Q: Are We Not Men?

First there was the Lincoln-Douglas debates, then Kennedy-Nixon, and now...

The Hitchens-Sharpton debate!

The question under debate (“Is God great?”) and the speakers — two men who are often depicted in harsh caricatures by their critics — might have caused some to expect something like a circus. Perhaps surprisingly, it turned out to be the public intellectual event of the evening, a bit like Bertrand Russell vs. C. S. Lewis.

Well, maybe if Russell had a reputation for heavy drinking and blistering invective and Lewis was inclined to make slanderous, race-bating charges. (Are those harsh caricatures?) Anyway, these two theological powerhouses squared off not to discuss politics but to get this pesky God business straightened out, so maybe the better historical reference would be Darrow vs. Bryan in that staged celebrated debate better known as the Scopes "Monkey" Trial.

Speaking of monkeys, from the report of the debate neither Hitchens nor Sharpton managed to make nearly as much of a jackanape of himself as one might have expected. At one point, however, Sharpton did show something less than proper liberal respect for ecumenical diversity when he said, “As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyway, so don’t worry, that’s a temporary situation.”

Of course, that might have had more to do with Mitt Romney being a Republican than a Mormon. Still, it looks like Mitt can forget any hopes of getting the National Action Network's endorsement. I guess that also means Romney won't be proxy baptizing the Reverend Al after he goes to his non-Mormon glory. As for Hitch, he wouldn't go anyway, as I'm pretty sure the Latter Day Saints' notion of heaven is an alcohol-free zone.