Bush Biographer Pens Pro-Obama Book

Politico: Conservative Evangelical Author Writes About Democratic Candidate's Faith

(The Politico)  This story was written by Ben Smith.

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The conservative Evangelical biographer of George W. Bush and Tom DeLay has moved on to a new subject: Barack Obama. And his new book, due out this summer, may lend credibility to Senator Obama's bid to win Evangelical Christian voters away from the Republican Party.

The forthcoming volume from Stephen Mansfield, whose sympathetic "The Faith of George W. Bush" spent 15 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 2004, is titled "The Faith of Barack Obama." Its tone ranges from gently critical to gushing, and the author defends Obama-and even his controversial former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright-from conservative critics, and portrays him as a compelling figure for Christian voters.

"Young Evangelicals are saying, 'Look, I'm pro-life but I'm looking at a guy who's first of all black-and they love that; two, who's a Christian; and three who believes faith should bear on public policy," Mansfield, who described himself as a conservative Republican, said in a telephone interview. "They disagree with him on abortion, but they agree with him on poverty, on the war."

His book, provided exclusively to Politico by the publisher, focuses more on Obama's religious journey than his electoral prospects.

"For Obama, faith is not simply political garb, something a focus group told him he ought to try. Instead, religion to him is transforming, lifelong, and real," Mansfield writes, going on to compare Obama favorably to Christian Democratic presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, who he says erected a "wall of separation" between their religion and their governance.

By contrast, "Obama's faith infuses his public policy, so that his faith is not just limited to the personal realms of his life, it also informs his leadership," Mansfield writes.

The book is published by Thomas Nelson, the world's largest Christian publisher. It's due out August 5. "The Faith of Barack Obama" is expected to retail in Christian outlets and the Wal-Mart chain of stores, as well as secular bookstores. A motivational speaker and former pastor, Mansfield is the author of several books on faith as well as the co-author of former House Republican powerhouse Tom DeLay's 2007 book "No Retreat, No Surrender," a defense of his tarnished legacy sprinkled with fierce attacks on his opponents and on liberal causes.

Mansfield writes that Obama "is unapologetically Christian and unapologetically liberal." But he writes that in substance and in style, Obama holds an appeal to Evangelicals that Senator John McCain may lack.

He contrasted Obama's relative "fluency" with the language of religion-his campaign has outlined a pitch to the "Joshua Generation," a common term in Christian circles for younger Evangelicals-with the approach of his Republican rival.

"The McCain campaign is pretty clumsy when it comes to religion," he said, noting McCain's courtship, then renunciation, of two prominent Evangelical pastors, John Hagee and Rod Parsley.

In his Fathers Day speech at a Chicago church Sunday, Obama again spoke explicitly of his personal Christianity: "We do what we can to build our house upon the sturdiest rock, and for me that means building that house on the foundation of Jesus Christ."

Mansfield's book validates Obama's attempt-which began in earnest in his 2004 speech to the Democratic National Convention-to provide a compelling public face to the nascent "Religious Left." In that speech, he proclaimed that "we worship an awesome God in the blue states," and Mansfield tracks his continuing attempts to contest the Republican hold on white Evangelical voters.

One notable moment came in 2006 when Obama appeared at Reverend Rick Warren's megachurch beside GOP Senator Sam Brownback.

"Welcome to my house," Brownback told Obama on stage.

"This is myhouse too," Obama responded. "This is God's house."

Obama, Mansfield writes, "made it clear to all that he [will] not be moved from his rightful place in the Christian fold." 

Obama's Christianity, however, has been under attack on two fronts this campaign season. The first is from a false, but widely held, belief that he is a Muslim. Mansfield dismisses that charge, then dwells at length on Obama's controversial church, Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ.

Mansfield said in the interview that he entered Trinity having heard "that Obama's church was a cult, something un-Christian, that Reverend Wright was a nut," but emerged with the view that it is "a pretty solid Christian church."

His warm description of the church reflects that view.

Though Mansfield writes of some jarringly radical features of the black liberation theology from which Trinity is descended, he concludes that what it offers is the "'born-again, new birth, blood-washed, Spirit-empowered Chrstianity' that Evangelicals know."

