A Loss Of Faith

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

(CBS) 
Asked if in retrospect this was morally wrong, Kuo says, "I feel like it was more spiritually wrong. You’re taking the sacred and you’re making it profane. You’re taking Jesus and reducing him to some precinct captain, to some get-out-the-vote guy."

Kuo believes they helped some Republicans win elections, but that didn’t translate into more money for religious charities.

"David Kuo says that what the president delivered on the faith-based initiative was a 'whisper' of what he promised," Stahl tells Jim Towey.

But Towey says it's not true. "He has delivered on every single thing he promised."

"But not the money," Stahl replies.

"But not every cent of it," Towey says. "He’s not king. He had to work with Congress. It’s naïve to say, 'Oh, because the president asked for it and didn’t get it, that meant he didn’t really want it.'"

And, Towey says the White House got more money after Kuo left.

"Here’s the White House: they say 'Okay, we’ve added $740 million to these programs. We signed an executive order ending discrimination against religious charities.' I mean, they say that these are genuine accomplishments. And aren’t they?" Stahl asks Kuo.

"I think, perhaps for any other president, you know it's not bad. But when he continued to make a promise in the campaign and over and over again: 'This is my signature domestic policy initiative,' and you look at the numbers and you say, 'Well, it really doesn't match up with a man who says that,' and he was supposed to be different," says Kuo.

"Are you being a little naïve?" Stahl asks. "In the sense that the president operates in a political world where everything is compromise, where new priorities had to bubble up because of 9/11. And how could he fight for these programs when he had to worry about Iraq and all these other issues?"

"You know if naïve is believing in a promise, I'll plead to that sort of naiveté," Kuo replies.

This has been gnawing at both him and his wife since 2003, when he learned he had a malignant brain tumor, and left politics for good. Now he has written his book, "Tempting Faith," published by a CBS sister company.

"I have this burden on my heart that the name of God is just being destroyed in the name of politics," Kuo says. "I felt like I had to write this."

"You’re calling for a fast. That’s your expression," Stahl remarks.

"Yes. I think that Christians, particularly evangelical Christians need to take a step back. To have a fast from politics," he replies. "People are being manipulated. Good well-meaning people are being told, ‘Send your money to this Christian advocacy group or that.’ And that’s the answer. It’s just not the answer. It’s not the answer."

Asked if he thinks the White House is going to view his book as a betrayal and may go after him, Kuo says, “Of course they will. I can hear the attacks, right? ‘Oh, he's really a liberal.’ or, ‘Oh, maybe that brain tumor really messed up his head.’ Or, you know, ‘He's an idealist.’"

"But you're okay with that?" Stahl asks.

Says Kuo, "I'm fine with it."

[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!