Baptists and Bootleggers, Deluxe Edition(s)

This week, the Senate is holding hearing on the activities of two lobbyists, Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon. It seems that they paid Ralph Reed, one-time leader of the Christian Coalition, to lead attacks against the Tigua Indian Tribe's Speaking Rock Casino. Once that campaign was successful, they then offered their contact with Tom Delay to get the decision reversed in exchange for campaign contributions. Got that? First they paid to have the Casino outlawed, then they got paid to get it reinstated.

The campaign to outlaw the casino could not have been won on the platform of "Make it illegal so we can peddle influence." No, they needed moral cover. Anybody know where to find a Baptist for hire? I guess they found Ralph Reed.

Could you ask for a clearer case of Baptist and Bootlegger association? As it turns out, yes you can.