Putting Principle Before Power

Given the prominence and exposure it would have brought, it's a remarkable act of principle. Young evangelical leader Cameron Strang has declined to offer a prayer at the DNC's opening night ceremony.

Of course, it's clear that the Obama campaign was hoping to portray Strang's presence as an unspoken endorsement -- and a wordless appeal to other young evangelicals. That's how Strang understood it, too, which is why he withdrew.

What's interesting is to note that seven other ministers are going to pray at the convention. It's worth asking: Does that mean that they support Barack Obama? And exactly how do they square that support with Barack's support for partial birth abortion and his opposition to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act?