So, as Ruth Marcus tells us over at the Washington Post, the good folks at Point of Grace Church in Waukee, Iowa, are hanging donation envelopes for Mike Huckabee on the church Christmas tree.
I’m sorry … what the?
From Marcus’ column:
WAUKEE, Iowa-Lori Hommer is threading blue ribbon through contribution envelopes to hang on the Christmas trees at Point of Grace Church, and she scarcely pauses when asked if she’s decided on a candidate in next month’s caucuses.
“Yes, Mike Huckabee,” said Hommer, 50, who teaches at the church. “He has conservative Christian values . . . the same values I have.” As to the man who had been leading in the polls here until recently, she said, “I could probably support Mitt Romney if I had to. I’m just a little leery of him. I’m just not sure he’s genuine.”
You can read the rest of the column, but I had seen enough. George Bush paved the way for GOP candidates to use church membership directories to solicit campaign donations, but c’mon, donation envelopes on a Christmas tree? Huckabee-or at least his campaign-should know better than that. Shame on them.
To say nothing of the staff at Point of Grace, who allow their church to be coopted for shameless political posturing. Jesus overturned a few tables at the Temple; time for someone to toss over a few trees.
It brings to mind my favorite quote from church-state separation veteran James Dunn: Mixing church and state is like mixing ice cream and manure. It doesn’t wonders for the manure, but it’s awful for the ice cream.