Innocent abroad

In a recent issue of TNR , Alan Wolfe reviewed David Kuo’s book telling the story of his service in the current Bush administration. Kuo worked in the office of faith-based initiatives, and though he left the administration he still praises Bush because of his Christian testimony. What strikes Wolfe most strongly about Kuo’s book is the man’s unwavering naivete, which, he says, is not evident in Roman Catholics (John DiIulio, for instance) who also served in the Bush administration. Evangelicals are innocents abroad in Washington.

There is something healthy about Kuo’s continuing enthusiasm and his refusal of jadedness, but it is striking that Protestant Evangelicals, who are supposed to have a healthy sense of sin, would be so undiscerning about politicians.