Bunkleys attend inauguration as governor’s guests

Courtesy Photo

Bill Bunkley, legislative consultant for the Florida Baptist Convention, and his wife Toni, were special guests of Gov. Jeb Bush at the inauguration of his brother, George W. Bush. The Bunkleys are members of Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa.

WASHINGTON (FBW) – Frigid temperatures could not deter Bill and Toni Bunkley from enjoying their special opportunity as guests of Gov. Jeb Bush to witness history as George W. Bush was inaugurated Jan. 20 for his second term as president of the United States.

Whether observing the inauguration ceremony or other events connected to the festivities, Bill Bunkley, legislative consultant for the Florida Baptist Convention, told Florida Baptist Witness that “spiritual overtones” enveloped the observances.

As President Bush delivered his inaugural address “he was interrupted by the evangelical supporters gathered on the Capitol lawn many more times for his faith-oriented comments than all his other comments,” Bunkley said. “We could hear ‘amen’s’ and ‘yes’ across the crowd.”

Bunkley said that thoughts of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America “kept coming to mind” during the swearing-in ceremony, recalling the fact that he and his wife, Toni – both long-time members of Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa – were with the president in Sarasota that fateful day assisting with the advance team when Bush learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

“Connecting that dot of history to this one was very special for us,” Bunkley said.

“As I was departing I could not help thinking that our nation made a statement on Thursday” – the day of the inauguration when, with the help of significant security precautions, the president and vice president were sworn-in without incident. In spite of 9/11, Bunkley thought, “we are still here and we are still determined to live as a free nation, even with all the new security issues in our lives.”

The Bunkleys were personal guests of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the president’s brother, and, in addition to the inaugural ceremony, attended the Celebration of Freedom event Wednesday evening – where Southern Baptist California pastor and author Rick Warren gave the invocation, the inaugural parade with plum seats across the street from the presidential viewing stand, and the Liberty Ball, sponsored by Florida supporters of the president.

The governor’s invitation, Bunkley speculated, may have been related to the fact that he was invited to co-chair the Bush campaign’s faith-based voter outreach effort in Florida and his own run for office last summer. Bunkley declined the Bush campaign offer because of his campaign for the Florida House of Representatives, a race he narrowly lost to incumbent Republican Kevin Ambler.

The race was “unusually brutal to Toni and me, and the governor was personally disappointed in some aspects of the effort waged against me,” he said.

Asked whether there was a particularly poignant moment for Toni and him, Bunkley said that he appreciated the joy of President Bush and his family as they watched the parade.

Photo by Bill Bunkley

President George W. Bush waves to bystanders during the inaugural parade in Washington Jan. 20. Southern Baptist pastor and author Rick Warren gave an invocation at one of the inaugural events Jan. 19.

“The president was especially animated in interacting with the individual parade units – smiling, giving thumbs up, winking, dancing, clapping,” he said. “It was very evident he was having a great time, not just going through the motions.”

He noted that this year’s inauguration was very different from four years ago when the Bunkleys worked as hosts of entertainers and VIPs during the events that were rushed because of the contested Florida election in 2000. “It was rewarding for us to watch the president and first lady take in and celebrate this victory,” Bunkley said.

Bunkley said that the involvement of Christians in politics and government has marked all of American history – “from George Washington to George Bush” – and that record emboldens his desire to be involved.

“We have been taught to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. And in our country that means accepting a very special privilege to actively participate in all levels of government,” Bunkley said. “Christians – now more than ever – must stay involved as there are many others with very different visions for the future that would erase many of the principles we hold dear. We must remain vigilant for future generations.”