The mudslinging at David Kuo has already begun. Kuo’s new book, Tempting Faith (there’s an excerpt here) makes the stunning accusation that high-level White House staffers mocked evangelical leaders in private while currying their support and fawning over them in public.

With just weeks to go before what promised to be highly competitive congressional elections, Republicans can ill afford to lose the support of their evangelical Christian base. These are people who are friends of many of us in the White House - you don’t talk about friends that way

So the allegations made in David Kuo’s book have set alarm bells ringing in the White House.

The former official alleges senior aides to the president described the evangelical leaders in private as “nuts” and “goofy”, while acknowledging their political use in securing election wins. (BBC)

Considering Bush’s use of holy war and holy antiabortion (as well as the erosion of women’s rights, civil liberties, and just plain pluralism) in favor of the hellfire-and-brimstone theocrat crowd, it’s amazing that he would allow this type of talk. But with the Mephistophelean Karl Rove running the show, the duplicity should surprise no-one.

It remains to be seen whether evangelical Christians and their leaders believe in Mr. Bush’s sincerity, or whether this will be the straw that breaks the back of their support. One thing’s for sure–Kuo is in for the usual treatment meted out to those who break ranks in the royal court the White House has become.