Running on Their Faith
Bush and Gore are making religion a big issue, and praying voters buy the sermon
"Sissified." This evangelical assumption, that faith can and should be spread, triggers a question about his support of faith-based institutions. Does he want government to fund a religious revival? In conversation, Bush realizes he treads on tricky turf, re-emphasizing the importance of separating church and state. Part of Bush's strategy is to woo religious voters with his choice of words and life story. He doesn't need to rail against abortion to convince evangelicals he's on their team. "He talks to God. That's all I need to know," says preacher Ed Young. But some of his spiritual advisers have been less shy of controversy. James Robison helped found the Moral Majority and loudly condemns homosexuality. Tony Evans, another favorite preacher, spearheaded the Promise Keepers and landed in trouble with feminists by urging "sissified" men to seize control of their households.
Americans have always had a complicated relationship with religious politics. They've fallen in love with both high-toned moralists like Billy Graham and loose-cannon agnostics like Jesse Ventura. Historically, politicians who succeed talk about God--but not too much. A case study is Jimmy Carter, the first evangelical president. His frankness about faith helped boost him from obscurity. But as his presidency wore on, complaints rose about his "holier than thou" attitude.
Both Bush and Gore recognize the peril of appearing too pious. Back in the White House, Gore says, "Even as I respond to your questions, I'm conscious of the way it may sound to some readers, and I respect that." Bush, meanwhile, is railing against a pernicious trend in politics: "Vote for me--I'm more religious than my opponent: It's a new motto that people ought to be concerned about." With a flourish, Bush smiles and adds, "I fully recognize that I'm a sinner just like you."
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