(Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons)

Here’s an interesting twist in Tennessee State Rep. Jerry Sexton‘s latest attempt to make the Bible the official state book.

In case you need a reminder, he’s been trying to do this for years, but always failed. Even the state’s Republican attorney general has told him this is blatantly unconstitutional. He’s still going at it, though. This time he introduced a resolution, giving it slightly less heft than a potential law, but it would still get the job done if it passes. House Joint Resolution 150 says the “Holy Bible” should become the official State book.

Now here’s the twist: After the bill passed through the State House last week, Tennessee’s Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, who also serves as the speaker of the State Senate, signed on as the bill’s sponsor in that chamber.

Why would that matter? Because McNally — even though he demonizes atheists — really doesn’t like this resolution. Not because it violates any church/state laws, but because he thinks having the Bible as the State Book puts it on the same level as the state amphibian. In other words, by treating the Bible just like other state symbols, the resolution would “minimize its importance.”

Now, by becoming the co-sponsor of this resolution, he can effectively just… ignore it.