Search Salon

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Recently in Salon News

Louder than words
George W. Bush, who refuses to answer questions about his own drug use, slashed drug rehabilitation programs for inmates while ushering in tougher sentencing laws.
By Robert Bryce
[08/24/99]

Class will tell
The Bush cocaine controversy should encourage an overdue debate on why drug abuse among the rich is a "disease" while among the poor it is a "crime."
By Joe Conason
[08/24/99]

Relief in the ruins
As the relief effort in Turkey mounts, international humanitarian organizations are seeking contributions for earthquake victims.
By Fiona Morgan
[08/23/99]

Rape as a disciplinary tactic
Prison guards often ignore inmate rape, and even encourage it to punish prisoners who step out of line.
By Christian Parenti
[08/23/99]

Austin, we have a problem
What does his clumsy, evasive handling of rumors of cocaine use do to George W. Bush's much-heralded "electability"?
By Jake Tapper
[08/20/99]

Complete archives for News

- - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"That bothers the religious right much more than the cocaine story," says Rivera, an insight seconded by Michael Cromartie, who heads the evangelical studies projects at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. "If he keeps using the F-word, he's going to have real trouble," says Cromartie. "And he made a major mistake by making fun of Karla Faye Tucker. Evangelicals found her to be a very sympathetic person."

If evangelicals do not believe Bush's conversion from a hard-drinking, and perhaps hard-drug ingesting, party boy is authentic, he will experience a wasting away of support that, until very recently, seemed very much in the bag.

"All of this lends support to people like Paul Weyrich, who are seriously questioning political involvement by religious conservatives," says Rivera. "They've been involved for 20 years, but all they've gotten is lip service from the Republicans." They have also suffered plenty of embarrassments, most recently when supposed comrade in arms Newt Gingrich was once again exposed as a cad.

"Gingrich was invited to address the Christian Coalition even though everyone knew he was having monkey sex with one of his younger aides," says Rivera. "The Bush situation confirms the idea that politics may not be the best place for religious conservatives to put their hopes."

This is not a universal view, Rivera adds. Even religious conservatives who are not overly fond of Bush are defending him as the victim of Democratic leaks and a hostile media. Bill Murray, son of missing (and presumed dead) professional atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair and Chairman of the Religious Freedom Council, questions the credibility of the damaging Talk magazine interview. The publication's "sensationalism" makes him doubt Carlson's revelations, despite Carlson's solid conservative credentials. Short of Bush being caught in an outright lie, Murray thinks the Republican front-runner will suffer little permanent harm.

One thing's for sure, however: Some of the glow is off Bush's halo.
salon.com | Aug. 24, 1999

- - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - -

  Get a printer-friendly version

  E-mail a friend about this article

  Backflip this article to find it again

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Search Salon