David Kuo: 'Very Strident, Angry, Narrow' Falwell 'Very Much Damaged Name of Jesus'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

In 2003, David Kuo resigned from the Bush administration's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and later wrote a book [published just before the 2006 mid-term elections] claiming that the administration was hypocritical in its dealings with religious conservatives.

Liberals had a field day because according to them [as E.J. Dionne wrote here, for example], Kuo was a religious conservative himself. But is that true? What kind of religious conservative, the day after Jerry Falwell died, would go on MSNBC's Tucker Carlson show and say this about the late pastor?:

DAVID KUO: In bringing the pulpit to politics in the very strident, narrow and frankly angry way that he did, he very much damaged the name of Jesus.

View video here.

Later, Kuo made an illogical claim to the effect that Falwell's ministry was a failure.

KUO: If you look at the social statistics in 1979 when he started Moral Majority and compare them to today, out-of-wedlock births are up, divorces are up, drug use is up, teen sexuality is up, family formation is down and church attendance is down. So it's an interesting, what was the trade?

MSNBC HOST TUCKER CARLSON, completing Kuo's thought: I thought that yesterday. In the end, it wasn't that effective.

Kuo and Carlson's logic is fundamentally flawed. This is post hoc ergo propter hoc. An uncontrolled experiment. For all we know, all those social parameters would have been that much worse had it not been for the work of Falwell and other religious conservatives. Kuo's comments reveal much more about himself than they ever could about Falwell.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Kuo-condemns-Falwell ping to Today show list.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

David who?

[johna61]

Kuo is another Radical DemonRat creep who only Bin Laden and the NY Slimes would like.

[miss marmelstein]

Angry? I always thought he was an amiable guy. I still remember in the dust-up over the TeleTubbies (who WERE gay, we all know that!), the Rev finally bursting out laughing and admitting it was a pretty silly fuss.

RIP, Rev!

[johna61]

A David Brock Lite?

[muawiyah]

Kuo sounds as jealous as Hitchens.

Amazing that these pukes think they can gain fame and honor over the dead body of a Baptist preacher.

[reagan_fanatic]

In bringing the pulpit to politics in the very strident, narrow and frankly angry way that he did, he very much damaged the name of Jesus.

Jesus himself was very strident, narrow and at times angry in his passionate testimony of God's laws and commandments.

Is this little puke going to upbraid Jesus on Judgement Day as well?

[SaveTheChief]

Only a fundamental leftist can believe that the name of Jesus Christ can in any way be damaged by a man.

[Shelayne]

This is reprehensible behavior from someone who calls themselves a Christian.

Mr. Kuo should be ashamed of himself. And if he were a true Christian, he would be. The man had been dead for less than 24 hours when he started speaking ill of him.

Tell me, David Kuo, what have YOU done for the kingdom?

[Dilbert San Diego]

What does this dude, or anyone, have to say about strident, narrow, and frankly angry rhetoric spouted by those in favor of liberal causes? Do they get a pass because they are supporting politically correct causes?

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

KUO: If you look at the social statistics in 1979 when he started Moral Majority and compare them to today, out-of-wedlock births are up, divorces are up, drug use is up, teen sexuality is up, family formation is down and church attendance is down. So it's an interesting, what was the trade?

He's trying to pin those things on Falwell? Everyone knows whose fault they really are.

I've seen several threads today about how Falwell hurt the cause of Christianity. I don't think so. Anyone with any sense knows that he was speaking for an element of Christianity, not the entirety of it. Some of those who must have thought he represented the whole thing were the talking heads who seemed always to invite Falwell whenever they needed the "Christian perspective" on things. I got kind of tired of seeing that, because there are all kinds of others who could have taken that seat. But anyone truly seeking Christ, or anyone taking Christianity seriously, and didn't find Falwell's variety of it to be their cup of tea, knows that there are plenty of alternatives.

Falwell was no doubt influential: I just don't think he made as big a slash -- positively or negatively -- as people claim.

[tflabo]

KUO: If you look at the social statistics in 1979 when he started Moral Majority and compare them to today, out-of-wedlock births are up, divorces are up, drug use is up, teen sexuality is up, family formation is down and church attendance is down. So it's an interesting, what was the trade?

The liberals and MSM have traded the good message of the MM for the evil consequences of kicking judaeo-christian values out of the culture. Not the messengers fault (Falwell)if the sheeple refuse to heed the message.

[HerrBlucher]

Jesus himself was very strident, narrow and at times angry in his passionate testimony of God’s laws and commandments.
**********************************************

Yup, but one has to carefully read the four Gospels to know this. I doubt if Kuo has done so.

[middie]

I've read the book. Kuo was a loyal and dedicated Bush aid for many years from Austin to the White House. The book's thesis expresses his disappointment and disillusionment at the administration's actions compared to its assurances to the religious oriented group of supporters. The inner circle expressed disdain at those folks and Bush permitted them to nullify virtually every public supportive statement with a political agenda that suited the wealthy and commerical interests vis-a-vis the church people upon whom he relied for support.

Before issuing such a harsh condemnation of Mr. Kuo, becoming informed by reading his work might bring credibility to one's adverse opinion. Kuo expresses what so many have come to know as Bush's abandonment of his public representation for the expediency of political ends.

[nina0113]

I heard Kuo on TV last night saying he didn’t want anyone to think he was the same kind of Christian as Jerry Falwell.

Don’t worry, David, they won’t.

[nonsporting]

Before issuing such a harsh condemnation of Mr. Kuo, becoming informed by reading his work might bring credibility to one's adverse opinion. Kuo expresses what so many have come to know as Bush's abandonment of his public representation for the expediency of political ends.

Since Kuo is so decidely wrong about Falwell, one cannot help but conclude his motivation for criticism of Bush and his cabinet might be suspect.

Bush has always been a compromise: "compassionate conservatism", "no child left behind", TSA/Homeland Security, his promise to reauthorize the so-called "assault weapons'" ban, Campaign Finance Reform, to name just a few of the more notables. However, Kuo's remarks about Falwell belie true conservative principles on Kuo's part.

[SteveMcKing]

I've read the book

Then you read hundreds of pages of what one guy wants you to think.

Before issuing such a harsh condemnation of Mr. Kuo, becoming informed by reading his work might bring credibility to one's adverse opinion.

I need to be "informed" like I need to watch Katie Couric blame menopause for the fact that I don't want to watch her anymore than I did Dan Rather groan about some metaphorical flaming tires he believes were hoisted upon him.

[middie]

So, reading books mandate that the reader accept without question the perspective of the author and refrain from using any measure of critical thought or factual analysis to the text. Perhaps that’s the effect of reading ‘’Dick and Jane Go up the Hill,’’ on one, like yourself, who has no power of discernment or understanding when he is being proselytized or scammed. Contrariwise, an informed reader who has the ability to separate fact from the author’s rationalization or excuse can gain knowledge and understanding from books. But, of course, that requires a level of interest and IQ that exceeds one’s shoe size.