Campaign 2000: NBC's Russert Scolds Bush Over 'Jesus' Comment

Rich Noyes | January 7, 2000
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At a January 6, 2000 GOP candidates debate in New Hampshire, NBC's Tim Russert pushed back against George W. Bush's comment that Jesus was his favorite philosopher: “Governor Bush, in the last debate when you talked about Jesus being the philosopher-thinker that you most respected, many people applauded you. Others said what role would religion have in the Oval Office with George W. Bush. Fifteen million atheists in this country, five million Jews, five million Muslims, millions more Buddhists and Hindus. Should they feel excluded from George W. Bush because of his allegiance to Jesus?...Would you take an expression like ‘What would Jesus do?’ into the Oval Office?”

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