Facebook Twitter Email
FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2001

White House officials on Thursday admittted they neglected to tell the Salvation Army it could not be exempt from laws prohibiting discrimination against gays, allowing the charity to aggresively promote President Bush's controversial faith-based initiative for at least two months.

The lack of communication apparently led the charity to believe Bush was living up to his promise to shield them from such laws. The Salvation Army, a conservative organization, didn't want to be forced to hire gays or provide same-sex benefits, so they sought help from the White House.

Yesterday's acknowledgment marks the second time the White House has changed its story on the issue since it was made public this week. Officials at first suggested no high level aides were involved but then admitted Bush senior advisor Karl Rove was the lead contact with the Salvation Army.

Get the Story:
Story of Charity Plea Changes Again (The Washington Post 7/13)
White House adviser targeted for dealings with Salvation Army (AP 7/13)

Related Stories:
Anti-gay policy was all but promised (7/12)
Bush won't help charity discriminate (7/11)
Charity relying on Bush for anti-gay policy (7/10)
White House apologizes for Muslim removal (6/29)
Changes made to faith-based bill (6/28)
Mayors endorse faith-based plan (6/26)
Faith-based bill still on backburner (6/25)
Faith-based bill under consideration (6/20)
Bush defends faith-based plan (6/6)
Faith-based bill delayed again (5/24)
Bush pushes new welfare reform (5/21)
Religious-only grant program changed (5/18)
Grant program restricted to religious groups (5/17)
Nominee wants to break church-state wall (5/10)
SURVEY: Americans have faith-based doubts (4/11)
Bush meets with religious leaders (3/20)
Faith-based bill delayed (3/14)
Changes due for faith-based program (3/12)
Defense of faith-based plan begins (3/8)
Bush launches defense of faith plan (3/7)
Bush's religious plan criticized (2/27)
Bush extols 'power of prayer' (02/02)
Bush calls up 'armies of compassion' (1/31)
Bush seeks to eliminate religious 'obstacles' (1/30)
Faith takes center stage with Bush (1/29)