News Intelligence Analysis
July 14, 2004
Onward G.O.P. Soldiers
The Bush-Cheney campaign is buttonholing Christian churches nationwide
to serve as virtual party precincts in the Republican drive to
turn out voters in November. The campaign has sent congregation
volunteers marching orders — a schedule of 22 "duties,"
beginning with the submission of local church membership directories
to party headquarters, the better to compare them with voter
registration lists.
The Bush team maintains that this ham-handed proselytizing is legal and somehow nonpartisan. That is hard to comprehend, given that other "duties" for pro-Bush volunteers include lobbying congregation groups to talk up the Bush-Cheney ticket and producing "voters' guides" on hot issues. Ministers are being pressed to create registration drives and speak out about "all Christians needing to vote."
Churches have been a favorite campaign stop for political candidates throughout the nation's history. But this crude initiative crosses the line that separates organized religion from organized political parties. Last month, after Republican workers began soliciting hundreds of "friendly congregations" in the swing state of Pennsylvania, the Internal Revenue Service sent out a blunt warning to political leaders that they could cost churches their tax-exempt status by enlisting them in transparent partisanship.
The Bush team's strategy disrespects religion as much as it does democratic ideals. Churchgoers are entitled to a little sanctuary from politicians.
Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company
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