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Pot Lucks for Bush

What is the purpose of a church?

If you're a traditionally-minded person, you might answer that a church is a place where people of like-minded religious beliefs gather to worship, fellowship, and learn about God.

But if you're part of Bush/Cheney America, the church has a more important function: it's a fundamental building block in your political empire.

Take a look at this Bush/Cheney '04 campaign instruction sheet, obtained by the Washington Post. It outlines the "duties" of good Christian campaign coordinators. Some highlights:

  • Send your Church Directory to your State Bush-Cheney '04 Headquarters or give to a BC04 Field Rep.

  • Identify another conservative church in your community who we can organize for Bush.

  • Recruit 5 people in your church to help with the voter registration project.

  • Talk to your Pastor about holding a Citizenship Sunday and Voter Registration Drive.

  • Begin to organize a voter registration drive at your church.

  • Have a coffee/pot luck dinner/ "Party for the President" with church members -- July 15th, 2004.

  • Talk to your Church's seniors or 20-30 something group about Bush/Cheney '04.

  • Receive a list from you [sic] County Chair of all non-registered church members and Pro-Bush Conservatives.

  • All non-registered church members must be registered to vote.

  • Distribute Voter guides in your church.

  • Get-out-the-vote program in your church-place reminder bulletin about all Christian citizens needing to vote in Sunday program or on a board near the church entrance.
This document illustrates the extent to which the Bush administration/campaign is working to merge politics with religion. It's one thing to make friendly campaign overtures to religious voters. But this is a clear effort to marshal institutional churches in support of Bush/Cheney.

I don't think there's ever been a president who has so overtly worked to eradicate the separation between church and state. And whether you agree with that position or not (I don't), it's an issue which deserves more public attention.


Posted by Brian on July 2, 2004 12:15 PM | Permalink |

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Tracked on July 6, 2004 11:29 AM

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» Money Changers from smijer
I'm not so sure they ever left. If there was any doubt, the money changers are back in the temple... Sorry I'm late to mention it.. I guess it's old news by now.... [More]

Tracked on July 12, 2004 9:50 AM

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» Bush Politicizes Churches from The ChangeLog
Take a look at Resonance: Pot Lucks for Bush -- it's a little scary what he's trying to do. Apparently many conservative churches are nonplussed, and have traditionally asked people to "vote their values" without naming specific candidates or part... [More]

Comments

CJ
July 3, 2004 11:12 PM

1686

If this were happening at mosques, liberals wouldn't care.

I don't see a single thing wrong with anything you mentioned above. Why can't campaigns recruity volunteers at churches?

Brian A.
July 5, 2004 11:39 AM

1698

As a member of a church, I find it rather repulsive that a political campaign is attempting to change "houses of God" into political precincts. They're not just seeking volunteers here; they're attempting to convert religious institutions into a political ones. Were it not for political prohibitions in the church's tax exempt status (which some Republicans have tried to repeal), they'd be even more explicit in their church campaigning.

Len Cleavelin
July 6, 2004 2:56 PM

1702

I can only speak for myself, but this liberal would be just as PO'ed to see this kind of crap being done in mosques and in synagogues as I would seeing it done in churches.

Though I'd like to see Bush/Cheney '04 try to pull this off in a Unitarian Church. Watching their campaign rep be run out of town on a rail by a bunch of incensed UUs would be entertainment you just can't find anywhere else.

:-)

jeff-perado
July 6, 2004 5:24 PM

1703

CJ:

Let us first return to reality, B/C04 has NOT tried to turn mosques into political way-stations. So your guessing about the mind of a liberal is moot (and dead wrong as well). Also, as no Dem (e.g. Kerry) has tried that with mosques, your "observation" really makes no sense. As no one has done it, why assume what you can't possibly assume? It is not logical/reasonable...

As for your thought on why it is wrong. Well let me tell you why. IT IS ILLEGAL, that's why. Unless you think breaking the law is acceptable, then please return to reality, please. Really, please, I'm asking nicely. I'd hate to tag the uber-moralistic conservatives as nothing but law-breaking criminal who have no respect for the rule of law.

bb
January 6, 2005 11:11 PM

22997

I also think " junior bush " is using his religion as a political tool, to gain power for his party. I think " bush the junior " is the perfect " silver spoon" corporate token, he always has been. He's great at it ...it defines his live. " token"