January (Web-only) 2001

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On a mission from God?
After Bush's inaugural address, Rich Weaver slipped past security, entered a restricted area, and shook Bush's hand. He then gave the president a medallion and a blue card. On the card, Weaver says, was a message from God: "Your miracle election is to remind you to stand for Christ daily without political compromise. Keep Christ first and God will give you another miracle election in four years." What's absolutely crazy about the whole thing is that Weaver pulled the same trick off four years ago at Clinton's inauguration. And the Capitol Police were shown a video of that encounter so that Weaver could be identified if he tried it again. "The guards let me in like nobody's business," said the 55-year-old renegade minister. "It happens all the time. It's so funny, it's almost eerie. But this stuff is no big deal to God. God can close people's eyes so they don't see you." He tried to explain the same thing to the Secret Service. "It had nothing to do with you. God's bigger than all you guys," he told them. He later explained to The Washington Post, "It really encourages them [the Secret Service] when I tell them that." (I bet.) A former Secret Service agent says Weaver won't be charged with anything. (See also Weaver's interview with the Associated Press.)

Bush will start sending "charitable choice" proposals to Congress next week As a first step to involving churches and religious organizations in governmental social programs, President Bush had dinner last night at the home of Theodore McCarrick, Washington's archbishop (who will be elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II). Before the meeting, Bush explained his plans are "all based upon what's called charitable choice, which is a constitutional provision ...