As many of you know, my wife, Karen, and I served as missionaries in Germany from 1989 until 2007. During our eighteen years of living in Hamburg, we often asked ourselves the question, how could this nation of disciplined, intelligent and creative people fall prey to an authoritarian Nazi ideology that so obviously ran contrary to their foundational moral principles? How did a people that excelled in science and literature become a nation that followed a charismatic narcissist? The answer, of course, is that no single departure from established norms was to blame. Multiple failures of courage and of moral will created what in the end felt like an inevitable cascade. But it never was inevitable.
One of the failures was how easily the Church succumbed to the nationalist ideology, fusing loyalty to God and loyalty to country as if they fit seamlessly together. “God and country” have often been a perilous duet, easily manipulated by leaders who understand that the combination can produce an extremely effective symbiosis.
It’s easy for conservative Christians to say, “Well, that was the liberal church in Germany. They easily accepted the mix of nationalism with an everyman’s brand of piety.” But it was not just the casual Christians who were swept onto the National Socialism bandwagon. Believers who look much like American Evangelicals too easily accepted Hitler’s scapegoating of the Jews and his appeal to popular outrage. He funneled their expression of blame while at the same time appealing to their sense of self-righteousness. It was an intoxicating combination. Germans knew they were a forthright people with a noble destiny. Hitler offered them a plan to make Germany great again. To many German Christians, that felt like something God wanted as much as they did.
Before casting my vote for the presidential primary last week, I looked at the statements of the various candidates in the voters’ pamphlet. I read through Donald Trump’s statement, then reread it… then read it again. The more I read it, the more disturbed I became. (I have included the text of Trump’s statement and my commentary at the end of this blog). It is a propaganda piece, pure and simple. It plays fast and loose with the truth; it incites grievance; it treats anyone who stands on “the outside” with profound disrespect—in fact, it treats them with contempt. It reminded me very much of propaganda I have seen exhibited in museums in Berlin, Hamburg, and Buchenwald. Exhibits like those are placed in museums all over Germany with a singular intent: “Never Again!” Following WWII, German leaders and educators wanted to make sure that the horror of an educated public falling prey to the disinformation campaign of an autocratic manipulator would never be repeated. I never imagined that America could be susceptible to a similar playbook.
I must confess, I am torn as I write this post. Any discussion of politics is fraught and in our day it can quickly lead to sharp divisions—even anger. When we dare to unveil our convictions with people with whom we disagree, we risk doing harm to friendships that we treasure. I am hesitant to entertain that risk. After all, unity among brothers and sisters in the body of Christ was my dissertation topic! On the other hand, I remain convinced that, as my father used to quip, “To disagree with honest men is not to dishonor them.” Unity does not imply agreement—it implies love and courtesy. My starting place is to believe that, if you are a believer, you and I are equally committed to following in the steps of Jesus. I believe there is more that binds us than what separates us. I hope that we can have a frank conversation about whether or not Trump is a fit candidate to lead America.
I wrote most of this post before Super Tuesday and before Nikki Haley dropped out of the race. I had entertained the hope that Haley would stay in the race regardless of the Super Tuesday outcome. After her concession, my heart is even heavier than when I first sat down to write. The players for the contest this fall are now largely in place. The hope that voters might somehow make it difficult for Trump to win the nomination has faded to zero. And that means, at this stage, that to resist Trump implies tacit support for Biden. For many Republicans, I realize, that is more than they can stomach.
But the issue as I perceive it is bigger than party loyalty. It is bigger than policy preferences. It is bigger than economic outcomes in our nation. At issue is the very mission of the Church. In the past two decades we have witnessed the meteoric rise, from 5% to nearly 30%, of religiously unaffiliated Americans called the Nones. This level of change is unprecedented in recent American history. Many contend that this radical shift is less about secularism than about the partisan politicization of Evangelicalism. The Church in America is losing its moral authority before the next generation because it increasingly focuses on the culture wars more than on the character of Jesus. It seeks influence through the instrument of politics and bows the knee to political influencers, so long as they are willing to articulate a casual loyalty to Christian values (whether or not they have the aroma of Christ about them). This unholy alliance doesn’t pass the sniff test. The Nones can smell it…and they are not impressed.
