HEADLINE: White House plays down Haggard ties (of course)

[Bluebear]

WASHINGTON - As president of the National Association of Evangelicals, the Rev. Ted Haggard has advised the White House on issues ranging from judicial appointments to steel tariffs. But he also sought to widen the agenda of Christian evangelicals into areas the Bush administration - and many of his Christian brethren - would rather avoid...

He made frequent visits to the White House and was included in a select group of religious leaders briefed on the administration's agenda during a weekly teleconference with White House staff, a session meant to "feel the evangelical pulse," he's said.

"We have direct access (to the White House)," Haggard told a Wall Street Journal reporter shortly before the last presidential election, adding that he could take a concern to the president through staff and get a response within 24 hours.

Asked Friday about the Haggard controversy, White House spokesman Tony Fratto downplayed the pastor's connections to the Bush administration. "He had been on a couple of (conference) calls but was not a weekly participant in those calls," Fratto said, adding that Haggard had been to the White House "one or two times." ...

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5118362,00.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. If they didn't I would be shocked

now for comming events, what will the History Channel do with all them programs on the apocalypse where they interviewed the man?

By the way, he deserves his day in court.

[muntrv]

2. Just like he didn't know Jack Abramoff.

[AlamoDemoc]

3. who is this Rev. Ted Haggard you speak of? lol

[lumpy]

4. The lies just keep oozing out.

Haggard said he had direct access to the White House on a regular basis. White House denies, sez Haggard had visited "one or two times". Lie upon lie upon lie......

[originalpckelly]

5. I don't think people are stupid enough to fall for it...

they need to go back to the drawing board on this spin. They are off their game, they used to be masters, but this is obviously complete bullshit.

[Zambero]

6. Haggard? Abramoff? Who are these people?

By the way, what's up with Ralph Reed lately? Is he coasting to a dumbshit/fundie-fueled landslide victory in Georgia as the Repuke Lt. Gov. candidate? If he wins, one can only hope he serves out his term behind bars with the rest of his crooked buddies.

[malaise]

7. My grandma used to say

Show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are. Fuck you Bush.
Sp