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==Political Controversy==

==Political Controversy==

In the primary race in 2000, [[George W. Bush]] campaigned at BJU, where he stated "I look forward to publicly defending our conservative philosophy." <ref>At Bob Jones U., A Disturbing Lesson About The Real George W., by  Derrick Jackson[http://www.commondreams.org/views/020900-101.htm]</ref> His Republican rival, [[John McCain]], used the visit against Bush in a telephone calling campaign that turned out [[Catholic]] voters for the Senator.  The McCain ad stated "Governor George Bush has campaigned against Sen. John McCain by seeking the support of southern fundamentalists who express anti-Catholic views."  McCain said the calls didn't accuse Bush of bigotry, only the people Bush was turning to for support. <ref>CBS News: Bush Regrets Bob Jones U. Calls Visit There "A Missed Opportunity" NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2000[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/02/27/politics/main165529.shtml]</ref>  Bush later apologized in a letter to Cardinal John O'Connor of New York, stating "On reflection, I should have been more clear in disassociating myself from anti-Catholic sentiments and racial prejudice. It was a missed opportunity, causing needless offense, which I deeply regret."<ref>CNN:  George W. Bush's Visit to Bob Jones University Continues to Stir up Controversy, aired February 27, 2000 - 8:09 p.m. ET [http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0002/27/wv.12.html]</ref>

In the primary race in 2000, [[George W. Bush]] campaigned at BJU, where he stated "I look forward to publicly defending our conservative philosophy." <ref>At Bob Jones U., A Disturbing Lesson About The Real George W., by  Derrick Jackson[http://www.commondreams.org/views/020900-101.htm]</ref> His Republican rival, [[John McCain]], used the visit against Bush in a telephone calling campaign that turned out [[Catholic]] voters for the Senator.  The McCain ad stated "Governor George Bush has campaigned against Sen. John McCain by seeking the support of southern fundamentalists who express anti-Catholic views."  McCain said the calls didn't accuse Bush of bigotry, only the people Bush was turning to for support. <ref>CBS News: Bush Regrets Bob Jones U. Calls Visit There "A Missed Opportunity" NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2000[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/02/27/politics/main165529.shtml]</ref>   

 

Bush reacted to the political distortions by criticizing the attempts at guilt by association.  He wrote a letter affirming that he is not a religious bigot and sent it to Cardinal John O'Connor of New York.<ref>The letter contained this sentence, which is often quoted out of context to imply that Bush was criticizing evangelicals, when he was not: "On reflection, I should have been more clear in disassociating myself from anti-Catholic sentiments and racial prejudice. It was a missed opportunity, causing needless offense, which I deeply regret." CNN:  George W. Bush's Visit to Bob Jones University Continues to Stir up Controversy, aired February 27, 2000 - 8:09 p.m. ET [http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0002/27/wv.12.html]</ref>

Such spats are common in primaries, and McCain subsequently endorsed Bush for president in 2000 and Bush has endorsed McCain for president in 2008.{{fact}}

Such spats are common in primaries, and McCain subsequently endorsed Bush for president in 2000 and Bush has endorsed McCain for president in 2008.{{fact}}