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Two assertions of Milbank's article need to be challenged:

First, he asserts that James Dobson has "retreated from political involvement." It all depends on what the meaning of "political" is. Milbank can't mean electoral politics, since there's been little of that since the 2000 election. But if he means culture-shaping conservative activism, Dobson has been very active of late—for example, mobilizing the public pressure that caused the Salvation Army to turn back from a decision to offer domestic partner benefits for homosexual employees.

Second, the article quotes a senior aide as saying, "[Bush] does not believe he was chosen for this moment." Au contraire! In November, Christianity Today's Tony Carnes gathered evidence that the President does indeed believe that after the atrocities of September 11, his sense of divine calling for public service at a crucial time was once again confirmed.

Does the President think of himself as the leader of religious conservatives? No. Does he believe God has called him to lead the nation in a defining moment? Very likely.

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December (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45