"Few sermons this good will be preached anywhere in America on this Sunday morning," he says of the sermon he heard from Trinity's current pastor, Rev. Otis Moss.

Mansfield's book is addressed to Evangelical readers, and it raises some questions about his own faith, including his willingness to see contradictions in the bible, his belief that religions other than Protestant Christianity provide other "paths" to a "higher power," and his doubts about the afterlife.

There are also passages in Mansfield's book that may give Obama's secular supporters pause. In particular, a theme from his book on Bush-the suggestion that the president's rise was itself an act of God-reappears in his coverage of Obama. He approvingly quotes Obama's old rival Rep. Bobby Rush saying that Obama's Senate win was "divinely ordained."

"Increasingly, words such as called, chosen, and anointed are being used of Obama," he writes.

Despite Mansfield's praise of the candidate, however, and his view that Obama may win over large numbers of younger Evangelical voters, the author also demonstrates the limits to the Democrats' appeal.

Mansfield said he will vote against Obama in November for a single reason: "Because I'm pro-life."

[lochlan-2009]

The guy sounds like a lunatic, but I guess that''s what the crazies like. Another bible sales man.

[l8c6]

Mansfield said he will vote against Obama in November for a single reason: "Because I''m pro-life." --

But it''s o.k. for him to question if there is life after death.

Yeah, like Bush and the republicans are pro-life. Look how much blood and human suffering is on their hands. Hypocrisy of a Godless magnitude. Right wing neo cons are scum.

[wogerwabbit]

Mansfield said he will vote against Obama in November for a single reason: "Because I''m pro-life."

No. He''s not pro-life, he''s anti-abortion. If he were pro-life he would support those now living as well as those yet to be born which would mean voting to end the war.

[Razzl]

Very strange--you can''t defend the hideously indefensible Tom Delay on one hand and then enthuse about Obama on the other--this guy sounds like a cheerleader for anybody who appears to be religious, whether their religion makes any sense or not. And I''m suspicious about whether he''s had a close enough association with Obama to be making such hard assertions about the depth of his faith.

And in summary, being anti-war is as "pro-life" as being anti-abortion, so choosing McCain in this election would not be a more "pro-life" choice than choosing Obama...

[broadwayphi]

You can be Christian and progressive. Obama is. I am. Millions of us are.

Great article.

[singingrick]

Someone being a Christian or not has no bearing on whether they are a good leader. Bush advertises himself as a Christian but is clearly the worst President in history.

[antoniof123]

This guy like all religious nuts is a slime.

[fstop100]

Why is it this country can''t put a qualified person out there to run for president. We have a rookie and and old guy. I guess we have to go with the old guy.

[macusweil]

As Obama says it''s about judgement and setting road map for progress. Bush and the Republicans have done nothing but move the country backwards these past 7 1/2 years.

McCain has experience but does not show good judgement on Iraq war, ecomony etc. He wants to just continue with failed policies of the past. Lost all his mojo in 2000.

[parrot123-2009]

Yet another attempt by the Obamadisciple media to portray him as a true Christian.

He''''s fooled the gullible, that''''s for sure.
Posted by Concerned08 at 11:44 AM : Jun 16, 2008

Mansfield won''t be voting for Obama but must really respect him to have written this book which is why i can''t understand why some of these Repugs aren''t Proud of a fellow American Leader being clearly Respected and embraced by both FRIENDS and FOES the world over - leaving just the Repugs as the hating few. Cheers@

[parrot123-2009]

McCain has experience but does not show good judgement on Iraq war, ecomony etc. He wants to just continue with failed policies of the past. Lost all his mojo in 2000.
Posted by macusweil at 11:51 AM : Jun 16, 2008

Which Repug wouldn''t, after all those attacks. Cheers!

[libh8er]

Ubama is a ''post turtle'':

He didn''t get up there by himself, he doesn''t belong
up there, he doesn''t know what to do while he is up there, and you just wonder what kind of a dumb arse put him up there to begin with.

[obama8years]

How Much Money did it Take for a book like this to be written. Money Motivates, no book is going to change my mind about Obama trinity United Church. THat church is a breeding ground of Wacko''s.

