Solemnly Swearing

By Baxter

Nikki Haley has a mixed marriage — and that's just her side of the relationship.

The Republican endorsed by the famous quitter from Alaska for Governor of South Carolina grew up a Sikh. But now — well, we're not really sure what she does, religion-wise. Haley claims to have converted to Christianity in 1997, but attends both Methodist and Sikh services.

Now, we cats are extremely tolerant of diversity. But Republicans in South Carolina famously aren't. In fact, speculation has arisen as to whether the question of religion will play a "wedge" role in the pending Palmetto State runoff. It may — but for us cats, that's not the pressing issue. Here's what we want to know when it comes to Nikki Haley and religion: If she wins, what book will she be sworn in on?

The reason we're asking is because of all the GOP screaming a few years back about Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) getting sworn in on Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Quran. Horrors! (Of course, Sikhs didn't fly planes into the World Trade Center. But since the Republicans were perfectly happy to invade Iraq for something 19 mostly-Saudi guys did, we cats figure that consistency isn't exactly their strong suit.)

If Nikki Haley wins the governor's race — not a given, by the way — perhaps it would just be easier for her to be sworn in on a copy of Moby Dick.