Tim: I yield to nobody in my love of hymns, and have blogged at length on

the topic–here,

here, and here , for

instance. (Though I seem never to have mentioned my favorite web hymnology resource .) Let’s face it, though, not everyone

is as keen on hymnns as you are and I am. I wouldn’t force anyone to sing a

hymn that didn’t want to. A lot of people believe that this is the kind of

thing conservative Republicans DO want to do, though; and a wise politician

in a difficult race will avoid reinforcing that impression. That’s one

reason McClintock’s move was dumb. He should have said nothing.