[actornaught]

As long as evangelicals define themselves as one-issue voters, they will be roundly used by the ''pubs. They will be lied to and abused by them, all for an interpretation of a vague line in the New Testament. This is to the detriment of full-blooded Christian ethics and morality, far more consistent with the platform of the democratic party, and of course, liberalism.

[briannorwood]

lochlan:

Actually among the hard right evangelical movement, Stephen Mansfield is actually one of the nearly sane ones.

Yes, he does believe in some wacky stuff too (like the Rapture and divine ordination of George Bush), but by-and-large, he''s a pretty smart guy.

I read his bio in Bush and found it well written and illucidating (albeit a bit scary in parts).

Sounds like this book will go a long way in repudiating the Obama hate mongers on talk radio (i.e. Hannity, Limbaugh).

[husein_pasha]

This means that the biographer is a normal person

[actornaught]

...Sounds like this book will go a long way in repudiating the Obama hate mongers on talk radio (i.e. Hannity, Limbaugh).
Posted by briannorwood at 12:15 PM : Jun 16, 2008

Nah, they''ll pry some anti-logical contortions out of it to make it sound their same old cr@p, how it verifies what they''ve been saying all along.

[bobnjersey]

[He didn''''t get up there by himself, he doesn''''t belong up there, he doesn''''t know what to do while he is up there, and you just wonder what kind of a dumb arse put him up there to begin with.]
[Posted by LibH8er at 12:07 PM : Jun 16, 2008]

seems like this could be said about others as well ... hmmm ... i wonder who that might be?

[it_oldtimer]

You have only to listen to all the fear and panic within the Republican ranks to know that most Republicans already realize that they''ve already lost this race.

The only thing that isn''t certain yet is whether the Republicans are smart enough to realize WHY they totally lost control of the electorate and the government.

Will they have the courage to finally face the fact that Americans now overwhelmingly see the entire "conservative agenda" itself as being to blame for their growing sentiment that "America is headed in the Wrong direction"?

Conservatives now realistically have only two possible choices at this point: either move radically toward the center (become far more liberal, in other words) or face political irrelevance or even extinction.

They have brought this entirely upon themselves, and because of the "absolute" nature of their regressive ideology, they have not left themselves much room to maneuver their way out of their ongoing predicament.

Their current fear and panic is a direct result of that disturbing realization.

[jack3213]

Any fool will vote for a Demcrat because they don''t approve of Bush, not because the Republican is the better choice. Too many Americans don''t even know what "Change" means in the big scheme of things. Change can mean higher taxes, and an unqualifed leader- just to spite yourself- now that''s a wise move...lol

[texanforlogi]

We have a rookie and and old guy. I guess we have to go with the old guy.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by fstop100 at 11:25 AM : Jun 16, 2008


Thank you, but no. Going with the old guy is a bad idea. McCain has serious anger management issues and that would be VERY bad for our country.

[it_oldtimer]

What has the Bush regime done to eliminate abortion? Absolutely nothing.

What has he done to bring prayer back into schools? Absolutely nothing.

What has he done to keep the 10 Commandment tablets on the Courthouse lawns? Absolutely nothing.

The Republicans only pay "lip service" to the religious one-issue voters, and then, after getting elected, they soundly ignore them.

Wake up evangelicals; you''re just a bunch of easily manipulated suckers, and the Republican party has played you like a fiddle, and done absolutely nothing for you in the end.

Fundamentalist christians aren''t just spiritually gullible, they''re also the most politically gullible group ever.

[jack3213]

Obama is delusional. Amazing people feel that he will bring the right kind of change. In spite of Bush being unpopular, irrational people do not understand that change can be very, very bad with an unqualified, inexperianced, leader, which Obama is.

[andor3]

"people do not understand that change can be very, very bad"

that is the conservative philosophy in a nutshell, thanks: no matter how bad things are, be afraid of change because there is a chance they could get worse. It is a philosophy of cowardice, hopelessness, and expecting luck and others to take care of you instead of taking life by the reins and improving things through vision and hard work. Worse yet, it often relies on rich and authority figures and corporations to do the thinking and work.

