President
or Preacher?
Audio News Conference
On Tuesday, February 11, the Religion & Culture communications initiative hosted an audio news conference entitled President or Preacher?: George W. Bush's Irresponsible Use of Religious Language. Religion & Culture grantees Dr. Elaine Pagels of Princeton University and Rev. C. Welton Gaddy of the Interfaith Alliance criticized President George W. Bush's consistent and reckless use of religious language, saying that such language is divisive and destructive to the healthy debate essential to the democratic process. Both theologians detailed how the President has used religious language to stifle political debate on key domestic and foreign policy issues, damage the separation between religion and government and undermine religious pluralism in the United States.
Douglas Gould & Co. was very successful in obtaining extensive coverage on the topic, including increased exposure for both grantees. From the initial print placement in the New York Times Week in Review section, culminating in the cover of Newsweek that includes the words: "Bush & God: Why His 'God Talk' Worries Friends & Foes," we can sincerely report that we believe the audio news conference sparked a critical examination of the President's theological beliefs and political motivations.
Indeed, moments after our audio news conference closed, Ari Fleischer was asked about the President's religious language at a White House press briefing. And note that the U.S. News & World Report Table of Contents summarizes their cover story as "George Bush's push for war. Building on his instinct for action and using the language of evangelical Christianity, the president believes he is on a sacred mission to remove the Iraqi despot." Certainly we succeeded in challenging editors and journalists throughout the nation to a more critical examination of the intersection of religion, politics, and culture.
The following articles—some of which quote Dr. Pagels and Dr. Rev. Gaddy directly— appeared in major news outlets between April 1, 2003 and April 30, 2003.
April 15
"America the good," Townhall.com
"Looting America's treasures," The Courier Journal
"Free Speech for Politicians," Christianity Today
"In God's Name" The American Prospect
Townhall.com
HEADLINE: America the good
BYLINE: Dennis
Prager
This article, written by radio talk show host Dennis Prager, appeared on the Townhall.com website on April 15. Prager analyzes how President Bush uses religious and moral language to speak often of America's "goodness" and contrasts his use of such language with that of other world leaders. Prager notes how the American left prefers the language of fairness and rights to the language of morality, and says that the use of moral language is "a primary reason why America is hated." But he concludes by saying that "Rhetoric matters. May we long believe that we are a good people and strive to prove it."
April 20
The Courier Journal
HEADLINE: Looting America's treasures
BYLINE: Pam Platt
In this opinion piece from the April 20 edition of the Louisville, Kentucky-based Courier-Journal, public editor Pam Platt notes that her minister was one of the few people to stand up and speak out against those who would deem anti-war sentiments and views as anti-patriotic or un-American. Platt also extensively quotes Rev. Gaddy as objecting to President Bush's equation of an attack on Iraq to his understanding of Christian morality, and noting that such language cripples democracy by stifling debate.
April 25
Christianity Today
HEADLINE: Free Speech for Politicians
This editorial, which appeared on the Christianity Today website on April 25, quoted Rev. Gaddy as saying that President Bush's use of religious language stifles debate, and alienates people of other faiths. The editorial writer, however, disputes these charges by writing that discourse over religious language in the public square is healthy in a democracy, and leaders should be able to articulate their deepest religious convictions. Instead, the writer argues, people should focus on whether Bush's specific policies that emerge from his religious worldview do more harm than good in the world.
April 30
The American Prospect
HEADLINE: In God's Name
BYLINE: James Morone
In this piece from the May 1 issue of the American Prospect (which was on newsstands on April 30), James Morone concludes that past presidents such as Franklin Roosevelt have used moral language in more productive ways during previous conflicts than President Bush has done recently. Morone notes that history has shown wars have inspired great American campaigns for social justice. He argues that Americans need to return to another moral vision -- as spelled out in the Declaration of Independence -- regarding the need for peace, liberty and social justice. Full article is here.
Religion & Culture: Meeting the Challenge of Pluralism focuses on the role of religion in shaping our lives and cultural values, and serving as a resource for positive social change.
© 2002–2005 Douglas Gould & Co., Inc.