As the massive GOP corruption scandal unfolds, we are discovering that every contract awarded by Republicans involves cronyism and kickbacks - whether in Iraq (Halliburton et al), Katrina (Halliburton et al), Duke Cunningham, etc.

One especially infuriating dimension of GOP contracting corruption involves contracts awarded to religious right groups, whose only claim to existence is that they serve God with greater devotion than mainstream or liberal religious groups.

But now it is clear that the religious right serves mammon, and it uses public piety simply as a scam to steal from taxpayers like you and me. These corrupt thieves deserve a name, so I will adapt a favorite enemy of the Gingrich Revolution, the poverty pimps, and christen them as the piety pimps.

Here is just the latest example, courtesy of Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Daily News:

Exclusive: Santorum funneled earmarks, charity money to Philly faith-based group accused of political activity

A faith-based Philadelphia group at the center of a flap over whether tax-exempt religious groups are aiding the re-election campaign of U.S. Sen Rick Santorum has won more than $250,000 in federal grant money pushed for by Santorum over the last three years.

The group, the Urban Family Council — founded by well-known local conservative religious activist William Devlin — also has reaped a $10,000 grant from a controversial charity founded by Santorum, the Operation Good Neighbor Foundation.

I've seen dozens of reports like this recently. It's time for taxpayers to rise up in revolt against the piety pimps - and the Republican politicians who fund them.