An Unenthused Choice
This was my hardest election ever to vote. As I noted before, I do not think it is an option not to vote; however, this election was the first to temp me in that non-direction. I voted against rather than for a candidate. McCain ran a sloppy campaign because frankly even he didn’t believe the “right wing” jargon he was using. Neither did Obama, but he was a better liar than McCain. (Sorry, I don’t believe a candidate who consistently either voted “present” or voted for every tax increase he could suddenly espousing tax cuts.)
Both candidates voted for the “bailout” or “rescue” of the mismanaged banking industry. By so doing, they enabled the rich executives to escape the consequences of their borderline fraudulent activity and retain their jobs and perks. I do not begrudge them their rich salaries should they earn them; but normally if you make a decision that tanks your company—not to mention the entire economy of the country—you should have some negative consequences, like losing that job and those benefits.
Nor did the Vice Presidential candidates enthrall me either. I have detested Biden since he led the effort to “Bork” Robert Bork in 1987. It was a smear campaign that made this year’s election process judicious by comparison.
I liked Palin, but after watching her prance around on the SNL show last night, my respect has diminished. She looked just like the bimbo the Democrats have accused her of being. Someone who is one heart beat from leading the supposedly most powerful nation on earth has got to figure out the nature of professionalism and dignity. The commentators found it humorous; I found it disrespectful of the office she wished to obtain.
So, despite my written sermon against voting for a third party candidate that had no chance of winning, I confess my hand hovered over the candidates from the Constitution Party. It hovered again over the Libertarian Party people. But finally, through a force of will, I marked the McCain/Palin entry. It almost took two hands for me to fill in the circle.
I also must confess, for the first time in my life my hand also hovered over the name of Dennis Kucinich. The man is an entrenched Democratic politician in my district, and associates his name with some of the most wacky politics this side of the Rockies. However, at least he had the guts to vote against the “bailout.” I considered rewarding his courage, but then reviewed again his rabid “pro-choice” stance and could not sign away those lives. I marked the Republican and prayed for forgiveness.
In the end, it is as I noted before: I voted for the candidates who would be least likely to increase the persecution against the American church. Obama has already pledged to vote for the “Freedom of Choice Act” that would undo even the small gains the pro-life contingent has accomplished over the last twenty years. Since Christians, especially the Catholics, have led the charge in this area, the repeal of these actions is tantamount to excluding them from the political process.
Also, I have a strong suspicion that there is a lot of pent up anger against the Religious Right that will be uncorked should Obama win and the Democrats gain absolute control of both houses of congress. Witness the tirades against “JesusLand” from the last election. Do you really think that level of vitriol and contempt is not going to be expressed in legal suppression. Certainly we are going to see the implementation of “hate crime” legislation that will border on that found in Canada; suppressing the free speech of Christians in regard to morality. Even outside that environment such “human rights” commissions are suppressing the rights of Christian photographers to avoid jobs at homosexual weddings. In Canada, a pastor has been forbidden to even preach from the chapters of the Bible that call homosexuality a sin. I suspect such suppression is going to increase under an unfettered Democratic Party controlled government.
I may be wrong, but I really don’t want to take the chance.
Yet even that standard is not as rock solid as I would like. Obama gives some indication that the support of Isreal that has a strangle hold on the Republican Party would diminish. Why conservative Christians support a nation that openly persecutes their Christian brothers and forbids evangelization is beyond me. (Okay, it is not; but eschatology should not determine such an allegiance.) Obama lessening our ties to Israel—though for reasons obviously different from my own—is a move in the right direction.
I say a nation that persecutes their Christian population and forbids missionaries deserves no foreign aid or support. This includes China. This includes Israel. No political advantage should weight over our commitment to our Christian brothers. None.
On the same vein, though again for different reason, Obama indicates he will reduce our involvement in Iraq and may pull out the troops altogether. One of the unintended consequences—among many—of George Bush’s displacement of Saddam Hussein in that country is an increase in the persecution and even execution of Iraqi Christians. In the past, I assumed that an early withdrawal of our troops from that country would cause a bloody revolution among the Muslim tribes that make it up. I still think that is true, but now I don’t care. For what they have done to my brothers, I say let them slaughter each other. It would be justice.
Though Obama won’t do it, my policy in Iraq at this stage would be to either install a dictator who would protect the Christians or pull the Assyrian Christians out with the troops and let the country take care of itself. No more American blood spent for those who kill Christians. Yet, the Obama method of withdrawal will bode for an increased slaughter of the Assyrian Christians rather than less. At least long term, the McCain plan may stabilize the region enough to keep some of them alive.
Yet that is an ugly choice to make. That is the reason I marked my ballot with fear and trepidation. Many of my brothers died to give me the ability to vote in this election. How many more will die as a consequence?