|
|
"A collaborative political resource." |
Known for Discussing Faith, Bush Moderates His Message
|
| Parent(s) |
Candidate
-
|
| Contributor | Servo |
| Last Edited | Servo Aug 15, 2004 05:04pm |
| Category | News |
| News Date | Aug 15, 2004 12:00am |
| Description | President Bush's critics accuse him of wearing his religious faith on his sleeve. But this last week, the president more often seemed to be keeping it under a bushel.
At town hall-style events from Niceville, Fla., to Albuquerque to Beaverton, Ore., many supporters posed the president with religiously themed questions and comments about faith, prayer and issues such as abortion and stem cell research.
And although the president does not usually shy away from discussing his personal faith, he sometimes found himself in an awkward position — trying to validate his supporters' views without endorsing them in a way that would alienate more-moderate swing voters.
Typical was an exchange at a packed high school gym in Beaverton, where a woman lamented, "I've heard through the grapevine that Oregon is one of the most unchurched states in the union. And I really feel like it shows up in every walk of our society."
She asked Bush, "Could you take a moment to pray for Oregon, for us, right now?"
"I appreciate that," the president replied, declining to take up her invitation.
Instead, to her apparent surprise, he offered a defense of the separation of church and state: "I think the thing about our country that you must understand is that one of the most valuable aspects of America is that people can choose church or not church, and they're equally American. That is a vital part of our society." |
| Article | Read Article |
|
|
