Still Crazy

When last I looked at the Republican candidates for president, I noted the religious elements injected into the campaign. Things haven't changed much since then. Rick Perry feels called to run, so he's had some preachers pray over him. Michele Bachman is still issuing God-talk.

Herman Cain, the pizza magnate who would be king, found a new tack for the issue: religious bigotry:

"If you mess with Israel you're messing with the United States of America," the Georgia businessman laid out plainly in his "Cain Doctrine."

“Option A is, 'Folks, we are not going to allow you to attack Israel,' " the GOP presidential hopeful told the Washington Times.

"If they call my bluff, they already know — they will know — what Option B is," Cain said.

The official religion in Iran just happens to be Islam. Cain took a controversial stance Sunday when he said that he felt communities, like one in Murfreesboro, Tenn., have the right to ban mosques.

"Let's go back to the fundamental issue that the people are basically saying that they are objecting to," Cain said on "Fox News Sunday".

"They are objecting to the fact that Islam is both religion and a set of laws, Sharia law. That's the difference between any one of our other traditional religions where it's just about religious purposes," Cain said.

The Muslim-bashing is always good for a few votes, and Mr. Cain needs all he can get. He's down at the bottom tier of candidates. Iran's a pretty good target as well, especially on Fox, the GOP's chosen venue (at least for now). The bit about Sharia law adds an interesting twist only insofar as it is a handy code for the bigotry involved.

I recommend a small investment in popcorn futures. We still have a year to go in this particular race.