Michael Gerson, Bush’s chief speechwriter from his first term, has dismissed out of hand the very idea that the president uses carefully crafted religious language that secular audiences fail to recognize but nevertheless resonates with evangelical audiences.
Gerson, a former journalist who studied theology at Wheaton College in Illinois and worked as an aide on Capitol Hill, rejected the allegation that Bush’s speeches contain “code words” understood only by evangelicals. He noted that some speeches have contained allusions to secular literature as well as to scripture and hymns. “They’re not code words; they’re our culture,” he said.
Gerson seemed to be responding to analyses raised by Amy Sullivan, among others, who’ve argued that Bush does indeed use coded language that “slides under the radar of many listeners and commentators, but is immediately recognized by the target audience of evangelical Christians.”
So, who’s right? Does Bush utilize what Gerson calls “code words” for evangelicals or doesn’t he? We got a sneak peak at Bush’s own thoughts on the matter, through the recorded conversations of the president’s former friend, Doug Wead.
Preparing to meet Christian leaders in September 1998, Mr. Bush told Mr. Wead, “As you said, there are some code words. There are some proper ways to say things, and some improper ways.”
That should pretty much settle that debate.