Though I’ve never been anything close to a Ron Paul enthusiast (…not even close), his endorsement of Chuck Baldwin calls to mind the unfortunate racist newsletter fiasco earlier this year. A snippet, courtesy Torch founder Jacob Grier, of Baldwin’s rhetoric three days after September 11, 2001:

“[It] is now time for the American people to realize that the liberal policies of the last 30 years have created the opportunity for terrorists like those who attacked us Tuesday to accomplish their heinous crimes. America’s foolish fascination with multiculturalism and unrestricted illegal immigration made it easy for those Islamic terrorists to do what they did […]

“Our Founding Fathers knew that our nation’s protection was ultimately in the hands of God. Freedom and security are the blessings of God. Since God was no idle spectator when our country was birthed, He is no idle spectator today. Both blessing and judgment belong to Him. He can accomplish either according to His will.

“It is, therefore, imperative that America returns to God! For nearly a half-century, we have forsaken the moral principles of Heaven. We have legally murdered too many unborn babies. We have too readily accepted aberrant, sexual behavior. We kicked Heaven out of our schools, out of our homes, and out of our hearts. As a result, God is giving us a little taste of Hell.”

That has echoes of Jeremiah Wright’s “chickens coming home to roost,” doesn’t it? Even though Bob Barr may look mildly to moderately like a character from Batman: The Animated Series, he hasn’t unleashed on the necessity of religious moral certitude.

Katherine Miller is a junior in the College of Arts & Science. She blogs daily at Right-Wing Vitriol.