John Block Reports from Washington

It's the messenger that makes the difference. Joe Lieberman, Al Gore's running mate, talks about religion and God all the time. He calls for "a place for faith in America's public life." What does that mean? In city hall? In the schools? I thought the courts put a stop to that. No prayers at football games. No prayers at graduation. In the next breath Senator Lieberman says he supports a separation of church and state.

At this point the press, as perplexed and amazed as they are, haven't chosen to attack him for this. But what if we had a different messenger? What if the messenger were Pat Robertson? Remember a couple of presidential races back when Pat Robertson won the Iowa Caucus? We all know that if he were running with George W. Bush the press would be all over him for mixing politics and religion. If he were the messenger, they would shoot the messenger!

No way would the press listen to a Christian conservative mix religious teachings in a political campaign. The same people supporting Gore are the one challenging prayer at ballgames. They are the ones trying to kill the 1959 Ohio motto of "In God All Things Are Possible" or a Colorado motto "In God We Trust."

Should we look for them to attack Senator Joe Lieberman? Not a chance! He's running with Al Gore. That's the ultimate hypocrisy. Having made my point, I don't think it is all bad. Maybe now all of our faith based institutions, our political leaders and others will be inspired and given a chance to provide moral guidance and standards to live by. Maybe Joe Lieberman has opened a door that others could not open.