Just a brief entry to give some attention to a story that will sink the GOP-ship in November.
Watched Countdown with Keith Olbermann a little while ago. One of the segments was on the upcoming release of “Tempting Faith” by David Kuo. I must admit to never having heard of the guy before, but what followed gave me great hope for the weeks to come.
Mr. Kuo, a previous Bush White House aide has apparently strayed from the reservation. And he is about to publish some damning revelations on how the evangelicals and others were manipulated by the Administration.
“Tempting Faith’s” author is David Kuo, who served as special assistant to the president from 2001 to 2003. A self-described conservative Christian, Kuo’s previous experience includes work for prominent conservatives including former Education Secretary and federal drug czar Bill Bennett and former Attorney General John Ashcroft.
I have tried to google for reviews of the book (with limited skills, admittedly) and found nothing but links to distributors and no reviews. Except this article on msnbc (from which the quotes in this entry come).
Kuo worked in the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives. The book seems to be a tell-all on the WH abuse of tax-money to manipulate the religious right, while being dismissive behind their backs:
“National Christian leaders received hugs and smiles in person and then were dismissed behind their backs and described as `ridiculous,’ `out of control,’ and just plain `goofy,'” Kuo writes.
And how about this:
More seriously, Kuo alleges that then-White House political affairs director Ken Mehlman knowingly participated in a scheme to use the office, and taxpayer funds, to mount ostensibly “nonpartisan” events that were, in reality, designed with the intent of mobilizing religious voters in 20 targeted races.
According to Kuo, “Ken loved the idea and gave us our marching orders.”
Among those marching orders, Kuo says, was Mehlman’s mandate to conceal the true nature of the events.
Check out the whole article. Great fireworks coming. I understand that Keith will have a follow-up story tomorrow. It will be interesting, to say the least.
I think we should do whatever we can to help promote this story (and the book). By ordering it, or rating it, or reviewing it on websites (as soon as it is out – 16 October). Nothing like disillusioned evangelicals during election season.