The Awkward Love Story of Trump and Evangelicals

[struggle4progress]

JONATHAN MERRITT
7:10 AM ET

... this week, Trump announced a new evangelical advisory board. The list was full of people who once vehemently opposed his candidacy.

James Dobson, the former president of Focus on the Family, was appointed to the board despite having recently said he was “very wary of Donald Trump.” Dobson previously endorsed Ted Cruz and remarked, “I would never vote for a kingpin within <the gambling> enterprise. Trump’s tendency to shoot from the hip and attack those with whom he disagrees would be an embarrassment to the nation if he should become our chief executive.” Joining Trump’s board suggests he’s had quite a change of heart.

Richard Land, the former president of the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission, was also included on the board. (His younger successor, Russell Moore, is vocally anti-Trump). Earlier this year, Land called Trump “a scam” and encouraged Christians to steer clear.

Tony Suarez, the executive vice president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, was also named a Trump advisor. He previously called preachers who supported Trump “embarrassing.” He has now deleted tweets and Facebook posts critical of the candidate ...

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/trump-and-the-evangelicals-a-match-made-in-well/488552/

[struggle4progress]

1. Trump's Willing Accomplices

JUNE 24, 2016 3:41 PM EDT
Francis Wilkinson

... Trump successfully avoided theology. He promised, while highlighting his triumphs with evangelical voters, to appoint conservative justices to the Supreme Court, referenced the prohibition on political endorsements by tax-exempt organization such as churches .. and pledged to get Americans to say "Merry Christmas" ...

On urban poverty: "And through various incentives and lots of other things, including spirit and training, we’re gonna get things straightened out."

Yes. Spirit and training and incentives and lots of others things. Did the people in that room, many of whom had risen to leadership positions in institutions, enjoy being treated like idiots? ...

The professional religious hucksters who interacted with Trump and who have been selling their services to Republican candidates for years went along with the thin charade. This hardly means every Christian conservative will. As one wrote to Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson: “You get racism, misogyny, torture and an authoritarian as commander in chief, but you’ll get to hear ‘Merry Christmas’ in stores" ...

http://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-06-24/how-trump-shows-disrespect-for-evangelicals

[rug]

2. No Thomas Mores in that group.