A Loss Of Faith

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

(CBS) 
Kuo himself often confused the two. He was a pioneer of the compassionate conservative movement, but began to go off the tracks when he, like other evangelical speechwriters, wrote for some of the stars of the Republican party, with hidden snippets of hymns and biblical phrases.

"A way to talk about faith without having people in the mainstream media identify it as faith," he explains.

As in this speech, delivered by President Bush, which Kuo didn’t write: "There’s power, wonder-working power in the good and idealism and faith of the American people."

If "wonder working power" sailed over your head, most evangelicals recognize it from a famous hymn.

"God and politics had become very much fused together into a sort of a single entity. Where, in a way, politics was the fourth part of the trinity. God the father, God the son, God the holy spirit, God the politician," says Kuo.

"You’re blowing the whistle on you. You’re the one who did this," Stahl remarks.

"I say this as someone who has lived it, not as someone who preaches it, as though I’m holier than thou. I am the least holy among thou," he replies.

Kuo actually left politics for a while. But then he was summoned to Austin, Texas to meet then-Governor Bush.

Kuo thought they’d talk for 15 or 20 minutes; instead he says they talked for hours and he admits he was "dazzled" by Bush’s compassion.

But once in the White House, he says President Bush and his team let the compassion agenda "languish."

"Well, they say they tried. They say they wanted these programs. And this is the give and take of political life. And that you’re being unfair," Stahl says.

"It all comes down to the fact that if the president wanted it, he would have gotten it," Kuo replies.

The White House calls Kuo’s book "ridiculous," and Kuo’s old boss, Jim Towey, who ran the faith based office until this past June says Kuo is "naïve and simplistic."

"I think it's dangerous to take a snapshot of a few months or even a year and draw conclusions," Towey says. "Ya know, I can look you in the eye and say the president did what he could do."

Kuo says Towey and the White House were embarrassed when the Washington Post ran an article in September 2002 saying they were using the faith office to woo voters, even though the president had repeatedly pledged it was not political.

The White House shot down the Washington Post story, but now Kuo reveals it was all true, and what’s more – he’s the one who thought up the idea.

"This is your idea to tie this office, that was supposed to be non-partisan, you come up with this idea to tie it to the campaign?" Stahl asks.

"Uh-huh," Kuo affirms. "I want this initiative to work."

"And you think if you can get it tied – hooked in with the political people, that they’ll then come back and support you, is that the thinking?" Stahl asks.

"This is not rocket science or brain surgery, this is a matter of survival," says Kuo.

He says he went to the White House political affairs office, then run by Ken Mehlman, and offered to hold events at taxpayer expense for Republicans in tight races as a way of energizing religious voters.

Kuo says Mehlman was "thrilled."

"He just whipped off a bunch a names of particular races and said, 'We need to go there, there, there, there and there,'" Kuo says.

Events in 20 key races, Kuo says, were eventually held. Jim Towey disputes that, though he does confirm the meeting with Ken Mehlman. "But never, never was I going to go out there and politicize this initiative," Towey tells Stahl.

Asked if Mehlman crossed the line in even discussing it, Towey says "No."

"Did you cross over the line in discussing it with Ken Mehlman?" Stahl asks.

"When I came to the White House, I came with my eyes wide open. I knew there were going to be political pressures from Republicans, from Democrats. And the reality is President Bush gave me very clear marching orders not to politicize the initiative," Towey says.

Towey says he was evenhanded in running the events, organizing some at the request of Democrats. But Kuo stands by his version.

[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!