Monday, September 14, 2009

Weighing the Good Done by Being Used by the White House   [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

From an interview with Frank Page, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, who currently sits on President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships:

If you don't see results from your participation on the council, would you consider quitting?

That's the point. What good am I doing? I wouldn't go out huffing and puffing but saying, "Have I made any positive contribution?" Within the next month or so I will be able to understand if my own time is well spent there. I'm praying deeply about the issue. I can't say I'm leaning either way at this point.

How much of the advisory council's existence do you think is for the White House's political benefit, versus how much is a genuine concern for bringing religious voices into policymaking?

I have pondered this, and my involvement has political overtones. The administration wants to be seen to have this very conservative person on the council, showing its open-mindedness. But I have been able to speak privately with the White House and have had some impact. There was the White House Father's Day event, and they're airing a public service announcement on fatherhood on ESPN and other networks. That was a direct result of the council. I may be being used somewhat, but it has given me a voice at the table.

09/14 04:19 PMShare