Because when he talks about expanding Bush’s faith based initiative, it seems to me that he is giving the imprimatur of bipartisanship to what has been a disgraceful, and anti-constitutional, spoils system for Republican supporting churches.

It’s a little better when one looks into it though.

The organizations will not be allowed to discriminate, as they can under the Bush program, at least for federally funded work:

“If you get a federal grant, you can’t use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can’t discriminate against them — or against the people you hire — on the basis of their religion,” Mr. Obama said. “Federal dollars that go directly to churches, temples and mosques can only be used on secular programs.”

Needless to say, the Talibapitsts are freaking about this, because they think that the right to discriminate is what makes them “distinctive”.

I would note that Obama’s statement seems to allow discrimination, just not with public funds. I disagree with this.

Religious groups should held to the same standard as the secular organizations if they take public money.