Opinion
Dim Bulb - October 24, 2008
October 23, 2008
Who: Americans United for Separation of Church and State
What: Barry Lynn, the group’s president, is asking the IRS to investigate Paterson, NJ Bishop Arthur Serratelli for “illegal partisanship” for denouncing Barack Obama’s abortion stance in the diocese’s own weekly newspaper and Web site.
Why it’s dim: Where is Lynn when preachers endorse Obama from the pulpit or allow their pulpits to be used by politicians endorsing Obama? And why shouldn't Bishop Serratelli inform his parishioners about legislation Obama supports that the Catholic Church officially condemns?
Cure: Reread the First Amendment.
Daily Outrage
Paying bribes with earmark funds for combat troops
Who: Mitchell Wade
What: Wade's company, MZM Inc., received millions of dollars in a classified, sole-source earmark to develop a system that would warn American troops of the location of improvised explosive devices (IEDs)– the No. 1 killer of our soldiers in Iraq.
Why it's an outrage: When the Pentagon asked Army intelligence specialist Major Eric Egland to investigate why IED casualties were still on the rise, he discovered that Wade had hired only a third of the employees he promised. Wade later pleaded guilty to using earmark funds to bribe former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham with a yacht, jewelry, antiques and campaign contributions.
Where to vent: Tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (speaker.house.gov) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (reid.senate.gov): No more earmarks!
What: Barry Lynn, the group’s president, is asking the IRS to investigate Paterson, NJ Bishop Arthur Serratelli for “illegal partisanship” for denouncing Barack Obama’s abortion stance in the diocese’s own weekly newspaper and Web site.
Why it’s dim: Where is Lynn when preachers endorse Obama from the pulpit or allow their pulpits to be used by politicians endorsing Obama? And why shouldn't Bishop Serratelli inform his parishioners about legislation Obama supports that the Catholic Church officially condemns?
Cure: Reread the First Amendment.
Daily Outrage
Paying bribes with earmark funds for combat troops
Who: Mitchell Wade
What: Wade's company, MZM Inc., received millions of dollars in a classified, sole-source earmark to develop a system that would warn American troops of the location of improvised explosive devices (IEDs)– the No. 1 killer of our soldiers in Iraq.
Why it's an outrage: When the Pentagon asked Army intelligence specialist Major Eric Egland to investigate why IED casualties were still on the rise, he discovered that Wade had hired only a third of the employees he promised. Wade later pleaded guilty to using earmark funds to bribe former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham with a yacht, jewelry, antiques and campaign contributions.
Where to vent: Tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (speaker.house.gov) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (reid.senate.gov): No more earmarks!
