I've been mocked for taking the Christianist right at its word with respect to fusing politics and religion. But James Dobson keeps proving that Christianism truly is a sectarian movement that has transformed the GOP into a religious rather than a political party. Here he is on Fred Thompson:

"Everyone knows he's conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for. [But] I don't think he's a Christian; at least that's my impression."

One of Dobson's spokesmen helpfully clarified the GOP power-broker's words:

"We use that wordChristianto refer to people who are evangelical Christians. Dr. Dobson wasn't expressing a personal opinion about his reaction to a Thompson candidacy; he was trying to 'read the tea leaves' about such a possibility."

A religious test for public office - clearly stated by the GOP's most powerful base figure. Catholics aren't real Christians either, according to Dobson. Now maybe people will take the threat to secular politics seriously. Here's the acid test: see if any of the other Republican candidates or a leading figure in the Bush administration attacks Dobson's position. This is getting interesting.