Frontline
Posted by: ErikL on 29 April 2004
Tonight @ 9 on PBS- "The Jesus Factor"
"The day he was inaugurated there were several of us who met with him at the governor's mansion," ... "And among the things he said to us was, 'I believe that God wants me to be president.'"
How George W. Bush became a born-again Christian--and the impact that decision has had on his political career--is the focus of the FRONTLINE® report "The Jesus Factor," airing Thursday, April 29, at 9 P.M. on PBS (check local listings). Through interviews with Bush family friends, advisors, political analysts, and observers--as well as excerpts from the president's speeches, interviews, and debates--the one-hour documentary chronicles George W. Bush's personal religious journey while also examining the growing political influence of the nation's more than 70 million evangelical Christians.
"The Jesus Factor" chronicles Bush's efforts in Texas to allow faith-based groups to access state funding for social service programs--a policy he would later advance following his election to the White House. And once again, the support of evangelical Christians proved critical to Bush's razor-thin victory.
"The single most reliable predictor of how a person voted in the 2000 election was whether they went to church or to synagogue or mosque at least once a week," the Southern Baptist Convention's Land says. "If [they did], two-thirds of them voted for George Bush."
In "The Jesus Factor," viewers hear from numerous evangelical Christians who say President Bush understands the "heart and soul" of their beliefs and that his post-9/11 speeches comforted a grieving nation. FRONTLINE also speaks to those who feel the president has taken his rhetoric--and his religion--too far.
"If we turn religion into a tool for advancing political strategy, we treat it as anything other than a sacred part of life from which we draw values and strength," says Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance. "Any time that religion has identified itself with a particular political movement or a particular government, religion has been harmed by that."
"The Jesus Factor" concludes by assessing the importance of the evangelical vote to George W. Bush's reelection campaign strategy.""
"The day he was inaugurated there were several of us who met with him at the governor's mansion," ... "And among the things he said to us was, 'I believe that God wants me to be president.'"
How George W. Bush became a born-again Christian--and the impact that decision has had on his political career--is the focus of the FRONTLINE® report "The Jesus Factor," airing Thursday, April 29, at 9 P.M. on PBS (check local listings). Through interviews with Bush family friends, advisors, political analysts, and observers--as well as excerpts from the president's speeches, interviews, and debates--the one-hour documentary chronicles George W. Bush's personal religious journey while also examining the growing political influence of the nation's more than 70 million evangelical Christians.
"The Jesus Factor" chronicles Bush's efforts in Texas to allow faith-based groups to access state funding for social service programs--a policy he would later advance following his election to the White House. And once again, the support of evangelical Christians proved critical to Bush's razor-thin victory.
"The single most reliable predictor of how a person voted in the 2000 election was whether they went to church or to synagogue or mosque at least once a week," the Southern Baptist Convention's Land says. "If [they did], two-thirds of them voted for George Bush."
In "The Jesus Factor," viewers hear from numerous evangelical Christians who say President Bush understands the "heart and soul" of their beliefs and that his post-9/11 speeches comforted a grieving nation. FRONTLINE also speaks to those who feel the president has taken his rhetoric--and his religion--too far.
"If we turn religion into a tool for advancing political strategy, we treat it as anything other than a sacred part of life from which we draw values and strength," says Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance. "Any time that religion has identified itself with a particular political movement or a particular government, religion has been harmed by that."
"The Jesus Factor" concludes by assessing the importance of the evangelical vote to George W. Bush's reelection campaign strategy.""
Dan,
He definitely appeared to be very passionate about his faith. I can respect that, and similar feelings among the millions of other Evangelicals. But man did I feel totally disconnected from America (Midland, TX in particular) after watching the show. I also came away feeling that he probably sees no wrong in anything he does because "God wanted him to be president". And that he sees his purpose in life as a sort of Evangelical missionary, "spreading the word" to everyone. That's creepy. I also found the "deep connection" felt by several interviewees whenever Bush uses biblical terms to be surprising. Sadly I went to sleep thinking that deeply religious Americans may overlook all his fuck-ups as a result and that he'll easily be re-elected.
EDIT: Now I read on the Frontline site that a poll showed 72% of Evangelicals would vote for Bush if the election was held today!!!!
But there's more--- "evangelicals rank military strength (40%), controlling weapons of mass destruction (34%) and fighting terrorism (30%) as significantly more important than relief efforts (14%) or helping to improve the standard of living in less developed countries (9%)." 
He definitely appeared to be very passionate about his faith. I can respect that, and similar feelings among the millions of other Evangelicals. But man did I feel totally disconnected from America (Midland, TX in particular) after watching the show. I also came away feeling that he probably sees no wrong in anything he does because "God wanted him to be president". And that he sees his purpose in life as a sort of Evangelical missionary, "spreading the word" to everyone. That's creepy. I also found the "deep connection" felt by several interviewees whenever Bush uses biblical terms to be surprising. Sadly I went to sleep thinking that deeply religious Americans may overlook all his fuck-ups as a result and that he'll easily be re-elected.
EDIT: Now I read on the Frontline site that a poll showed 72% of Evangelicals would vote for Bush if the election was held today!!!!
But there's more--- "evangelicals rank military strength (40%), controlling weapons of mass destruction (34%) and fighting terrorism (30%) as significantly more important than relief efforts (14%) or helping to improve the standard of living in less developed countries (9%)."