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Article: Once-Derided Christian Right Is Now Key for GOP; Presidential Hopefuls Court Christian Coalition
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 8, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Just eight years ago, much of the Republican establishment viewed
the conservative Christian political movement as an uncouth intruder
into the comfortable world of tasseled loafers, J. Press suits and
exclusive country clubs.
Neil Bush, son of soon-to-be-elected President George Bush,
described the supporters of television evangelist Pat Robertson as
"cockroaches" who "issued from the baseboards of the Bible Belt." In
South Carolina, GOP regulars told jokes claiming that Christian
activists had to cancel a meeting because the chairman forgot to
bring the snake.
"I don't think that kind of crack would be made today," said Ralph
Reed, executive director of the 1.7 million-member Christian ...