A few days ago, the Washington Times took out after white evangelicals for “old-fashioned bigotry” in opposing Mitt Romney as John McCain’s running mate.

White evangelicals need a history lesson. Protestants began to flee religious persecution in England in droves in the 16th and 17th centuries; they were especially victimized by the provision that there was a religious test in order to hold office. Evangelicals in America would do well to rise above the same kind of discrimination their ancestors were once victimized by.
Mr. Romney has a long record of serving America. If his service has been good enough for Massachusetts, why is it not good enough for white evangelicals across America? Also, in the battle to win more and more adherents to the social conservative causes they hold dear, it is in the interest of white evangelicals to recruit as many allies as possible – regardless of their religious convictions. Thus, these evangelicals would do well to be tolerant and work toward broadening the conservative base, rather than upholding barriers based on religious bigotry.

Fair enough–and good evidence of which way the wind is blowing in bien-pensant GOP establishment circles. But perhaps the Times should ponder Galatians, chapter 6, verse 7:

Be not decieved; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Having spent a generation assiduously sowing the idea of a President Like You among the evangelical faithful, the GOP has perhaps entered upon the reaping phase.