Anyone know how LONG Joe Watkins has been 'Rev' Joe Watkins? He was a GOP strategist

[blm]

and RW columnists since I first heard of him in the early 90s. How is it TODAY he is being used as a religious commentator by the corporate media who is only referencing him as Rev Joe Watkins?

Anyone have any insight into this?

[grannylib]

1. Just a quick Google shows up an NPR program on which he appeared

in 2005 and on which he was referred to as "Reverend Joseph Watkins"
so I don't think they dug this outta their heinies just this week...

[blm]

4. But still, it smacks of political calculation that he has become a Rev for cable news recently

when he was used only as a GOP talking head for most of his on camera career.

[City Lights]

2. Here's a bio I found on HuffPost:

Joe Watkins is the Director of Hill Solutions, LLC a firm that consults the government and businesses on how to do business. Before entering the financial services industry, he ran his own strategic advisory consulting firm in Philadelphia. He opened the firm in 1991 after serving as associate director in the Office of Public Liaison at the White House under President George H. W. Bush. Joe was introduced to politics in 1981 when he joined the staff of newly elected U.S. Senator Dan Quayle as the Assistant State Director. In 1984, he was tapped to run for the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 10th congressional district but was defeated in the general election by the incumbent. He returned to Pennsylvania and served as an assistant to the President of the University of Pennsylvania until his enlistment in the 1988 Bush Campaign and his subsequent transition to the Bush White House.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from the Princeton Theological Seminary. Joe and his wife have lived in the city of Philadelphia for 30 years. They have three children and 2 grandchildren and yes his picture is recent. Joe serves on numerous boards including the Middlesex School Board of Trustees, the Lankenau Hospital Board, the Eastern Technology Council, and Youth Inc.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-watkins/

[spanone]

3. til now, i've never seen him referred to as a reverend, asshole maybe, but not reverend

[Coexist]

5. he has a congregation of approx. 85 - so he's successful enough to get on TV as an expert?!

http://www.elca.org/ScriptLib/OS/Congregations/cdsDetail.asp?Id=A59DA1AA94

Pastor(s) and Called Lay Staff
Membership

Baptized 90
Confirmed 70
Average Attendance 85

[DefenseLawyer]

6. Well Jim Ignatowski was a reverend

I guess this clown can be too.

[Roy]

7. I thought everyone knew

Mr. Watkins kneeled reverently, and Rev Jessie Lee Petersen laid a hand on his shoulders and said 'Rise Reverend Watkins.... go ye now and spread the right wing talking points errrr gospel.