Does Holy Hostettler Have a Prayer?

It's tough to decide which leader of the Theocracy-in-Waiting I most want to see get his ass kicked in this election, but Jesus' favorite Hoosier, Representative John Hostettler, is definitely on my short list. Needless to say, I'm feeling pretty good about the latest poll from the Evansville Courier and Press, which shows him being crushed by his Democratic opponent, Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth.

Hostettler, whom I was delighted to include in Naked Republicans, A Full Frontal Exposure of Right-wing Hypocrisy and Greed is the guy who:

• Sponsored the ironically named Public Expression of Religion Act, an assault on church/state separation that the House passed in September.

• During a debate on a bill to ban abusive religious proselytizing at the Air Force Academy in June 2005 took to the House floor to warn all God-fearing Christians:

• "Like a moth to a flame, the Democrats can't help themselves when it comes to denigrating and demonizing Christians." (Later his comments were stricken from the record).

• After promising to bring Christian principles to government, voted (with ten other Republicans) against emergency aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Long on faith and hope, short on charity.

• Didn't let that vote stop him from requesting funds when his own district needed emergency aid after a killer tornado hit. Oddly, he chose not to visit the devastation or his constituents for more than a week, while the man who is now his opponent, Sheriff Ellsworth, ran the recovery effort. Ouch.

• Forgot he was carrying a loaded 9 millimeter pistol as he attempted to board a jet in Louisville. Hey, with the "long war on Christianity in America" can you blame him for wanting to be armed at all times? Makes you wonder, What Would Jesus Pack?

• Called marriage "the picture of Christian salvation" and described divorce as just as dangerous as gay marriage. Not sure where he stands on gay marriages that end in divorce.

• Did not, however, actually move to change the name of Interstate 69 from I-69 to something less, well, naughty. That was an internet hoax, and yet, you can see why people believed it, can't you?

Hostettler has had tough campaigns before since his first election in 1994, but it's going to take a miracle to pull this one out of the (hell)fire. Here's hoping his crusade gets stalled on I-69.