Majority founder Jerry Falwell, who
expressed "deep concerns" about the
plan in an interview with the Web site

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Beliefnet.com .

Like Pat Robertson, Falwell is con-
cerned that religious groups he objects to
would be eligible for government money
— including Islam, which he said "teach-
es hate. For that reason, Islam should be
out the door before they knock"
At the same time, there were reports
that the administration was already
thinking of throwing in the towel on
some of the most controversial aspects
of their plan.
But speaking to Reform rabbis and
congregational leaders at the Religious
Action Center of Reform Judaism
conference on Tuesday, John Daub°,
director of the new White House
office on community and faith-based
initiatives, reaffirmed the administra-
tion's commitment to winning chari-
table choice provisions.
He called the concept a "perform-
ance-related" reform, and said it is nec-
essary "not only to better serve the poor
and revitalize needy neighborhoods,
but also to usher in greater and better
government performance and results."
Most Jewish groups oppose the
charitable choice component of
President Bush's sweeping faith-based
initiatives, although Orthodox organi-
zations support the scheme.
Capitol Hill insiders now believe that
the most controversial parts of the Bush
plan, which would create a "level playing
field" for religious groups seeking gov-
ernment funding, will be abandoned, or
handled outside the legislative process.
The problems for the Bush plan are
"serious but not terminal," said
Marshall Wittman, a senior fellow at
the conservative Hudson Institute.
"What's happening now is a pincer
movement from the right and the
left," he said. "The left's opposition
was predictable; the conservative
opposition has come as a real surprise
to the administration."
But much of the Bush plan, Wittman
said, "can be implemented through
executive initiative, not legislation. That
may be where the administration turns
next in view of this opposition."
Supporters may also refocus the
effort on providing tax credits to reli-
gious groups that provide services
instead of direct grants, he said, and
vouchers for clients that can be used
at both secular and religious services.
"The great irony here is that this
faith-based initiative was thought to
be a gesture to the right," he said.
"And that's where the most intense
opposition has emanated from." Cl

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