Bobo and Lincoln

I wonder if David Brooks understands the fundamental flaw in his editorial today saying that since Lincoln evoked God that spirituality has a place in American politics. He may have a reasonable argument that there is room for spirituality in the state--I would disagree with that, but I can understand it. But Brooks' problem is that few people in American politics today think or act like Lincoln did concerning spiritual matters in the 1860s. Who is Brooks talking about that would play the role of a religious skeptic who believes in God on some level and will talk about that God in a vague way during times of crisis? No one. There may be politicians who believe this way today but none will talk of it. Instead, they become like John Kerry who clearly doesn't want to talk about religion but nonetheless does so in order to pander to our religion obsessed culture. The problem with the lack of spirituality in American politics is not the ACLU, as Brooks suggests. Rather it's with the lunatics who want to reject science, modernism, and women's rights. If that's what religion in American politics is going to look like, the ACLU looks pretty damn right on.

So what spiritual figures does Brooks want accepted in today's politics? James Dobson? Does he want prayer in schools? Does he want creationism taught? He avoids all of these questions, probably because he is smart enough to know that he has no answers except to cave to the religious right.