By the way, if you read the entire article - be very suspicious of pieces declaring this or that religious group to be this year's crucial swing vote. They're almost always BS, and usually reflect somebody's desire to speak for that group in the world of politics.

I've been ranting about this one for years. I won't call a pundit or politician "pro-life" until I see them demonstrating that they care just as much about life after the womb. That means pushing just as hard for funding child-protective services, domestic abuse services, public education, welfare, etc.

The same goes for somebody who actively campaigns (through letter-writing, voting, lobbying or whatever) for pro-life issues. It's a simple question. If they say they're "pro-life," I'll ask, "Do you put as much energy and thought into life after a person has been born?"

You can hear the crickets chirp.

On a not terribly related note, but I feel I need to vent:

climbing up on soapbox

Walking home from the grocery store this morning, I was standing at an intersection, dutifully waiting for the light to turn green so I could cross the street. The light turns green, and a pickup guns it and turns left in front of me. I gave my "Shoulders-hunched-hands-out WTFYP???" (but without moving my lips) when somebody cuts me off. I know he saw it because we made eye contact.

Then he leans out his window and screams "#$&* you!" I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was all about, since I very obviously was doing everything right. It wasn't until several blocks later that a lightbulb went off. I'm wearing my "Howard Dean for president" t-shirt. Way to encourage productive dialog.

...incidentally, after somebody cuts me off and is driving away, I blow them a kiss and say "Love you too!" Unless they look in their rearview mirror, they don't see it, and they definitely don't hear me, but it makes me feel better. :)

climbing down off soapbox

Doug.

Subject: Affirming Christ's Gospel

Dear Gov. Huckabee,

I am writing as a long time Evangelical Christian, baptized in the Danish Lutheran Church in Copenhagen, now a part of the ELCA.

The time is long overdue for evangelicals to stand up beyond party loyalties and make a firm commitment to Christ's teachings of all enfolding, gracious love. Today a group of over 80 evangelical conservative Christian leaders is expected to come out with a similar statement even adding that the political parties have only taken advantage of the Religious Right referring to themselves as little more than "useful idiots".

You have an opportunity to come out strongly as the most eminent conservative political evangelical leader now by denouncing the current administrations use of  "enhanced interrogation techniques" including water-boarding, or torture by most reasonable definitions. This practice is not only against American values of freedom, liberty and human rights but it is also a clear and direct violation of Christ's Gospel of human love.

Where do you stand?

Your silence has been deafening.

I am thrilled to see that you are expanding the scope of your concern to include a fuller array of the human rights issues which face us.

Along those lines, I recently saw photos of prisoners in what are referred to by the benign-sounding name of "stress positions"  They had been stripped of their garments, bound at the hands and feet, left with open wounds and shackled in ways that would bring extreme pressure on the rib cage, and, if left long enough, no doubt slow and excruciating suffocation.  I could not help but think that these were the same elements that are reported in the Gospel retellings of the crucifixion.

Please use your PAC to urge that our nation cease immediately such treatment of any individuals regardless of who, or what they are believed to know or have done.  And please urge that those who would treat the least of our brothers and sisters this way be brought to justice swiftly.

Yours in Christ,

marykk