Bush's Vatican appeal

Bush's visit to the Vatican, and his decision to present the Pope with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, were apparently even more cynical than I first thought. Bush actually used the trip to lobby the Vatican to support Bush's domestic social agenda. Separation of what with which now? Bush appears to have no talent for politics whatsoever. From any other politician, I would not expect to hear about this kind of bullshit when it happens. The skill of politics, I suppose, is to employ underhanded methods without being so stupidly obvious about them.

CNN.com - Kerry: Bush's Vatican appeal 'inappropriate' - Jun 15, 2004: "A Vatican official privy to discussions between Bush and Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state to Pope John Paul II, said Bush 'complained that the U.S. bishops were not being vocal enough in supporting him on social issues like gay marriage and abortion.' The discussion took place June 4 during Bush's visit to the Vatican. The Vatican official said that Bush, a Methodist, asked Sodano to 'push the bishops to become more actively involved' in promoting those issues that are part of his social agenda. The official said Sodano did not respond to Bush's request."