Quote from Gabfly1:
Thinking Americans, no. Conservatives, almost always. Present company excluded, just listen to a conservative speak for any length of time. Invariably, he or she will invoke God and assume a place setting at His right side. Gingrich is regarded as the Right's "intellectual powerhouse." He invokes God, and his unyielding alignment with Him, with predictable regularity. Does this mean that the Right's "intellectual powerhouse" is not a thinking American? (Trick question.)
It is used strictly for political purposes today. bush1 used the evangelicals in this manner. I would not be surprised if, privately the man had contempt for them, as Harry Trumann had for Billy Graham.