IMHO, it is precisely because he is a lawyer that Intelligent Design has taken on his demeanor - and won over so many people, making strong inroads in the school boards. In this instance, the jury is not scientific peers but the public at large.
IMHO, the evolutionists are ill advised to besmirch the opposition, in particular the IDers. There is more poison in the handle than the point.
On the assertion about PatrickHenry and the Pope, there was a lengthy discussion between PH and betty boop on this thread.
And, as was shown by Gertrude Himmelfarb, Darwin was not a scienctist. In any event, specialists do not dominate my world. They have their own agenda.