Friday, February 15, 2008
Warning: Political Rant Ahead
I don't think I'm alone in saying this may be the most volatile political season our country has experienced in generations. I, like many of you, find myself at a crossroads: While I'm more passionate about the political process than ever before, I'm also beyond the point of being exasperated with it. For the average Joe, it's annoying enough that the media frenzy surrounding this November's election seems to have started around, oh, 320 B.C. But for those who actually like the fact that The Biggest Loser or another CSI rerun have been routinely pre-empted by a televised debate, there's a greater annoyance: this season's brash, blatant and maddening media bias.
You don't have to be a political junkie (which I'm not) to realize this is nothing new. In fact, it's very old news when you consider the machines that have run the parties for decades. And yet can you ever remember such a barrage of hyped-up public debates, forums and Q&A sessions that overtly squelched the predetermined "losers"? Regardless of where this season ranks in terms of dirty politics, it still scares me to see the effects of such coverage on the common voter.
Case in point: My wife was at a coffee shop the other day, where at the next table two older women adamantly discussed their dislike for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain. It became obvious that the women were Christians, so my wife was curious about their interest in other candidates. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation," she said while leaning over to their table. "If you don't mind me asking, who are you voting for?" Neither had decided, but they certainly knew who they weren't voting for. "So what about Mike Huckabee?" my wife asked. Both paused for a while, shrugged a bit and then matter-of-factly stated that he probably wouldn't win.
[Warning: Editor rant ahead]Therein lies the heart of the current problem. It's one that's equally frustrating for fans of Ron Paul, who I think beautifully epitomizes the stirring, rabid underground movement that is fed up with conventional party politics. Paul and Huckabee are two different candidates, with unique positions, unique theories and unique followers. And both, we've been repeatedly told for the past year, are surefire losers. Can't win. Don't have enough cash. Don't have the support of key figures. Don't have the evangelical vote. Don't have enough charisma, experience, hair, Armani suits—you name it, they've been doubted because of it.
Surprise, surprise ... here we are, mere months from the party conventions and at least two of those "losers" are still hanging on, despite a process that is bent on dismissing them. They're certainly not surviving because of air time. Mainstream media outlets have, as usual, been successful enough to brainwa—er, convince the general public who the real winners are. As a result, we stand a few delegates away from McCain gaining the GOP nomination. Still, I believe people are finally catching on to the reality. When Ron Paul gets invited to a two-hour debate but isn't asked a single question, you know something's up. Or when Mike Huckabee is asked to attend the same event yet only gets tossed the token "evangelical" questions, it's just as infuriating. It doesn't help that major Christian leaders have added to that frustration by either supporting those who seemingly contradict their core values or, as in the case of guys like James Dobson, offering endorsements that reek of settling for the "best remaining choice"—and too late at that.
So who wins in all this? I honestly don't know. On one hand, I'm confused by Christians who say they stand for certain fundamental values but refused to get behind a former pastor and denominational leader simply because he supposedly wouldn't win. And on the other hand, I feel for a 10-term Congressman who is propheticly bold enough to call this a political scam—while being a victim of it. What I do know, however, and what gives me hope for the future, is that things are being exposed. Slowly, yes ... but at least they're being exposed.
You don't have to be a political junkie (which I'm not) to realize this is nothing new. In fact, it's very old news when you consider the machines that have run the parties for decades. And yet can you ever remember such a barrage of hyped-up public debates, forums and Q&A sessions that overtly squelched the predetermined "losers"? Regardless of where this season ranks in terms of dirty politics, it still scares me to see the effects of such coverage on the common voter.
Case in point: My wife was at a coffee shop the other day, where at the next table two older women adamantly discussed their dislike for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain. It became obvious that the women were Christians, so my wife was curious about their interest in other candidates. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation," she said while leaning over to their table. "If you don't mind me asking, who are you voting for?" Neither had decided, but they certainly knew who they weren't voting for. "So what about Mike Huckabee?" my wife asked. Both paused for a while, shrugged a bit and then matter-of-factly stated that he probably wouldn't win.
[Warning: Editor rant ahead]
Surprise, surprise ... here we are, mere months from the party conventions and at least two of those "losers" are still hanging on, despite a process that is bent on dismissing them. They're certainly not surviving because of air time. Mainstream media outlets have, as usual, been successful enough to brainwa—er, convince the general public who the real winners are. As a result, we stand a few delegates away from McCain gaining the GOP nomination. Still, I believe people are finally catching on to the reality. When Ron Paul gets invited to a two-hour debate but isn't asked a single question, you know something's up. Or when Mike Huckabee is asked to attend the same event yet only gets tossed the token "evangelical" questions, it's just as infuriating. It doesn't help that major Christian leaders have added to that frustration by either supporting those who seemingly contradict their core values or, as in the case of guys like James Dobson, offering endorsements that reek of settling for the "best remaining choice"—and too late at that.
So who wins in all this? I honestly don't know. On one hand, I'm confused by Christians who say they stand for certain fundamental values but refused to get behind a former pastor and denominational leader simply because he supposedly wouldn't win. And on the other hand, I feel for a 10-term Congressman who is propheticly bold enough to call this a political scam—while being a victim of it. What I do know, however, and what gives me hope for the future, is that things are being exposed. Slowly, yes ... but at least they're being exposed.
[End rant]
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Good rant and I very much agree. Need to comment on the Huckabee issue.
