Blood Runs Thick in 'The Family'

The Family       audio clip from,       Interfaith Radio   
 

A little-known Christian network that takes leadership cues from Hitler and Mao may seem like the stuff of conspiracy theories, but our guest Jeff Sharlet insists that the Family's political clout is real. Best known for sponsoring the annual high-profile National Prayer Breakfast, this secretive, close-knit group has impacted public policy since it sponsored anti-New Deal legislation in the 1930s – and gives all the credit to God.
This week, we re-visit our look inside their house on C Street, which has been called home by a number of politicians linked to recent sex scandals, including Governor Mark Sanford, the South Carolina Republican infamous for his visit to the “Appalachian Trail," and Senator John Ensign, the Republican from Nevada who admitted to an affair with a female staff member.
Jeff Sharlet, author of