Faith Based election
Will God bless America’s president?

By Bud Johnson

“The Bush White House isn't satisfied with blurring the line between church and state when it comes to policy matters. Now, the Bush re-election team wants to set up its local campaign offices in your church.... First reported in The Washington Post and The New York Times, the Bush campaign is shifting into the "hail Mary" mode with an unprecedented effort to co-opt local churches as de facto arms of its campaign.” Faith based initiatives notwithstanding, inasmuch as the votes were still being counted as we speak, African American News & Issues had caused to pause and ponder, whether or not God (at the behest of Black preacher’s fervent prayers) blessed Bush with a second term in the White House.

Meanwhile, a July 6, 2004 excerpt from an article (“Bush Campaign to Invade Churches”), posted on the political website, TalkLeft.com, further explained: “As The New York Times reported: ‘The Bush-Cheney campaign has laid out a brisk schedule for legions of Christian supporters to help enlist ‘conservative churches’ and their members, including sending church directories to the campaign, according to a Bush campaign document. The document underscores how heavily Mr. Bush is relying on conservative Christians. The campaign is asking conservative churches and churchgoers to do everything they can to turn their churches into bases of support without violating campaign finance laws or jeopardizing their tax-exempt status. The blunt Bush effort to fold churches into the re-election campaign.”

For sure, it’s only fair to note that Black churches have historically been political magnates, hence Bush’s “Faith Based Initiatives” was a stroke of genius, therefore it’s puzzling why TalkLeft concludes that Bush’s (a “born again Christian”) sudden affinity for Black church’s old time religion… “Has drawn outraged denunciations from a number of corners, including Baptist church representatives and even the IRS. Earlier, this year the IRS warned presidential campaigns that a church risks losing its tax-exempt status when it throws its support behind a particular candidate.” Apparently Bush’s strategy is working, insofar as when this was prepared (Oct. 28, 2004) for publication, the polls showed that the president had converted over 19% of the Black voters. Bush got only 9% of the Black vote in 2000.
God’s a Democrat notwithstanding, it’s apparent that money, indeed, talks, inasmuch as Black religious leaders, e.g., Rev. Harry R. Jackson, Jr., Bishop Wellington Boone, Apostle Kimberly Daniels and Bishop Larry Jackson could well be responsible for the sharply increase percentage of Blacks who will vote for Bush. Rev. Jackson unabashedly preaches, “The black vote will determine the outcome of this election…I SUPPORT GEORGE BUSH!” He, in fact seems to be leader of the coalition of Black churches for Bush that was foreseen by The Black Commentator, that originated blasted Bush’s faith-based initiatives, replete with a cartoon depiction of “The Right Revered Doctor Greedygut” for emphasis. “George Bush is a hypocrite in the Biblical sense of the word.
“He holds aloft the ideals of community service, then brings down his arm to smash the poor. In the midst of the carnage, as virtually every state folds up its tattered social safety net in abject fiscal despair, Bush summons the Black clergy to revival-type meetings, his minions' arms outstretched like auctioneers, waving federal contracts. It is a near-perfect deceit, cruel and utterly cynical. While victims pile up in their millions, lives shattered by the relentless Republican wars against the entire gamut of public social services, Bush unveils a menu of contracting opportunities, newly available to the clergy of those same, victimized communities. There is no need to demand allegiance to the Contract Giver - that is a foregone conclusion.
“The Republicans' strategic objective is more ambitious. Faith-based contracting is designed to create centers of well-funded, compliant, self-satisfied alternative "leadership" among Blacks. The secret is out: All of those furious, Republican rages against the ‘poverty pimps’ and ‘entitlements’ of old are now revealed to have been jealous outbursts. Bush aims to become the ultimate Poverty Pimp, Mac-Daddy of the ghetto. The ministries in his stable will represent a constituency for privatization of social services, the larger Republican mission. Persons formerly entitled to assistance, the infirm, ex-public employees, all can line up at taxpayer-funded church soup kitchens. First, however, they must greet Bush's emissary, the Right Rev. Dr. Greedygut.
“He is the one who is entitled, now Republicans have repeatedly stated that their goal is to double the usual 8 - 10% GOP vote among Blacks, just enough to win key elections - especially in the South. The GOP's bean counters have done the math; they know how many congregations will suffice to achieve the goal. And they are quite confident that the Right Rev. Dr. Greedygut will step forward, grinnin' and skinnin', trailing his flock behind him.” Divided and confused Black churches aside, Bishop Jackson rebuts, “The black vote will determine the outcome of this election!" What Blacks choose in this election will impact the course of the nation for many years to come. Four years ago, Bush received only 10% of the Black vote, despite his Christian testimony.
(And) “His rapport with Black pastors like Kirbyjohn Caldwell, and others. American Blacks have always been a moral lightning rod for us in America. This election will be no exception. Have you noticed Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson traveling with Kerry into Black churches during the last two weeks? This is not by accident. I am asking everyone who reads the Elijah List to pray that God will use African-Americans to impact our nation for righteousness in this critical season. Today politically savvy people believe that the percentage of Blacks voting for the President will be 20% even though 47% of Blacks are born again. If we believe God that as few as half of born-again Blacks vote for President Bush, it could be enough to turn the tide of this election.”
What? Surely, history literate Black voters no longer go for political okey doke. Then again, made in American Africans have historically had amazingly short memories and repeat mistakes of the past. Turn the other cheek aside, Black Christians tend to forgive their enemy, after they despitefully use them. For instance, Houston’ Branch of the NAACP honored Rev. J. J. Roberson, the pastor of Mt. Hebron MBC, who has often been accused of being a “Judas Goat” leader (pimping Black votes for 30 pieces of silver) with its Humanitarian Award at it’s 2004 Annual Freedom Fund Awards Banquet. God Bless America.