New GOP Leader Wants State Religion Just Like Other GOP Leaders!

We knew that John Boehner, the new GOP leader in the House, was a sleazy guy (he famously handed out tobacco lobbyists’ checks on the house floor).

I admit, though, that I didn’t know Boehner wanted to undermine the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. It seems he supports state-sponsored prayer in the public school, was for allowing federal funding of poverty programs that require aid recipients to join in religious activities, supports the state-sponsored display of protestant Christian translations of religious texts, opposed criticism of proselytizing at the Air Force Academy, and that he enthusiastically pushed for legal requirements that “Intelligent Design” be taught in Ohio schools. Yes, all this (and more) seems to be true.

Of course, it’s hardly surprising — I’d bet these views are far more characteristic of GOP House members than of the population at large.