follow through," he claims.

"What about 9/11?" Stahl asks. "All the priorities got turned about."

"I was there before 9/11. I know what happened before 9/11 … The trend before 9/11 was…president makes a big announcement and nothing happens," Kuo replies.

Kuo speaks as an insider. Even before he became the number two guy in the White House faith-based office, he had a long resume in the world of Christian conservatives.

Kuo says he took candidate Bush at his word during the 2000 campaign.

At the time, Bush proposed for the first time that he would spend $8 billion dollars on programs for the poor.

"I think it's one of the most important political speeches given in the last generation. I really do," says Kuo. "It laid out a whole new philosophy for Republicans."

After the election, to much fanfare, President Bush created the office of faith-based initiatives to increase funds to religious charities.

But Kuo says there were problems right off the bat. For one, he says the office dropped very quickly down the list of priorities.

Asked how much money finally went to them, Kuo says laughing, “Oh, in the first two years, first two years I think $60 million.”

"When you hold it up to a promise of $8 billion, I don't know how good I am at math, but I know that's less than one percent of a promise," says Kuo.

Part of the problem, he says, was indifference from "the base," the religious right. He took 60 Minutes to a convention of evangelical groups – his old stomping ground - and walked around the display booths, looking for any reference to the poor.

"You’ve got homosexuality in your kid’s school, and you’ve got human cloning, and partial birth abortion and divorce and stem cell," Kuo remarked. "Not a mention of the poor."

"This message that has been sent out to Christians for a long time now: that Jesus came primarily for a political agenda, and recently primarily a right-wing political agenda - as if this culture war is a war for God. And it’s not a war for God, it’s a war for politics. And that’s a huge difference," says Kuo.

[jimlaregina]

nikosk1, you asked, "Remember how Kerry lost in 2004?" John Kerry won the election but Bush Republicans in Ohio and other states rigged voting machines to award the vote to Bush. Read Mark Crispin Miller's book FOOLED AGAIN. Also, read RFK Jr.'s ROLLING STONE article:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10432334/was_the_2004_election_stolen

[sanfelz]

In the Bush Administration, only Christian conservative supporters have acceptable faith-based charities. No other religious group can get funds from this ostensibly compassionate conservative office.
Bush skirts legality by violating the separation of church and state and the churches violate their unacceptable tax exempt status by electioneering for their supposed benefactor.

[norcalruss]

I saw 60 minutes and what David Kuo said didn%u2019t surprise me a bit. The Bush Whitehouse and Karl Rove will stoop to any level to hold onto power. They will lie, cheat, and steal. In 2000 Rove spread lies about John McCain to ensure a Bush victory in South Carolina. In the 2002 elections Rove told Republicans to %u2018run on the war against WMD%u2019 meaning the upcoming war with Iraq even though, to this day, there has been not a single WMD found. In 2004 Rove was behind the Swift Boat lies that torpedoed the John Kerry campaign. This is one the most arrogant, manipulative, hypocritical, and corrupt administrations in recent history. Karl Rove and company see the Christians as being little more than useful idiots to take advantage of for holding onto power. I hope the Christians boycott the election in droves this year.

[pakaal]

Keep marching who out, janem4? David Kuo has been a self-proclaimed "compassionate conservative" since the phrase was coined in the early '90s. And he's certainly been a conservative far longer. And this is a Democrat plot?

It's amazing how you can spin this to try and make people believe that more than two years ago when he started writing his book, David Kuo anticipated all the OTHER scandals in US politics would lead to the POSSIBILITY of Democrats taking over the House and MAYBE the Senate so he timed it so his book would come out now. That theory is just ludicrous!

Republicans are scared because they've made a whole bunch of big mistakes that are now coming up to bite them on their butts. Who's fault is it? Democrats, who haven't held power since '94? Please, get real.

[frankly6]

They've simply thrown a bone to the religious right on a few issues and used the power they gained to enrich themselves and their friends. Since when did money, power and curruption become Christian values?
Wake up Church you've made a deal with the devil.

[frankly6]

The money changer have overun the temple and the pharisies let them in once again.

[frankly6]

The union of church and state corrupts both. Always has. Always will.

[luvny-2009]

I listen to the guy on 60 Min last night and I believed what he was saying. Sadly I think Bush & Co used the Bible to get the votes from those that hold the Bible close at heart, then kept them on a string. He'll cut them loose as soon as he's done with them. Pretty sad but they were fooled not once but twice. Bush & Co pulled religion into politics for their benefit. They will have to explain to the big guy some day. When you mix religion and Politics you get the Middle East.