The conservative philosophy is the opposite of what built America into a great nation.

Barack Obama stands for hope and vision and change. John McCain stands for keep doing what has failed and hope yer daddy takes care of you.

[bobnjersey]

[Why is it this country can''''t put a qualified person out there to run for president. We have a rookie and and old guy. I guess we have to go with the old guy.]
[Posted by fstop100 at 11:25 AM : Jun 16, 2008]

system is terribly broken. broken systems produce bad output/results.

[bobnjersey]

[Mansfield is the author of several books on faith as well as the co-author of former House Republican powerhouse Tom DeLay''s 2007 book "No Retreat, No Surrender," a defense of his tarnished legacy sprinkled with fierce attacks on his opponents and on liberal causes. ]

his credibility is in question with his association with this psychopathic charlatan.

[joe1022joe]

This is how to decide whom to vote for in November: In time of war, who do you see as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States of America? If you think Barak Hussein Obama is the guy you want telling the Joint Chiefs of Staff (the top generals in the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, and US Marine Corps) what to do and with the responsibility to defend all of us, then you should vote for him. If you don''t, vote John McCain.

[mrmazerati]

I don''t mind if he''s a liberal. As long as he is a good liberal. If he helps the middle class, puts more people back to work, helps companies compete in this century by promoting technology and cares about ecological issues.

[actornaught]

Posted by joe1022joe at 01:46 PM : Jun 16, 2008

I bet you''d like a name that sounded more like, oh, say a "David Duke", wouldn''t you...

[roger_inkart]

Electing Obama will be a ''mea culpa'' to the rest of the world and go a long way to repairing the damage to our image and credibility. Electing John McCain will basically be admitting we have learned nothing in the 8 brutal and self-destructive years of the Bush administration.

We can either move up and out with Obama, or continue our downhill slide with McCain....

[midland666]

jack3213..
i have to Agree,
look at what SHRUBs horrible 8 years has caused us...

[andor3]

"Oh how I look forward to the day when politicians around the world use logic and reason to make their decisions."

Sadly I think they already do, they make decisions based on a calculus of money and greed, and advancing their legacy and election bankroll.

The religion stuff is just something they hide behind to deflect criticism.

[nevminer735]

I have watched the Republican party hoodwink the evangelicals for many years and now that a spiritual christian is running for the presidency they will run true to form and vote for McCain. The Republicans in general are show and tell people whose faith and patroticy is worn in their lapels. Their beliefs don''t even run skin deep because if you look at the "Hammer" and "W" they don''t practice what they preach. I state for example the refusal for Health Care for Children bill that Bush VETOED. The antics to the Hammer were all but mere shams of the faith he professes to follow. In my opinion, both of these people have no clue as to the real meaning of Christianity. It is from the soul and heart not from the mouth and mind to be used to begile and scam people.

[one-american]

The Los Angeles Times lays waste to the liberal meme that "Bush Lied".

Actually, it is the liberals that lied.

And it is one of your own that has exposed your lies.

Read it and weep for yourselves, liberals:

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-kirchick16-2008jun16,0,7766785.story

[roger_inkart]

Actually, it is the liberals that lied.

Posted by One-American at 02:16 PM : Jun 16, 2008

Your desperation is amusing and sad at the same time. As if one editorial could somehow explain and wash away all the filth,lies and deception of the Bush administration.

Give it UP already. The American public have made up their minds, and the Bush administration will be branded -rightly so - for eternity as liars and villans who deceived the nation into an unnecessary and pointless war.

[stevex47]

Posted by joe1022joe at 01:46 PM : Jun 16, 2008

I bet you''''d like a name that sounded more like, oh, say a "David Duke", wouldn''''t you...

Or you could use your other name joecoolsweat. Did they ban your other name?

[broadwayphi]

Obama is a Christian progressive.

McCain is a secular corporate oligarch.

Americans have a choice. An interesting one.

[bobnjersey]

[[The Los Angeles Times lays waste to the liberal meme that "Bush Lied". Actually, it is the liberals that lied. Read it and weep for yourselves, liberals]
[Posted by One-American at 02:16 PM : Jun 16, 2008]

so now you''re ok w/ everthing that sources from the msm ... or it just the pieces that align w/ your belief?

