Sacred, profance meet over breakfast H-L

[groovedaddy]

Lexington Herald-Leader

Posted on Fri, Feb. 03, 2006
COMMENTARY
Sacred, profane meet over breakfast
By Frank Lockwood
HERALD-LEADER RELIGION WRITER
I don't hear a lot of barnyard language on the religion beat, at least not when the topic of conversation is evangelical prayer breakfasts.
But the person on the phone was as proficient in profanity as my prison pen pal -- the one who writes periodically threatening to sue me for $200 million.
"This can't really be Gov. Ernie Fletcher's office," I thought to myself. But it was.
The governor's public relations guy was loudly and colorfully challenging the accuracy of the headline on my Jan. 27 story, "Non-Christians left out of Fletcher breakfast," dropping a few F-bombs along the way.
Communications director Brett Hall's conduct surprised me -- and not just because I'm on the faith and values beat. I've been a Washington correspondent for the Herald-Leader and a gubernatorial spokesman (for Idaho Gov. Phil Batt, a Republican, nearly a decade ago). And I've never heard an eruption like this one.
"This is crap," communications director Brett Hall said in the PG portion of his diatribe. "This is unfair. This is ridiculous. I am so pissed. Can you tell? This is wrong. I mean, where did this come from? Is this some ACLU agenda or (something)? I don't get it. God Almighty. Do you understand? Do you understand why I'm pissed?"
After taking the Lord's name in vain, the governor's spokesman made it clear that no one was excluded from Fletcher's prayer breakfast. People of all faiths were welcome to sit in the crowd and enjoy Christian songs, Scriptures, testimonies and prayer in Jesus' name if they bought a ticket.
"We don't leave anybody out of anything," said Hall, who later apologized "for screaming at you like that."
But several Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders say they were left out and are requesting that other faiths be included at next year's event. Organizers have said they'll be welcome.
When running for governor, Fletcher promised to "rebuild our government with people of rock-solid values," and, until recently, the Fletcher administration had a low tolerance for foul language. Chief of Staff Stan Cave isn't shy about complaining to editors if he thinks a reporter's speech is too salty.
Asked yesterday to comment on Hall's outburst, Cave said, "We have all said or done things we wished we hadn't. Recognizing this, when reporters have mistreated our staff and used inappropriate language, we didn't do a press conference on it."
Cave declined to name any reporters or give examples.
As for Hall, Cave said, "I have spoken with him about it and have been assured that this won't happen again."
Hall isn't part of the original Fletcher team, which held weekly prayer meetings at the Capitol.
He was brought in from New Jersey to help improve the governor's image in the midst of the grand jury investigation of administration hiring practices.
Although he works for an ordained Baptist minister, Hall has a reputation among journalists for sprinkling his speech with words we can't print in a family newspaper.
This was our first-ever phone conversation, and I told Hall I didn't think the governor would approve of his choice of words.
"I don't think he would either," Hall replied.

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Reach Frank Lockwood at [phone] or 1-800-950-6397, ext. 3211 or [e-mail].

[BridgeTheGap]

1. Watch your spelling there dude! Good, though...what an A*# Hole!

The Governor's folks are acting a little nervous!