The separation of church and state was blended Monday night as a liberal analyst criticized U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe on CNN.

Paul Begala, co-host of CNN's "Crossfire," brought up the Christian Coalition annual Road to Victory conference held in Washington, D.C., over the weekend. During the conference, the Republican senator told the crowd they need to vote liberals out of office.

"You will be doing the Lord's work, and he will richly bless you for it," Inhofe said to the coalition.

Begala, from the liberal side of the nightly news and political commentary show, criticized the statements Inhofe made at what he called "the right-winged circus."

"In response, the Lord God Almighty released the following statement: 'Who in heaven's name instructed Jim Inhofe to speak for me?'" Begala said. "'He's a child of mine, and I love him, but I don't take sides in partisan political contests.'"

Tucker Carlson, co-host of "Crossfire" from the conservative side, said he agreed with "God's" statement, but said he could not believe that a senator would say such a thing about voting liberals out of office. He said he checked The Associated Press story and did not see a direct quote from Inhofe telling coalition members to vote out liberals because it is God's will.

"That's the characterization of the AP reporter, and I really hope she is wrong because that's an awful thing to say if it is true," Carlson said.

Inhofe's office released a statement saying it has decided not to comment on Begala's remarks. The statement added that Inhofe and his staff are looking forward to receiving the barbecue Begala owes from a lost bet on the OU/Texas football game.

Begala, an alumnus of the University of Texas, acknowledged the bet, saying Inhofe was "a man who now won't be able to dine on some of the famous Texas barbecue, I'm sad to say, since his Oklahoma Sooners defeated my Texas Longhorns on Saturday."
hello there & you too