The bugman as Christian Martyr

The Christian Right, often confused in the liberal mainstream media as just "Christians," has now claimed that DeLay is a martyr. One cleric even likened his demise to the crucifixion. Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake has some commentary:

Like the truly great scoundrel that he is, it seems Tom DeLay is set to make his next act the Christian Martyr. He’s been laying the planks for this for a while, and I for one couldn’t be happier.

As Digby says, not all the evangelicals are happy about embracing Hot Tub Tom as their new poster boy. With good reason. The God-baiters have been remarkably good at urging their snake handlers into political activism, but as each new headline breaks about DeLay’s corruption, how many of them are going to want to hold him up as a portrait of Christian martyrdom? How many will want to continue to defend him as one of their own? Not that there is any limit to the amount of corruption they will tolerate on the part of those who are willing to legislate hate, but still. After a while, claiming DeLay did nothing wrong and is merely the victim of Christian persecution is going to get a bit old. And humiliating.

It’s a very bad business card for the whole movement, one that could cause their legions to just stay home and wait for the rapture with the 700 Club, a tuna noodle casserole and a Barcalounger.

Who would be left for John McCain to embrace?