I too have a history with Rev. Sheldon. I have known the Reverend for more than a decade. I do not agree with him all the time and I certainly do not agree with some of his tactics. But it is very important to be clear, no one is accusing Rev. Sheldon of any improprieties and if they did, they would find none.
Today it is more politically correct to bash Abramoff and anyone he stood on line with at the grocery store let along gave a contribution to, than to give a college scholarship to a one-legged, lesbian illegal alien. So I understand my colleagues desire to pile on. But I caution that but for our tendency to focus our businesses in California rather than DC or the fact that some of us (not I) choose do politics for Sen. McCain rather than Rep. Delay, we could have some of the Abramoff stink on us too.
My point is, attack the good Reverend all you want. But don’t confuse something you don’t like with something that is off the charts illegal.
[Publisher’s note: Adam brings up a good point. Neither I nor anyone on this site is accusing Lou Sheldon of breaking the law. But a number of us are saying that his form of demogoguing for conservativism combined with squishing for money represents just as an insideous public relations problem (remember, it was a Chronicle column that started this Sheldon stuff on the site). While there is a distinct difference between illegal behavior and immoral behavior, both are outrageous and should be decried. – Flash]