Dilulio on Compassionate Conservatism

Christian Century has a review of John Dilulio's new book, Godly Republic: A Centrist Blueprint for America's Faith-Based Future.  Here's one provocative excerpt:

White House aides, to DiIulio's chagrin, seemed more interested in photo opportunities with black preachers than in actually refining policies that could pass Congress. On this point, DiIulio's account echoes David Kuo's lamentation over the politicization of religion in the White House.

In his rhetoric Bush spoke often of harnessing the "armies of compassion" to attack the ills of society, but that vision proved difficult to realize with federal grants. As an alternative, Bush could have proposed a new tax credit for contributions to nonprofit charities. In contrast to the modest $1-2 billion available in potential grants, a credit for millions of taxpayers would pour many billions into faith-based agencies, including international relief and development organizations. Since the money would flow from private citizens, few entangling strings would be attached; faith-saturated nonprofits would qualify along with secular organizations. But because this would result in a loss of revenue to the federal government, it collided with Bush's fiscal agenda of reducing tax rates and eliminating the estate tax. Serving the business class crowded out meaningful compassionate conservatism.