Focus on the Family Action recently hired Timothy Goeglein, a former White House aide who resigned last year after he admitted to plagiarism. He will fill a new role of vice president of external relations, according to the group's CitizenLink magazine.
"News reports are calling him a lobbyist, but Goeglein will actually be Focus Action's 'eyes and ears in Washington,'" the article states.
Goeglein left his position in the White House last year after he admitted to copying work a Dartmouth College publication for several of his columns for his hometown newspaper, the The News-Sentinel in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He told the newspaper, "Pride. Vanity. It's all my fault. It's inexcusable. What I did is wrong. I categorically apologize."
He was special assistant to President Bush and public liaison deputy director, often acting as a pipeline for social conservatives, including evangelicals. He was also once a spokesman for Gary Bauer, who ran for president in 2000.
The CitizenLink article makes no mention of the plagiarism story, but a press release from the organization does.
He has accepted full responsibility for his actions, and the matter is behind him, the organization's president and CEO Jim Daly said in the release.
"Tim has been forthright about his mistakes and humbly accepted the consequences of them ? a pretty rare thing in Washington," Daly said in the statement. "He is a Christian, and being a Christian doesn't mean you're perfect ? only that there is grace and forgiveness when you confess your imperfections. Tim has done that, and we welcome him to our team enthusiastically."
Update:
Although the online article makes no reference to Goeglein's plagiarism, editor Tom Hess writes that Citizen acknowledged Goeglein's plagiarism on page 29 of the November 2008 edition.
The departed aide
What sets this president apart is what Aristotle called "a greatness of soul," an inner moral compass that is rare in American statecraft. The president knows who he is, what he believes and why he believes it.
I experienced the greatness of his soul up close, because after nearly eight years of service as his deputy director of the White House Office of Public Liana, I admitted tin March that I had plagiarized. It was entirely my fault, rooted in vanity and without excuse. I hurt my family deeply. It was the worst chapter of my life.
After I resigned, I went to see the president and apologize. The first thing he said was, "I forgive you. I have known grace, and you are forgiven." Dumbfounded, I told him that I did not deserve this forgiveness, but he repeated, "I forgive you, Tim. That's the past. Now what's ahead of you and your family?" The heart and soul of George W. Bush was large, wide and deep that day.
--Tim Goeglein
Posted by Sarah Pulliam Bailey on January 28, 2009 10:34PM
Comments
Ah, Focus on the Family - the great rehabilitation agency. For years, they've the peddled the perjurer and proponent of the ends justifies the means foreign policy Oliver North as a paragon of virtue. Nothing FOTF does surprises anymore.
Posted by: Dan Crawford at January 29, 2009
How sad for them.
Posted by: Gregory Peterson at February 2, 2009
Is there any forgiveness for the guy? Did he murder someone? Did he rape someone? Did he molest someone? Is the damage he caused irreparable? If he had done any of the above, I would understand not hiring him (plus he would probably be in prison). But even in that circumstance, God offers forgiveness and restoration for them. Dan and Gregory: does your version of Christianity include forgiveness and restoration? If not, why would you trust your God?
Posted by: Ap at February 3, 2009
I applaud Focus on the Family for giving this guy a second chance. FOTF is an orginization that I trust and have trusted for years. Why the hostility Dan?
Posted by: Amber at February 3, 2009
Tim is an outstanding man who like all of us made a mistake, paid for it, and should be able to move one with his life. He should be evaluated on other criteria -- experience, knowledge of Washington, insight, convictions, etc. On that basis, he is an outstanding choice for this position.
My best to Tim in this new role.
Posted by: Bob Wenz at February 7, 2009
So, Bob, Tim should be evaluated on criteria other than his past behavior and his character? Funny how his 'knowledge of Washington' trumps integrity. I'm not surprised in the least that this is the caliber of FotF hires.
Posted by: beatrice81 at February 13, 2009
Tim is a fine man who made a mistake, and owned up to it. Focus on the Family is fortunate to have him.
Posted by: Catherine at February 20, 2009
Despite CT's claims, Focus on the Family Citizen magazine acknowledged Goeglein's plagiarism on page 29 of the November 2008 edition:
The departed aide
What sets this president apart is what Aristotle called “a greatness of soul,” an inner moral compass that is rare in American statecraft. The president knows who he is, what he believes and why he believes it.
I experienced the greatness of his soul up close, because after nearly eight years of service as his deputy director of the White House Office of Public Liana, I admitted tin March that I had plagiarized. It was entirely my fault, rooted in vanity and without excuse. I hurt my family deeply. It was the worst chapter of my life.
After I resigned, I went to see the president and apologize. The first thing he said was, “I forgive you. I have known grace, and you are forgiven.” Dumbfounded, I told him that I did not deserve this forgiveness, but he repeated, “I forgive you, Tim. That’s the past. Now what’s ahead of you and your family?” The heart and soul of George W. Bush was large, wide and deep that day.
--Tim Goeglein
Posted by: Tom Hess at May 11, 2009
They've the peddled the perjurer and proponent of the ends justifies the means foreign policy Oliver North as a paragon of virtue.
Posted by: club penguin at May 23, 2009
Having other people speak for him, no wonder him and George W. Bush got along so well.
Posted by: Free Kids Games at September 3, 2009
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