Religious right leaders out of spotlight

By Brian Faler
The Washington Post

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How about nowhere?

Religious leaders such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson say they have yet to be invited to this year's convention, only three weeks before the event.

Could it be that in a race so tight that every swing vote is being chased like the most popular kid in school, Republicans don't want to alienate moderates with the in-your-face religious oratory of its most partisan supporters?

Not so, according to Ralph Reed, former executive director of the Christian Coalition and now a national spokesman for the Bush-Cheney campaign. Reed told The Associated Press that conservative Christians will have a central role at the convention, scheduled to begin in Manhattan on Aug. 30.

It may be too late. The snub has offended religious leaders. Christian Coalition founder Robertson, who has attended every GOP convention since 1988, said he would not be going this year even if an invitation makes its way to his mailbox. James Dobson, of the "Focus on the Family" broadcast, likewise does not plan to attend.

But Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition, said she was not worried about a lack of religious conservatives at the convention, or that a planned rally was canceled because of "security concerns."

After all, she said, reminding the country of the born-again Christian in chief, "We have the president."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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