There are some Christians (people I know personally, and I'm sure they are not alone), who will not vote for Huckabee for the sole reason that he is a FORMER pastor.
Their argument (and a good one) is that if God called him to be a pastor, why did he leave his calling to become a politician? Is he not then in rebellion to God?
It's a very sharp but very good point.
I think I would vote for Huckabee myself... but I'm compelled by the above argument to feel that I'd just be choosing the least of all evils being offered, rather than the right person for office. Hope that makes sense...
My son, who is eligible to vote for the first time in a Presidential election, says he may vote for Mickey Mouse or perhaps his cat. He's so disgusted with the circus that at this point all he'll do is wave his hand vaguely in the air and make strangled noises...
There are some Christians (people I know personally, and I'm sure they are not alone), who will not vote for Huckabee for the sole reason that he is a FORMER pastor.
Their argument (and a good one) is that if God called him to be a pastor, why did he leave his calling to become a politician? Is he not then in rebellion to God?
It's a very sharp but very good point.
I think I would vote for Huckabee myself... but I'm compelled by the above argument to feel that I'd just be choosing the least of all evils being offered, rather than the right person for office. Hope that makes sense...
My son, who is eligible to vote for the first time in a Presidential election, says he may vote for Mickey Mouse or perhaps his cat. He's so disgusted with the circus that at this point all he'll do is wave his hand vaguely in the air and make strangled noises...
My sentiments exactly, Marcus!
What you have stated is exactly what I keep coming up against in conversations with Christians. They continue to say they like Huckabee but he doesn't stand a chance to win. My statement back to them is, its a long time until the convention and the election in November and anything can happen along the way that could put Huckabee right out front. Just because the world says Huckabee cannot win, I know that IF God endorses Huckabee, now there's some star power!
My vote will continue to be for Huckabee because I will not turn away from my convictions.
As for Huckabee being called as a pastor, I believe that God can lead us in one direction to put us in place for something else. I believe that Huckabee believes that he is in this place, today, not by accident but by divine providence. He spoke at a church in Irving, TX recently that tells his story. I believe you can find it on his website.
Mike Huckabee is definitely not the least of all evils. In my opinion and in my Spirit is the best for this hour in history!
What you have stated is exactly what I keep coming up against in conversations with Christians. They continue to say they like Huckabee but he doesn't stand a chance to win. My statement back to them is, its a long time until the convention and the election in November and anything can happen along the way that could put Huckabee right out front. Just because the world says Huckabee cannot win, I know that IF God endorses Huckabee, now there's some star power!
My vote will continue to be for Huckabee because I will not turn away from my convictions.
As for Huckabee being called as a pastor, I believe that God can lead us in one direction to put us in place for something else. I believe that Huckabee believes that he is in this place, today, not by accident but by divine providence. He spoke at a church in Irving, TX recently that tells his story. I believe you can find it on his website.
Mike Huckabee is definitely not the least of all evils. In my opinion and in my Spirit is the best for this hour in history!
# posted by 
: 6:38 PM
: 6:38 PM
Great post Marcus! Every four years the average American voters wake up from their deep slumber to either vote for the candidate they are told is the best candidate, or to vote against the candidate they are told is the worst candidate. Then they go back to sleep for the next four years, not paying any attention to what the winning candidate is doing while in Washington.
As a Christian Constitutionalist I have always been a voter who never chooses a candidate to support based on whether they can win or out of fear of who may win if I don't vote for "the lesser of two evils". Instead I always vote for the candidate who has proven by their record that they will protect and defend the Constitution, after all that is what they are taking an oath to do when they are elected. When I was first old enough to vote I ended up leaving the presidential part of my ballot blank, I couldn't support either choice. Then, the next two presidential election cycles I ended up voting third party, because I knew that neither of the candidates running for the major parties had any intentions of protecting and defending the Constitution.
This year I was excited to see a real Conservative Christian Constitutionalist running for president, I was honored to be able to cast my vote for Ron Paul, and am excited to know that while most of the voters in American will go to sleep for four more years after November, the Ron Paul supporters will still be focused on what they can do to help put more Constitutionalists in office at every level; local, state and federal, every two years from this point forward. The goal isn't party loyalty, but working to undo the damage that has been done in Washington over these years, as we work to Restore our Constitutional Republic.
Here are two great quotes from one of our founding fathers, John Quincy Adams:
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
"Duty is ours; results are God's"
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As a Christian Constitutionalist I have always been a voter who never chooses a candidate to support based on whether they can win or out of fear of who may win if I don't vote for "the lesser of two evils". Instead I always vote for the candidate who has proven by their record that they will protect and defend the Constitution, after all that is what they are taking an oath to do when they are elected. When I was first old enough to vote I ended up leaving the presidential part of my ballot blank, I couldn't support either choice. Then, the next two presidential election cycles I ended up voting third party, because I knew that neither of the candidates running for the major parties had any intentions of protecting and defending the Constitution.
This year I was excited to see a real Conservative Christian Constitutionalist running for president, I was honored to be able to cast my vote for Ron Paul, and am excited to know that while most of the voters in American will go to sleep for four more years after November, the Ron Paul supporters will still be focused on what they can do to help put more Constitutionalists in office at every level; local, state and federal, every two years from this point forward. The goal isn't party loyalty, but working to undo the damage that has been done in Washington over these years, as we work to Restore our Constitutional Republic.
Here are two great quotes from one of our founding fathers, John Quincy Adams:
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
"Duty is ours; results are God's"
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