Methodist Ministers Launch PR Campaign To Stop Bush Library At SMU
Methodist Ministers Launch PR Campaign To Stop Bush Library At SMU
Earlier this month, at the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) Quadrennial General Conference, the UMC’s governing body, voted overwhelmingly — 844 to 20 — to refer a petition to its South Central Jurisdiction. The petition urges the rejection of President Bush’s presidential library which is set to be housed at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
The library has received significant criticism from SMU faculty, Methodist ministers and the public because of an attached institute — independent of the university — that will sponsor programs designed to “promote the vision of the president” and “celebrate” Bush’s presidency.
The South Central Jurisdiction, which owns the university property where the library is set to be built, will vote on the petition this July. In anticipation of the vote, some Methodist ministers have launched a public relations campaign to highlight the partisan nature of the library:
[T]he opponents have hired a Maine public relations firm to design ads for Methodist publications and do other strategies, said the Rev. Andrew Weaver of Brooklyn, N.Y.
He said the goal is informing people about the partisan think tank, which won’t be under SMU’s control and will promote the Bush administration’s policies — such as the war with Iraq and harsh interrogation techniques of military prisoners — that some Methodists feel conflict with church teachings.
Library supporters argue that a smaller church council’s vote to authorize SMU to lease its land to the Bush Foundation last year for the library will stand, but ministers opposed to the institute “will not give up“:
But the opponents, who have raised $10,000 for the public relations campaign so far, are urging Methodists to keep fighting and send donations for the campaign to Rev. Bob Weathers, a former Fort Worth district superintendent. […]
“This is really about the partisan institute, which will do the most damage over time,” Weaver said. “And it’s not just an issue in Texas. Methodists have pride in their name.”
Indeed, opponents have cause for concern that the institute will ignore the realities of Bush’s eight years in office. Advisers to the library said the “think tank” will “rely chiefly” on a design firm, rather than historians, to showcase Bush’s policies as president.
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Why would anyone want to stop the construction of a one-book library? And you-all goat lovers know what book, I’m talkin’ ’bout…
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:02 pmAdvisers to the library said the “think tank” will “rely chiefly” on a design firm, rather than historians, to showcase Bush’s policies as president.
Well, sure. When you’re polishing a turd, you call a decorator, not a chemist.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:04 pmBut god WANTED him to be president.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 pmIf they want to appropriately memorialize his legacy, build his library at Guantanimo Bay.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:11 pmGood for the Methodists.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:12 pmThey KNOW it will take years to get the ROVE/CHENEY/RICE/BUSH stink off the property after it’s ultimately condemned.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:15 pmWorst…..President……Ever……
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:20 pmThat is FUNNY!
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:20 pmThe one on the left is actually less dense.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:20 pmI wish them all the best and fully support them in this. Let Babs and Bush Sr build the little prick a library in Crawford or something.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:21 pmLet him build his monument to himself on Crawford Ranch. Nobody’s gonna go. Let him walk the halls in exile and tell himself how cool he is all by himself.
Beyond Worst….
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:29 pmCaption - Bush and one of his supporters.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:30 pmGeorge W. Bush and Library? These are conflicting terms enough. But, then you add “think tank”??
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:32 pmI thought the sewage plant in CA being named in his honor was going to be his library. It would be more fitting.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:32 pmMethodists are usually a sensible bunch, the Chimp ought to settle for the sewage plant.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:36 pmoctamethyl Says:
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:37 pmI thought the sewage plant in CA being named in his honor was going to be his library. It would be more fitting.
I think I recall the name; wasn’t it going to be called the Sh*t for Brains Secondary Sewage Treatment Plant?
It sounds like this Bush “library” is going to be used as a propaganda tool for his corporate sponsors (oil company donations?)for the rewriting of history.
If he really wanted his administration documented, why the unprecedented secrecy, unwillingness of administration officials to appear before Congress and why the destruction of millions of White House emails?
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:46 pmTHIS IS NOT FUNNY, THIS IS NOT CAUSE FOR LAUGHTER!!!
It would be one thing if this were just an isolated incident concerning a mediocre president. However, this presidency has just gotten to the point of being pathetic and embarrassing. How many White House staff (Religious Coord) or Cabinet leaders have left only to speak of these Mayberry Machiavellians. How many important members of past Republican administrations (Regan and Bush I) do you now see in the press criticizing this administration. (Baker as good example.) How many pathetic displays of feigned ignorance or outright childish attempts to justify unethical or illegal conduct have we seen in Congress?
