Washington Wrap [NEWSWEEK Bombshell -- How Damaging?]

CBSNEWS ^ | Thursday, March 6, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

Hot Spot Discussions: Some Senate Democrats, keen on keeping the debate about war in Iraq going, are continuing to say that President Bush needs to wait for U.N. support before invading. Continues

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NEWSWEEK Bombshell -- How Damaging?

The Beltway news media is all abuzz over NEWSWEEK's bombshell cover story -- a devastating account of a mushrooming White House scandal which, till now, only lurked below the surface.

Face it: Every White House, sooner or later, gets hit with 'The Big One' -- a major scandal -- and I'm afraid, for Bush, this may be it.

As far as White House scandals, you probably think you've heard and seen 'em all, I bet. Presidential perjury, obstruction of justice, selling the White House, stealing the White House, trashing the White House, pardons-for-sale, vandalism, larceny, embezzlement, seduction of interns -- we got all these and more under the most ethical administration in history alone.

Well, ya ain't heard nothing yet, folks.

Get a load of this: "George W. Bush rises ahead of the dawn most days," writes NEWSWEEK reporter Howard Fineman, and "he goes off to a quiet place to read alone."

Reading alone -- that's the Big Scandal?

Wrong. What's he reading, ummmm?

Detective Fineman lays out the damaging details rocking the White House tonight: "His text isn't news summaries or the overnight intelligence dispatches...It's not recreational reading...IT'S A BOOK OF EVANGELICAL MINI-SERMONS," Oswald Chambers', '"My Utmost for His Highest"!

Scary stuff, yes, but that's not all.

"This presidency" Fineman continues in his tale of White House horrors, "is the most resolutely 'faith-based' in modern times, an enterprise founded, supported and guided by trust in the temporal and spiritual power of God."

Brace yourself, here's the bombshell revelation: "The Bush administration is dedicated to the idea that there is an answer to societal problems here and to terrorism abroad: give everyone, everywhere, the freedom to find God, too."

Bush is a born-again Christian! And he prays, too! And he reads the Bible!

While the White House may have weathered initial blows from these startling revelations, the bottom line is the bottom line: Bush is way, way TOO CHRISTIAN, say the newsies!

But wait: "An envoy sent by Pope John Paul on Wednesday," Reuters reports, "urged President George W. Bush to avoid war and work with the United Nations to seek a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi crisis."

Cardinal Pio Laghi, during his private White House meeting with the President, conveyed a letter from the Pope which read, in part, "I ask the Lord to inspire you to search for a way to a stable peace, the noblest of human endeavors."

Reuters: "Asked whether he had persuaded Bush to rule out war as an outcome to the Iraqi situation, Laghi said: 'You have to ask him.'"

The answer, in other words, was NO! Bush told the Pope no!

So now the media says BUSH ISN'T CHRISTIAN ENOUGH!

So the week began with the media griping and fussing and carping that Bush was too Christian for the job, that his fervent faith only alienates Muslims and the Arab world.

But here we are, barely four days later, and Bush gets slammed for not being fervent enough in keeping with Christian principles and faith.

Don't ya love such displays of unflinching consistency from our rabidly fair-minded, detached and objective news media?

But mull this one over: With the very open Bush-Pope split on Iraq, claims in the Arab world that Bush is a crusader -- a notion NEWSWEEK sought to stoke with it's Bush and God cover story -- will ring more hollow than ever.

Anyway, that's...
My two cents...
"JohnHuang2"

[Wait4Truth]

I just loved this essay, my friend! What the media doesn't get is that the majority of Americans are comforted by the fact that our President depends on a higher power, not turned off. Media people only talk to others that think like they do...they are totally out of touch with the average citizen. They think that President Bush's faith is more dangerous than clinton's perjury, Oval Office sex sessions and kicking the can down the road on terrorism for 8 years. The media stance just will not cut it with the American people - except for the most rabid anti-Bush crowd. Thank God they are in the minority - along with the media.

[TomServo]

Oswald Chambers', '"My Utmost for His Highest"!

Outstanding book by an outstanding Man.

[section9]

One thing a lot of folks don't understand is that there is a concerted media campaign to bring into question the President's judgement as reflected by his faith. The Fineman article is just another arrow in that quiver.

Thing is, the campaign won't work. Even independent voters, the demographic at whom this campaign is targeted, respect a genuine individual. Bush is that genuine individual. That's what the liberals don't understand.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[marvlus]

You had me worried for a moment!

[Luis Gonzalez]

BUMP!

[milagro]

My copy of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST has an introduction written by Richard C. Halverson, who was--get this--the Chaplain of the US Senate!!!! He says the book was given to him as a Christmas present in 1936, and that:
"Through the years Chambers has kept me on course by bringing me back to Jesus."
Now ain't those words just SCANDALOUS!

Thank God for Oswald Chambers--and our President!

[joebuck]

I am constantly amazed at the mysterious way in which God works. Howard Fineman probably intended this to be a hit piece on Bush. The actual result will most likely be a very posititve response, especially from the Latino community, for Bush. It will also probably spur thousands of purchases of Mr. Chamber's book and thus bring untold persons that much closer to God. Thy will be done.

[Taxman]

Well said, John, well said.

[winodog]

Yes and he reads Oswald Chambers daily devotions.
I am here to tell you that is one TOUGH reading.
If a man were to be HALF the man that book inspires one to be he would great and not just average great but one of the greatest leaders this world has ever known.
Mr. Chambers daily devotions are tough to swallow.

[freekitty]

Gee, I am gona cry.

[CathyRyan]

Thank you!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I believe, every time you make a post, it's better than the last. Thanks.

BTTT

[b4its2late]

Good job John. The press is still used to the lies and spin that used to come out of the office when the clintons ruled. That's the reason they see this as a bombshell. It does take quite a long time to turn a big ship......

[eureka!]

Bravo, John. If this is the best the Rats can do, then no wonder they get shriller every day...

[eureka!]

"The Bible is not just a PROP???? Are you SURE he doesn't go to Church and then goes and gets a BJ from a young, fat intern??? And then has his entire adminstration go out and defend him? How can this be??"

LOL. what a change. If this becomes and issue--and I hope it does--I hope the 'Toon church photo ops by the presstitutes is thrown back in their dishonest faces....

[Indy Pendance]

I received this email yesterday. I tried checking the author, but couldn't find a source...

Samuel Thompson wrote:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game. "But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue. Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. And we are in the Bible Belt. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer. If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer. If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit. When in Rome...

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument. What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer. Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us just to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. God, help us.

And if that last sentence offends you, well..........just sue me. The silent majority has been silent too long.. it's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard, that the vast majority don't care what they want.. it is time the majority rules! It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray.. you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance, you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right.. but by golly you are no longer going to take our rights away .....we are fighting back.. and we WILL WIN! After all the God you have the right to denounce is on our side!

God bless us one and all, especially those who denounce Him...

God bless America, despite all her faults.. still the greatest nation of all.....

God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God...

May 2003 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions. Keep looking up......

In God WE Trust

[bmwcyle]

How will Bush survive? Hillary will be joining in support soon. /sarcasm

[baseballmom]

John, thanks for you 2 cents. They are going from subtle jabs to hitting us over the head to make the point - GWB is a right wing Christian whacko.

Bonaparte, please allow me to co-opt this beautiful painting to urge people to come to Valley Forge on Sunday, March 16, 1:00.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/856013/posts

Sorry, I can't make the link work.

[EternalHope]

Great Work!

[George W. Bush]

Call out the prayer brigades. Bush has really done it this time. The rabid media will be feasting on this White House scandal.