ABSTRACT
Jesse Jackson and Pat Robertson harvested that discontent by leading church-based crusades infused with religious imagery. Populism is a term evocative of a rich legacy in nineteenth century America, but it enjoys currency in contemporary political parlance as well. Marathon in length, appalling in expense, captivating in the drama of careers made or lost, the presidential quest is deeply embedded in our national psyche. As liberalism became associated with alternative lifestyles, loose morality, and hostility to religion, Republican campaign consultants made hay. The racial solidarity manifest in 1988 led some to conclude that religion or churches played no independent role in the Jackson campaign. As Jackson's campaign progressed, money began to flow in from more conventional, liberal direct mail sources, but the early church-based resources were critical. Jackson did champion the agenda of the left – feminism, gay rights, the environment, third world advocacy, and the like.
