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<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">>Or, it is evidence that the Bush Administration knows how to reward its political base ( and the White Christian evangelicals have repaid the favor, by being a loyal part of the Republican electorate), but that is something different from saying that the Christian right is the controlling or a controlling force within the GOP, as is often alleged.. While we know they can do a lot on a local level (like school boards) or even on a state level in some states in the Bible belt, but is there evidence that Christian right activists and leaders themselves hold such power on a national level? It would be easier to answer yes to that question if one could point to some preacher or activist elected to the House or Senate or appointed to the cabinet, which isn't really the case. Steve <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Since conservative White Christian evangelicals have in fact been given <BR>> political payoffs in terms of legislation, regulations, and policies; <BR>> then this is evidence of the political power of the Christian Right--or <BR>> at least evidence that the Republican Party and the Bush administration <BR>> believe the Christian Right has political power. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR><BR>> ___________________________________ <BR>> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk </BLOCKQUOTE></body></html>