No - our nation, our government and our democracy has become a laughing stock because of this stupid, ignorant little child that was elected as president, not once but twice.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:49 pmNo university associated with Christianity should honor Nazis.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:52 pmI think the Methodists understand that putting this library on their land would taint the groundwater until the end of time itself. Plus they should be worried that Bush wants to put a golden statue and building of himself up on the land. Then the real deity might have to take action against the retarded nephew of the devil and his overlords.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:21 pmI just heard that Billy Bob’s and Earline’s Central Texas Auto Body and Hair Styling Technical School in Waco has offered the shelf over the crapper in the unisex bathroom.
It will have the last 2 years of Reader’s Digest, the Sears catalog as well Dubya’s book, his Daddy-bought Yale Sheepskin and his “Mission Accomplished” cod-piece on display.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:37 pmupside99,
Heh. Are you sure that’s not too upscale?
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:43 pmMy wife graduated from SMU and is not happy with the idea of having this library and think tank placed on school grounds or even being associated with it.
Why not build it at Port Arthur, Texas? Right next to the refineries and chemical plants would be a good spot.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:48 pmupside99
Thanks for the post. It reminds me of the
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:49 pmperfect name for the moron, COD-PIECE.
Thanx Austex,
From your handle, I take it you are in the small bright blue spot on the Texas map, Austin. We won’t blame you for Dubya.
One of my favorite places, and I have been all over Texas for many years, on business.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:54 pmZoo,
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe they will withdraw their offer real soon.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:55 pmSorry, he bought you, remember? Once you sign with the decider, well, it’s like a straight marriage. A marriage anyway.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:57 pmJMOHR Says:
——————————————————————————–
“THIS IS NOT FUNNY, THIS IS NOT CAUSE FOR LAUGHTER!!!
this stupid, ignorant little child that was elected as president, not once but twice.
Oh, so close! I was with you till I hit that word Elected. Selected the first time and Stolen the second. Never Elected! ;)
Some might argue stolen both times…?
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:02 pmThis is a mockery of the separation of church and state.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:07 pmI think they should erect the think tank and use the republican template of outsourcing EVERYTHING. What would befit this president more than selling the naming rights for every little thing associated with his miserable tenure.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:27 pmBathrooms by Taco bell, portrait gallery by Exxon…… christ, it would look like a chevy at nascar by the time all the special interest were included.
I could go along with stolen once or twice. Just did not want to cloud it up too much. I think that we both can agree that the second election (maybe stolen) was still a close vote which is what makes this whole situation so absurd.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 pmAdvisers to the library said the “think tank” will “rely chiefly” on a LIARS, rather than historians, to showcase Bush’s policies as president.
Yes, let’s just tell it like it is, LIARS will tell Bush’s story, because to tell the truth would not be acceptable to the LIAR in CHIEF.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:38 pmupside99 Says:
——————————————————————————–
Thanx Austex,
From your handle, I take it you are in the small bright blue spot on the Texas map, Austin. We won’t blame you for Dubya.
One of my favorite places, and I have been all over Texas for many years, on business.
My /W sticker is prominently displayed on
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:54 pmmy car. Used to be lots of “W the pResident”
stickers but fewer all the time.
It is an oasis in what can be the
vast dumbassedness of a lot of the state.
Here are the leaked book sections and other displays to be in the Dubya library:
Comic book heroes of the 1960’s who have guided our President
Cartoons through the ages that inspired George W. Bush’s speaking practices
The belts from one President onto another than shaped our nation
The big books of photos that our President never read
The tapes of our President sleeping in office, the first administration
The man who never stopped cheerleading and how yelling works for you
The diaries of our President, Vol. 1-1 pg. 1-5 (Sept. 11-13, 2001) “How I’m so brave…and how I’ll never write like this again because it hurts my hand, unless it’s a veto…then it’s cool”
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:29 pmIf you don’t like what history has to say about you, then create your own “designer history”. Aren’t those Bushies clever?
** roll eyes **
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 pmJMOHR Says:
I could go along with stolen once or twice. Just did not want to cloud it up too much. I think that we both can agree that the second election (maybe stolen) was still a close vote which is what makes this whole situation so absurd.
We are in complete agreement. I just couldn’t resist a little good natured ribbing.
Cheers!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 pm.
The George W. Bush LIEbrary belongs at the Hague.
.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:14 amThey must still be cranky about BushCo stiffing them on that whole faith-based initiative business.
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:45 amBush and the statue. Two hollow heads.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 amKubla Bush
At SMU, did George W.,
A library decree,
Where generations of Texans can,
Learn of their adoptive countryman,
And his presidency.
Not mere millions, but half a billions
To build is what it took.
A library of glass and concrete
Honoring a man with clay feet
Never known to crack a book.
Reading’s not the point, of this new joint;
There is no question of fraud.
Instead are stabled writers,
Those starving blighters,
For George W.’s reign to laud.
Just how to raise, scribes to praise,
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:55 pmAn imbecile with broken diction?
Even Mr. Bush can be commemorated
By hacks sufficiently remunerated –
So long as they’re writers of fiction.