More Than Bush Did, Obama Cites Jesus

Politically shaky ground for Bush may help Obama
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 9, 2009 10:13 AM CDT
More Than Bush Did, Obama Cites Jesus
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama leave Easter worship services at St. John's Episcopal Church near the White House in Washington, Sunday, April 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Obama has invoked Jesus more than his predecessor, despite the major role Christianity played in George W. Bush’s policies, Politico reports. Obama has mentioned his faith in recent speeches in Cairo, at Notre Dame, and at Georgetown, to name a few instances. Though he was backed by evangelicals, “I don’t recall a single example of Bush as president ever saying ‘Jesus’ or ‘Christ,’” said a conservative Christian activist.

In fact, Bush used those names just a “handful” of times in the first year of his presidency, Politico notes, and only on occasions like Christian holidays. For Obama, citing Jesus may be politically savvy: Christian references may help him connect with voters in a country where 83% of people believe in God. It also may fight the perception, still wrongly held by 11% of Americans, that the president is a Muslim.
(More President Obama stories.)

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