I took an interest in Bush when they said he was popular with the evangelical crowd. I decided then to look deeper into what evangelicals see in Bush form their own perspective.
One aspect that made him popular with evangelicals was his emphasis on the protection of morality. The usual problem with emphasizing morals is that morality is purely a subjective matter, and as such has no room in politics. However, the evangelicals supported this because of two reasons. One, people of religion tend to emphasize morals in their sermons, so they respect a candidate who also feels the need to spread good morals across the country. But they also support because of the symbolism. The image of a candidate taking a step forward into the betterment of morality creates a sense of a new leader for evangelicals to stand behind.
Another reason is Bush's direct appeal to Christians. Bush said that his favorite political philosopher was Jesus Christ because he changes you heart. Frequent statements like those made Bush seem more approachable to disappointed Christians who felt unrecognized in politics. Bush was never afraid to admit to everyone on live television that he prays. Even though it sounds like a small thing to talk about, these actions appeal to men of faith.
Cool post Oliver! You have made it clear that his religious views and moral compass made him seem more human and realistic to the population. People were able to see parts of themselves in him which undoubtedly contributed to his popularity.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I think it plays very well into the idea that people like politicians who seem like relatable, ordinary men, rather than aloof, distant figures. Jackson was so successful in politics because he was a champion of the common man. People saw a little bit of themselves in Jackson, and thus trusted that he would make decisions with their well-being in mind. On the other hand, John Quincy Adams was not nearly as popular with ordinary citizens because he appeared aloof and cold. Bush's political success with the evangelicals seems to come from the fact that he appealed directly to them, and like you said, this made him seem "more approachable."
ReplyDeleteReading about Bush's appeal to the evangelicals makes me wonder how they viewed his handling of 9/11. It would be interesting to learn about their political perspective after the attack.
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