[bluestardad]

Next time you are in the shower with Rove and Foley are you going to be the one who picks up the dropped soap?

[taoset]

With Carl Rove at the helm, why is anyone surprised at the slick use and manipulation of good people, causes, and organizations. The strength of the current maninpulation shows the dangers of mixing faith with politics. Reasoned judgement need not be, but is too often a poor second cousin to preached faith, whether it comes for the pulpit or from the oval office.

To then respond that Christians would do no better under Democrats, shows how much some have bought the "faith," and turned they're backs on a genuine spiritual vision. To circumscribe God within the confines of a human agenda may be comforting, especially when its one's own agenda, but any sense of an Almighty and transcendent is lost.

[snowbrd7]

David Kuo go out in the world and do what good Christians do best, provide hope to the sick, hungry,downtrodden. I don't understand how the Christians became so obsessed with politics.

[skappesser]

Hi Pug_ster-

Think a minute...
Unlike Chistians, Jewish and Muslim people have totally integrated their religion with politics:

Isreal = Jewish state.
Iran = Muslim state.


(I think Buddhists have no state though.)

[skappesser]

I wouldn't think everyone working in the White House during any administration is monolithic in their thinking and actions. Not all of the staff are Christians or respect them.
Did everyone on staff during the Clinton presidency cheat on their spouse? Even Nixon's staff had a few that weren't arrested...!

[pugster]

For the guy who said, Religion IS Politics certainly don't know what is the separation of Church and Sate. You certainly don't see Jews, Muslims, or Buddists shoving their beliefs into Politics.

[skappesser]

So we have White House staffers rolling their eyes at evangelicals, calling them "nuts" and "goofy". And serious people in serious places mocking Christian leaders. People referring to Pat Robertson as "insane," Jerry Falwell as "ridiculous," and that James Dobson "had to be controlled."
Doesn't sound any worse (or better) then a Democratic White House would, does it?

[adventurepa]

As a tax payer, I would be very upset that 8 billion would be given to any religious cause.
It should go back to the citizens before it lines the pockets of any religious leaders.

[cabaird55]

C S Lewis in his "Screwtape Letters," the imaginary account of a senior devil giving the benefit of his experience to fellow tempters, has Screwtape saying:

"Religion can still send us the truly delicious sins. The fine flower of unholiness can grow only in the close neighbourhood of the Holy. Nowhere do we tempt more successfully as on the very steps of the altar."

These days I am reluctant to call myself a Christian because I don't want anyone to associate me and my beliefs with the "conservatives" or the "right". I think "follower of Jesus Christ" is more appropriate since he is the leader.

To expand on what grumpas said earlier, the "right" wants to shove their Christian ideology and their style of laws on those of us who don't practice Christianity the way they do as well as those who aren't Christian. There are many of every denomination who are fearful of retribution from their fellow church members if they express their true beliefs.

Please go to the polls and vote against every candidate whose slogan includes the word "right" such as The Right Candidate" or "Right for You". Take all your friends to vote too. We can make a political statement against theirs. It is our duty as free Americans and essential to keeping our Constitutional freedoms.

[frankly6]

You said it. The Christian right made a deal with the devil. The union of Church and State has always corrupted both. Always will.

[getcentered]

Religion IS Politics

Most religions exist today, not to have an open philosophical conversation, but to create political alignment within society.

Rome converted to Christianity back in 2 A.D. when the Jews were overpowering them POLITICALY.

We as a people need to return our religious beliefs back to their philosophical origins so as to open the discussion about why we are alive, once again.

[grumpas]

I wish I could feel sorry for these poor Christian's who have been mocked! But, I don't! What did they expect???? They made a pact with the devil and got burnt! They were willing to sink everything this country has represented for a little extra power and influence! That was exactly what they were after was the same thing the Republican were. They tried to make this a "Christian Nation"! To shove their Christian ideology on all American's and make it a manditory religion! To inflict their style of laws on us! To exclude everyone who wasn't Christian from the process. I do not see Evangelicalical's as being wronged in this story! They used the Republican party to shove their religious belief's down every American's throat! They got what they deserve! Let's hope a few of have learned a valuable lesson here. When you lie down with dogs you get flee's!