Strategy not scripture: the dynamics of religion and politics in the George W. Bush campaign of 2000

Abstract

Ever since George W. Bush came to power in January 2001 there has been a burgeoning interest in his religiosity and its political implications. This interest joined favourably with an already remarkable amount of attention given towards religion and politics in the United States. But to many, George W. Bush added a new dimension and a fresh anxiety to an area perpetually fraught with concern for the religious-political union. The common inference was that Bush, unlike any other president, with his seemingly overt display religiosity was in complete accord with the agenda of Conservative Christians, most notably the Religious Right. In conjunction with one another it was deemed that American democracy was under threat. From the erosion of social policy to the broader risk of a theocratic takeover it had been argued that George W. Bush was in a sense at its core. In keeping with what had arguably been an unpopular presidency the arguments were consistently pejorative and predominantly concerned in extremes. So pervasive was this approach that it was clear that the field of study required, not an antithesis but, a more balanced perspective. To assist in reclaiming a more objective analysis, examination of the 2000 presidential campaign found that contrary to current argument there were strong indications that what had been mistaken for a theocratic agenda and a religious framework was actually rooted firmly in the secular. Examination of certain events, relationships and circumstances offer a new insight into the relationship. From this it is possible to see that what had occurred was political expediency and not necessarily religious purpose.