Author David Kuo on 'Colbert Report;' Not So Conservative

Just who is David Kuo? For starters, he used to be the Deputy Director of the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives. Additionally, he has now written a book claiming the Bush White House is selling out evangelical Christians. But is he as conservative as the media would have Americans believe? The author appeared on the October 18 edition of "The Colbert Report" and seemed to fit right in with "pretend right-winger" Stephen Colbert:

Stephen Colbert: "Let's get Jesus in the Oval Office. You heard me at the top of the show. Why not do it? How does that hurt to equate God with the President? How does that- How does that hurt?"

Kuo: "Because it gives the impression that Jesus endorses a particular political agenda, you know, that Jesus is somehow, you know, pro-life, anti-homosexual, pro-Iraq war and pro-estate tax. You know, when Jesus actually wasn't about those things. You know, It's the good news. Jesus was raised from the dead. Jesus comes to give life, give it in full. That's Jesus. One is politics. A big difference."

The media have consistently portrayed Kuo as a conservative who is reluctantly telling Christians that they're being played for suckers. But, as NewsBusters and other outlets have reported, there are some liberal elements in his past, including an internship for Ted Kennedy. During the interview, which aired at 11:49p.m. EDT, Kuo played to the left-wing fear that George Bush is promoting a theocracy:

Colbert: "Why did you write this book?"

Kuo: " Because I think someone had to point out that Jesus and George W. Bush are different people."

[Wild cheers and applause]

Colbert: "Okay. Okay. Maybe so. Maybe so. I'm not confused about whether George W. Bush is God. Okay? But clearly God hired George W. Bush. The President said so himself. So, shouldn't we listen to George W. Bush as if he were Jesus?"

Kuo: "No. I think as if he were President of the United States."

Colbert: "What's the difference? I mean, the most powerful man on earth, right? He's got to be there for a reason. That's divine right."

Kuo: "I think the, the, the president is created by the Constitution."

Colbert: "Right, right."

A few seconds later, Kuo disputed the analogy that America is a "city upon a hill," a phrase famously used by Ronald Reagan during his farewell address:

Kuo: "You know, one of the things I point out in the book is this whole, you know, America is a city on the hill."

Colbert: "It is. It's a new Jerusalem."

Kuo: "Right. But actually, I quoted an old historian, and I talked about the old temple and what it was like. And they're different. America isn't the old temple of Solomon, the old Jerusalem. America is not the city on a hill. America is not God's home."

Colbert: "No. It's the- What? ‘In God we trust.' ‘God bless America.' ‘Stand beside her and guide her.' ‘Sea to shining sea.' Where do you not see God in that? Am I more godly than the God guy? Is that what you're saying? I believe more that God has blessed America than the guy who ran the Office of Faith Based Initiatives."

Throughout the segment, Kuo appeared to do his best to fit in with Colbert's east-coast liberalism. Does the following exchange sound like the voice of a conservative, or a Nancy Pelosi Democrat?

Colbert: "Now, you've also said in here, you don't think that, that, that, like, church and state should be together. Why not? Shouldn't church and state, shouldn't we use God in government? If God is the greatest and perfect, if God is in government, won't it make our government perfect?"

Kuo: "I guess we should ask the Ayatollah."

Colbert: "No, I'm talking about- No, sir. I'm talking about God. All right? I'm not talking about, you know, any old god. I'm talking about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Okay? That God. Long white beard. Finger at 'em. You know what I'm talking about. Let's not play games here."

Kuo: "No, you're right."

Colbert: "Let's get Jesus- Let's get Jesus in the Oval Office. You heard me at the top of the show. Why not do it? How does that hurt to equate God with the President? How does that- How does that hurt?"

Kuo: "Because it gives the impression that Jesus endorses a particular political agenda, you know, that Jesus is somehow, you know, pro-life, anti-homosexual, pro-Iraq war and pro-estate tax. You know, when Jesus actually wasn't about those things. You know, It's the good news. Jesus was raised from the dead. Jesus comes to give life, give it in full. That's Jesus. One is politics. A big difference."

A quick aside: Jesus wasn't pro-life?

Now, it's no surprise that Colbert would exaggerate his cartoon version of a conservative, but Kuo didn't appear to have any problem playing along. So, perhaps some skepticism is in order for the next time the media portrays David Kuo as a solid representative of conservative thought.