I just read a very strang article in the NYT about the relationship between the White House and evangelical groups. They only mention one or two policy issues -- international human slave trade and sex trafficing -- and I suppose I agree with the evangelicals on those particular issues. The article is disturbing in part because the cast of characters includes such notable crooks as Chuck Colson (of Watergate fame) and Elliott Abrams (of Iran-Contra fame). These are people who were convicted of subverting the democratic process in America and abroad. And they chat with the President on a regular basis. And we know that everything is good because evangelism is involved.

Evangelicals Sway White House on Human Rights Issues Abroad"Evangelicals today are more interested in making a difference than in making a statement," said the Rev. Richard Cizik, the vice president for governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, which represents 43,000 congregations. "We made a lot of statements in the 1980's and got zip." ... "There was no movement under Clinton," said Mr. Colson, the founder and chairman of Prison Fellowship Ministries, who once Mr. Gerson's boss. "We couldn't get anyone to talk to us." Other religious leaders say that this White House far surpasses the administrations of Ronald Reagan and Mr. Bush's father in its attentiveness. "Under previous Republican administrations, they would take our calls and often return them," Dr. Land said. "In this administration, they call us. They say, you know, `What do you think about this?' " ... The groups were also influential in the development of the president's commitment to fight global AIDS, particularly the part of the policy based on Uganda's A.B.C. campaign, which promotes, in order, abstinence, being faithful and condoms. Mr. Colson, who has enormous influence among evangelicals because of his books, lectures and radio program, said President Bush personally told religious leaders that he was supporting them on the A.B.C. campaign in a meeting at the White House this spring. After the meeting, Mr. Colson said he went up to Mr. Bush and said emphatically that faith-based policy worked. "He said, `You don't have to tell me,' " Mr. Colson said the president replied. "He said, `I'd still be drinking if it weren't for what Christ did in my life. I know faith-based works.' "