[EdJay]

"Can someone tell me why this story matters? Is the guy running for office or something? I heard Rush talking a bit about it, but still don't get why MSNBC is making a big deal out it!!"

He's not running for office, but I gather that there is some kind of "defense of marriage" proposition on the ballot in Colorado, and Ted Haggard has come out strong in favor of it, so I guess it is politically relevant in Colorado, at least. Another reason it "matters" to a lot of people is that this guy is a heavy hitter in the evangelical world, not just some unknown local pastor; as head of the NAE, etc., he's a powerful guy. There have also been reports that he's pretty tight with the White House, has a lot of access to Bush and/or his advisors, so there's that angle too, I guess.

[penelopesire]

Good grief......the press at it again! This is getting so tiresome! Is it Bush's fault that the guy may be a scumbag? NO! Should the amendment be thrown out because the guy might be a scumbag? No

End of story in my book!

[pollwatcher]

MSM is having a field day tying this in with the elections, the GOP and gay marriage.

Maybe this guy could go on the same back-woods curcuit with Swaggert.

[tacticalogic]

He's not running for office, but I gather that there is some kind of "defense of marriage" proposition on the ballot in Colorado, and Ted Haggard has come out strong in favor of it, so I guess it is politically relevant in Colorado, at least. Another reason it "matters" to a lot of people is that this guy is a heavy hitter in the evangelical world, not just some unknown local pastor; as head of the NAE, etc., he's a powerful guy. There have also been reports that he's pretty tight with the White House, has a lot of access to Bush and/or his advisors, so there's that angle too, I guess.

Sometimes I see a little more enthusiasm for mixing religion and politics than I think is wise. Politics is a messy business, and I don't think you can bring the Church into politics and expect to keep politics out of the Church.