January 19, 2005
THAT OR HOLLAND:
Indiana man gets credit for Bush's victory (Russ Pulliam, January 16, 2005, Indianapolis Star)
Tim Goeglein would not claim any grandiose credit for himself. Yet, he's been President Bush's lifeline to conservative groups that are so important to this presidency.Goeglein, deputy director of the Office of Public Liaison, is getting some well-earned attention for the election results, which included a boost in conservative values voters for Bush in key states.
The Fort Wayne native went to Indiana University and worked in television news in Fort Wayne before joining the staff of Sen. Dan Coats. In 2001, Bush strategist Karl Rove tapped him to be the new administration's link to conservative and religious groups.
Based on the election results, Goeglein did his job well, keeping in touch with groups that are more diverse than some observers realize, with concerns ranging from gay marriage to the persecution of Christians in Sudan.
Last week, Goeglein spoke to an Indiana Family Institute gathering, reviewing election results and the culture war between the blue state supporters of John Kerry and the George Bush supporters in red states. "We have in America a fundamental divide about the culture," Goeglein said. "What we want for our country is not to take us back to any single year. We want to take our country forward to a place where, whether you are a liberal or a conservative, or a Republican or a Democrat, we have shared moral assumptions."
The pertinent question is whether it's possible to have a cohesive society without. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 19, 2005 12:15 PM
Just heard, on committee, Kerry voted against Condi along with Barbara Boxer. I hope there's some footage on it. What are the odds he'll vote for her when the entire Senate votes?
Posted by: Genecis at January 19, 2005 12:33 PMWhen he votes (and it should be infrequent), Kerry will probably be shooting for a 100% liberal record. Just to clear up any misconceptions from the last 20 years.
Posted by: jim hamlen at January 19, 2005 1:08 PMDuring the campaign, we probably didn't pay enough attention to the reports that Kerry doesn't have any friends in the Senate. His vote today shows one reason why (he's a petulent grandstander) and one of the reasons it matters (no one cares enough to tell him to stop acting like a petulent grandstander).
Posted by: David Cohen at January 19, 2005 1:16 PMI understand your point OJ, and Goeglein's. But cohesion is possible if based on immoral assumptions. It just requires more zest to sustain it. Forced unity through immoral means works. Goeglein's work forces the issue of the content of the moral code that defines and binds our politics. He is profoundly subversive and illuminating.
Posted by: LUCIFEROUS at January 19, 2005 2:46 PMAh! Refreshing to hear about a real progressive!
Posted by: Lou Gots at January 19, 2005 4:50 PM