PRAYER, POLITICS DON'T ALWAYS MIX

In desperation to pass the crime bill, President Clinton has called on a higher power.

He asked thousands of churchgoers to pray for him and members of Congress to "do the will of God" and pass the crime bill without changes.

Some might view it as a violation of the separation of church and state, which virtually went unnoticed by the so-called Constitutional watchdogs.

Gary Bauer, president of the Family Research Council, observed: "The ACLU issued no press release. No network news anchor raised an eyebrow. The anti-defamation league has lost its voice." He has a point. Railing against conservative Christians is a common pastime. Most pundits were curiously silent on Clinton's plea for prayer.

There is nothing wrong with presidential praying, mind you. Too many politicians are quick to shove religion out of our schools and government on matters of principle. But when politics falls short, they use any means possible to get their way. When it comes to religion, politicians can't have it both ways.