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Hofrenning in New York Times and on CNN

By David Gonnerman '90
May 21, 2007

HofrenningCNN
Hofrenning being taped for CNN.
For background on a story about the sharp upturn in the numbers of religious groups that are tapping into federal "earmarks," the New York Times recently contacted St. Olaf Associate Professor of Political Science Dan Hofrenning, author of the book In Washington But Not Of It: The Prophetic Politics of Religious Lobbyists. "Getting heavily into the pork-barrel politics of earmarks -- that is a distinctive change," says Hofrenning [link below; the Times piece also has appeared in the Boston Globe and the St. Paul Pioneer Press].

The following day, Hofrenning appeared on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight in a segment on the rise of religious influence into mainstream politics. In response to Cardinal Roger Mahony's language on illegal immigration, Hofrenning told CNN correspondant Christine Romans: "The only thing he really cannot do is advocate for a particular candidate in an election or get involved in a specific campaign. Religious leaders are free to take stands on a particular pieces of legislation."

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.