Bush backer pens pro-Obama book

[kpete]

Bush backer pens pro-Obama book
By BEN SMITH | 6/16/08 4:10 AM EST Text Size:

The conservative Evangelical biographer of George W. Bush and Tom DeLay has moved on to a new subject: Barack Obama. And his new book, due out this summer, may lend credibility to Senator Obama's bid to win Evangelical Christian voters away from the Republican Party.

The forthcoming volume from Stephen Mansfield, whose sympathetic "The Faith of George W. Bush" spent 15 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 2004, is titled "The Faith of Barack Obama." Its tone ranges from gently critical to gushing, and the author defends Obama-and even his controversial former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright-from conservative critics, and portrays him as a compelling figure for Christian voters.

"Young Evangelicals are saying, 'Look, I'm pro-life but I'm looking at a guy who's first of all black-and they love that; two, who's a Christian; and three who believes faith should bear on public policy," Mansfield, who described himself as a conservative Republican, said in a telephone interview. "They disagree with him on abortion, but they agree with him on poverty, on the war."

His book, provided exclusively to Politico by the publisher, focuses more on Obama's religious journey than his electoral prospects.

more at:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11099.html

[anonymous171]

1. As long as Obama doesn't tailor his positions for them like Bush did.

He can frame the issues so that they make sense from an evangelical perspective, but no theocracy please!

[blondeatlast]

2. Published by Thomas J. Nelson; Known for being less than sympathetic to the progressive agenda.

Interesting. The world's largest publisher of Bibles and the publishing home of Michael Savage, etc.

[grantcart]

3. good and if they make money on it expect more books like it

[Douglas Carpenter]

4. I read a post about that earlier today...interesting to say the least

Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
Discover the unapologetically Christian and liberal Barack Obama-and how he represents the changing face of religion in American politics.
You'd have to live in a cave to have avoided hearing about Barack Obama's woes as he deals with the crises arising from the close mentor relationship he had with the senior pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ, Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. How, people ask, could Sen. Obama represent as president people of all races, when he attended for 20 years a church permeated by a defining, if understandable, spirit of anger toward white America? There is, however, much more to the senator's faith than this one issue. As early as 2004, as he delivered a powerful speech to the Democratic National Convention in Boston, he was taking a stand for his faith: We worship an awesome God in the Blue States. In The Faith of Barack Obama, Stephen Mansfield explores Obama's religious faith without political or ideological bias. His basic premise is this: If a man's faith is sincere, then it is the most important thing about him. As a result, it is impossible to understand how Barack Obama will lead without first understanding the religious vision that informs his life.

You must read this perceptive and well written book. Then you will know why Barack Obama has such a passion for justice and equity, such a gift for filling people of different generations with a newfound hope that things can and will change for the better. His inspiration comes from his faith; he is an ardent believer. Yes, he is a Christian and proud of it.

---ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU

http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Barack-Obama-Stephen-Mansfield/dp/1595552502/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213638278&sr=1-2

http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781595552501-0

[RandomKoolzip]

5. I hope Obama doesn't take their support as license to make anymore

anti-GLBT moves.