The former deputy of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives has recently written a book revealing the Bush administration has been using its religious base for pure political gain.

And the rest of the sane people in the world mockingly put their hands to their mouths and said, “No, really?”

David Kuo, who served under Bush’s first term has pointed out that Bush promised $8 billion in faith-based initiatives and has delivered a fraction of that promise. Last year Congress approved about $250 million for faith initiatives. Kuo says the reason there’s such little support for the initiatives is because the government would much rather appear righteous than actually deal with poor people.

The larger question is: who didn’t see this coming?

Most people, including Kuo, don’t dispute that Bush is religious, but religious affiliation apparently doesn’t automatically make you compassionate or caring. The nation might even be worse off because of Bush’s religious stance. If he truly believes that God directs his presidency and decision making, then he probably wouldn’t be inclined to second guess God.

And all this isn’t to say that these great Christian initiatives are getting skewered by some heartless government. Serving God also has plenty of governmental perks such as the recent decision that clergy members and their employees are exempt from federal taxes on most money they spend on housing. The exemptions had always existed, but this issue was brought to the forefront when Pastor Rick Warren sued the IRS because they concluded his 1996 tax deduction had exceeded the value of his new home.

Just in case you aren’t familiar with Rick Warren, he’s the author of the enormously popular Christian title A Purpose Driven Life and is also a super preacher of sorts, drawing thousands to hear him speak.

Warren said the tax breaks are necessary for poorly paid clergy who serve society. What Warren didn’t mention is that about $500 million in tax revenue just got heaved upon taxpayers to make up for the loss. But hey, it’s worth it. Those two days a week the clergy commonly work must be grueling.

Then there are other perks such as optional social security exemptions, property tax exemptions, and some states even have sales tax exemptions for items considered to be religious in nature. These aren’t just small country churches and bibles being exempt. These are wealthy, religious retirement communities and contractors using tax-free equipment for constructing religious buildings, or at least buildings deemed religious.

The largest poverty problems we have in this country don’t involve homeless people in a soup line. The biggest economic problem we have is the working poor, or people who actually have jobs and still can’t support themselves and their families.

So I’m not really getting choked up at David Kuo’s idea that the president that they bought off isn’t acting accordingly.

It’s like the old tale of the woman who nursed the snake back to health and in return was bitten. When she asked the snake why he bit her, the snake gently replied, “Because I’m a snake.”