And another one gone, and another one gone

McManus makes three.

One day after President Bush ordered his Cabinet secretaries to stop hiring commentators to help promote administration initiatives, and one day after the second high-profile conservative pundit was found to be on the federal payroll, a third embarrassing hire has emerged. Salon has confirmed that Michael McManus, a marriage advocate whose syndicated column, "Ethics & Religion," appears in 50 newspapers, was hired as a subcontractor by the Department of Health and Human Services to foster a Bush-approved marriage initiative. McManus championed the plan in his columns without disclosing to readers he was being paid to help it succeed.

The slezoid actually brought his dog and pony show here to Chattavegas:

McManus provided training during two-day conferences in Chattanooga, Tenn., and also made presentations at HHS-sponsored conferences. His syndicated column has appeared in such papers as the Washington Times, the Dallas Morning News and the Charlotte Observer.

And he's apparently the guy behind marriagesavers. Perhaps I'm a jaded cynic, but I think this guy screams scandal. In another couple of months, he'll be in the papers again, but it'll be because his wife is leaving him after he's caught in a strip club with some fishnets around his ankles or something. Or maybe not. I don't know why I don't believe in these pious, holier-than-thou pseudo-preacher types, but I don't.