The Democrats will make an issue of Republicans’ alleged blackballing of a Catholic priest in about a dozen competitive districts with significant Catholic populations and non-Catholic GOP incumbents (such as Nancy Johnson of Connecticut, Jim Nussle of Iowa, and Heather Wilson of New Mexico). In Pennsylvania’s Tenth District, freshman Don Sherwood faces a rematch with Patrick Casey; a local editorial has already challenged the incumbent to protest the “institutional slur” Catholics have suffered at the hands of the GOP leadership.
Hastert and Armey have written to their Republican colleagues in defense of their choice for chaplain. The House is expected to approve the selection of Rev. Wright next month. Democrats, after all, have little interest in defeating Wright, because that would allow the Republicans to appoint a qualified Catholic chaplain—and thus defuse Catholic anger. Democrats typically preach the importance of not mixing religion and politics, but this temptation will undoubtedly prove too great to resist. NR
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