---

NOT COMPASSIONATE, NOT EVEN CONSERVATIVE....WHAT'S LEFT?
...The main purpose of the faith-based initiative has been to beef up a rhetorical strategy that Bush has used to great effect with evangelicals. Ignoring the fact that the White House, Department of Justice, House of Representatives--just to name a few--are all headed by evangelicals, he appeals to the community as a persecuted minority that has been discriminated against by government. Take a look at his acceptance speech. The only time he mentioned the faith-based initiative was in this context: "Because religious charities provide a safety net of mercy and compassion, our government must never discriminate against them."

The government never did, but that's beside the point. Bush is their hero, he saved from from persecution. Uniter, not a divider? This is the ultimate "It's us versus them" rhetoric. And it's the main reason the White House inserted a provision into their faith-based bill that would allow religious organizations to discriminate in hiring. A majority of senators and representatives support allowing religious organizations to apply for social service grants, provided they abide by the laws that govern all other providers. The White House knew this provision would destroy that consensus, but that hardly mattered. Because the fight over hiring fit into the narrative, it allowed Bush once again to say, "See? They want to be able to tell you what to do."...