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 May 1, 2003 and May 31, 2003.
May 17
"God and George W. Bush," The New York Times
The New York Times
HEADLINE: God and George W. Bush
BYLINE: Bill Keller
In this opinion piece from the May 17 edition of the New York Times, Bill Keller argues that critics who are uncomfortable with President George W. Bush's public piety and his insertion of religious rhetoric into public policy speeches may be misguided in assuming such remarks are an attempt to pander and secure the support of the religious right. He writes that it is difficult to discern whether the President makes policy decisions out of personal convictions, or political calculations. He also writes that the religious right is dying as an independent political structure, and that Bush even rebuked figures such as Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham, who attempted to turn the war on terrorism into a religious war.
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.