[one-american]

In an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, James Kirchick lays waste to the liberal meme that "Bush Lied".

Actually, it was the liberals that lied about Bush.

AND IT WAS ONE OF YOU OWN THAT HAS EXPOSED YOUR LIES!

Read it and weep for yourselves, liberals:

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-kirchick16-2008jun16,0,7766785.story

[roger_inkart]

so now you''re ok w/ everthing that sources from the msm ... or it just the pieces that align w/ your belief?

Posted by bobnjersey at 02:43 PM : Jun 16, 2008

The ''source'' is a little confused neocon named James Kirchick. He can hardly be expected to do anything but defend the Bush administration and try and undermine the truth of the matter. He is defending himself by proxy.

It''s curious to note the article makes no mention of the word ''Neocon'' or ''PNAC'' or any of the special intel offices set up by Cheney, Rumsfeld and Feith who were the ones who cherry-picked the evidence and THEN presented it to congress. Congress saw what the Bush administration wanted them to see.

But then again, the Bush administration and their braindead apologists are desperate to overcome the truth - as they have always been.

[roger_inkart]

James Kirchick lays waste to the liberal meme that "Bush Lied".

Posted by One-American at 03:07 PM : Jun 16, 2008

Kirchick is not a liberal. He is a pro Iraq war neocon, you unspeakable moron.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kirchick

''His subsequent writing places him more firmly in the neoconservative camp, contributing to venues such as Commentary and The Weekly Standard. Here his writing has largely consisted of outspoken criticism of liberal or left-wing public figures and groups along with advocacy of an interventionist U.S. foreign policy, including support for the Iraq War.''

[ricknuber]

Posted by One-American at 03:07 PM : Jun 16, 2008

Tell me something, stupid: what''s more compelling, a bipartisan congressional report, or an opinion piece by a far right nutjob?

Face facts: your heroes in the Bush administration are liars. Nothing your neocon masters try to do can whitewash it enough to repair the Republican brand.

Bush lied.
Cheney lied.
Rumsfeld lied.
Rice lied.

[realtime09]

Gee I think maybe the republicans like the fact that Obamas concept of universal health care, and I quote, is about how he can "get your health care premiums down."

And here is true irony--MICHAEL Moore supports Oobama!!!! Why did mike bother making Sicko?

TO QUOTE MIKE--

"I just make movies!"

Kind of makes you...sicko.

[mrmazerati]

I just noticed something odd. Nobody is calling Obama a Muslim in these posts. Usually, there''s at least one or two. Did they give up in that one?

[mbcsmith]

Years from now, Bush will be remembered as a president who stood his ground, faced America''s enemies and protected this country. Like those who hated Lincoln, the naysayers will just fade away.

[ricknuber]

"Years from now, Bush will be remembered as a president who stood his ground, faced America''''s enemies and protected this country. Like those who hated Lincoln, the naysayers will just fade away."
Posted by mbcsmith at 04:59 PM : Jun 16, 2008

Yeah...like that worked for Nixon, who was remembered as a crook until his dying day, and beyond.

Bush lied.
The apologists will tell more lies to try to cover them.
It won''t work.

[ricknuber]

"just to show how stupid Obama supporters are.....
most of them think Bush is running for a third term."
Posted by TruUSA at 05:06 PM : Jun 16, 2008

You mean the way neocons think Bill Clinton has been running since 2000?

Get a clue, you callow little fool. Nobody thinks Bush is running...we just don''t want his some of his worse ideas perpetuated by the next president, and McCain seems to be promising to do just that.

[it_oldtimer]

McCain hasn''t said anything yet that''s any different than what Bush has been saying for the past 8 years.

McCain = Bush

There is no difference.

[bobnjersey]

[Ricky boy, come on now...you have to criticize Bush because you can''''t find anything to criticize McCain
about. Sad.]
[Posted by TruUSA at 05:14 PM : Jun 16, 2008]

is that anything like you referring to ''godd@mn america'' when speaking about obama ... who didn''t make the godd@mn america statement?

[it_oldtimer]

I might have added:

McCain = Bush = Failure

Guaranteed.