Bush - Jews, Muslims and Non-Christians Go To Hell

Old Slate column by Michael Kinsley that BuzzFlash reminded me of.

George W. is lying either when he professes his faith or when he denies its implications. Or he hasn't really thought it through, which itself would cast doubt on the depth of his faith. But I doubt this particular dishonesty will keep him out of heaven, since it is imposed on every politician--and even every clergyman with ambitions.

To be sure, there is a certain joy in watching a pol caught in pandering gridlock. Bush plays up his born-again faith to the religious right. He uses it even more than bona fide Christian-right pols do, as Fred Barnes points out, in order to allay suspicions that he may be moderate or indifferent on social issues. Then he has to fudge his faith so that people who don't share it won't take it seriously.

And if he gets this balancing act wrong, he must pander even more furiously to make it up. Going for a twofer a couple of years ago, Bush "confided" to Washington political columnist Andrew Glass that "he enjoys hanging out with country music singer [can you guess? well, obviously ...] Kinky Friedman (caution Dixie Chicks and nudity ;-)), who wrote [uh-oh] 'They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore.' " Does W. agree with this sentiment? Does he have some problem with the quality of Jews being produced in America today?