Christian Right’s Standing With Bush

As an African American and a born-again Christian, I strongly disagree with Richard Lessner’s Dec. 15 commentary, “Will Religious Right Be at Bush’s Party?”

Lessner, an advocate for the Christian right, suggests that the new Bush administration should cease its effort to reach out to African Americans because “one of the first rules in politics is this: Reward your friends and punish your enemies.” Are the 90% of voting African Americans now Lessner’s enemies? Is this actually a person who represents an organization with the goal of advocating the teachings of Christ?

It is obvious that Lessner feels we should remain divided as a nation and that divide should cut sharply along racial lines. To say Colin Powell’s speech at the Republican convention could be “Exhibit A for . . . self-loathing Republicanism” is ignorant of the fact that it wasn’t Republicanism that was being scolded but the bigotry of some Republicans and the GOP’s tolerance of that segment and its platforms.

I personally praise any efforts by President-elect George W. Bush to capture the middle ground, which includes born-again African Americans whose political litmus test is an active, unequivocal stand against bigotry. If Bush is successful, he will not need to visit Bob Jones University in 2004 or take a stand for states’ rights in the upcoming Mississippi flag issue or kowtow to misguided far-right “Christians.”

RAOUL ROACH

Los Angeles

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Lessner, who is executive director of American Renewal, was sharply critical of President-elect Bush and his stance toward religious conservatives. I serve as the new president of American Renewal and its parent organization, the Family Research Council, and write to repudiate the commentary, which was never submitted to me for review or approval.

Lessner was correct when he noted that religious conservatives contributed substantially to Bush’s electoral victory. He was wrong, however, to castigate Bush for allegedly already abandoning those voters. The reality is that the Bush-Cheney administration is not yet underway.

My hopes and expectations are that the new administration will be faithful to pursue the pledges and promises made during the recent campaign. If it does, the Family Research Council and American Renewal will praise it. Where it does not, we will exhort it. Only time will tell how the Bush-Cheney team treats religious conservatives and the issues close to their hearts. So we at American Renewal and the FRC intend to give them time--and our help--without rushing to judgment.

KENNETH L. CONNOR, Pres.

Family Research Council and

American Renewal, Washington

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Lessner extols the virtues of rural, small-town America as the model of “traditional values, morality and religious faith.” Interesting admonition. In 1998 in rural, small-town America a young college student was crucified because he was a homosexual and a middle-aged African American father was dragged behind a pickup truck until his body was dismembered, because of his race. Some values--some morality--some religious faith.

FRANK FERRONE

El Cajon

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Lessner writes, “It appears that the religious conservatives have their reward.” (Beating Al Gore.) “And that’s as much as they’re likely to get.” To which I add: And about what they deserve. Bupkis.

ELAINE HAMPTON

Burbank