The current willingness of politically conservative Evangelicals to turn a blind eye to moral callousness in a presidential candidate rattles the senses. It hasn’t always been that way. In the 90’s, Christian leaders across the nation rose to decry the sexual immorality of our Commander in Chief, asserting that a leader who does not practice personal morality cannot and will not lead a nation in righteousness. Need I say it? Many of those same voices now profess that a philanderer and tax cheat is God’s choice to lead our nation—that a man whose business practices are acknowledged to be shady and who boasts in plain view about his ability to manipulate the system is the right figure to shape the moral profile of America before a watching world.
Talk all you want about the deficiencies in the Democratic Party. We Evangelicals have sold our birthright for a bowlful of pottage. We’ve lost our validity and moral authority because we now speak out of both sides of our mouths. We claim the moral high ground while excusing bad actors. We have strayed so far from true north that we simply wink at the moral shallowness of Trump acolytes Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, granting them a hearing far beyond their due. At the same time we rail against the “liberal left” and their “woke” agenda, downplaying or outright ignoring glaring examples of systemic racism that bespeckle our own history.
I deliberately use “we” in these paragraphs, even though I recognize that the tribe of Christian conservatives is by no means monolithic. Many who self-identify as Evangelical prefer blue at the ballot box. But when it comes to sheer numbers, white Evangelicals have become the most dependable voting block for Trump.
The fact that so many Evangelicals can treat the Trump candidacy as merely a rogue form of the normal democratic process—a little rougher than usual, but fully acceptable because “the system is broken and we need someone who is not afraid to get himself dirty in the fight”—is evidence of our own moral slippage. We’re not dealing with normal, here. Let me repeat: the concerns about Trump are not on par with “normal” partisan politics and differences of opinion about policy. They go to heart of Trump’s character. Multiple members of Trump’s staff and cabinet—those who intimately observed his social decorum, leadership style, and policy decision making—publicly assert that he is unfit for office. Not simply that he is a substandard choice, but that he is unfit.
The individuals making these assertions are not, as Trump would have us believe, disgruntled RINOs who were probably closet never-Trumpers all along. They were Trump’s close associates who met with him daily. I will cite three of them.
Bill Barr (2nd Attorney General): “Someone who engaged in that kind of bullying about a process that is fundamental to our system and to our self-government shouldn’t be anywhere near the Oval Office.”
Mark Esper (2nd Secretary of Defense): “I think he’s unfit for office. … He puts himself before country. His actions are all about him and not about the country. And then, of course, I believe he has integrity and character issues as well.”
John Kelly (longest serving Chief of Staff ): “A person who is not truthful regarding his position on the protection of unborn life, on women, on minorities, on evangelical Christians, on Jews, on working men and women…A person that has no idea what America stands for and has no idea what America is all about. A person who cavalierly suggests that a selfless warrior who has served his country for 40 years in peacetime and war should lose his life for treason – in expectation that someone will take action. A person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators. A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law…There is nothing more that can be said. God help us.”
The fact that Trump has gone on to win the vast majority of delegates in all but one primary thus far, in spite of the profound lack of support from so many associates, is testimony to Trump’s remarkable powers of persuasion. It is not, however, testimony to his qualifications to serve.
Trump’s continuing refusal to admit that Biden is the legitimately elected President of the United States is another symptom of his failed character. He can’t handle the fact that he lost, so he blames it on someone else. “I didn’t lose. The election was rigged.” Unfortunately for the American people, Trump learned the Nazi propaganda techniques all too well. Stage one: Repeat a lie long enough and loudly enough and people will begin to believe that at least some of it is true. Stage two: Keep it up even longer and eventually they’ll concur that most of it is true.
Trump has so unfalteringly and unflinchingly repeated the lie, much of the general populace has reached stage two. Vast swaths of Evangelicals are convinced that there were gross inconsistencies in the last presidential election, in spite of broadly acknowledged compelling evidence to the contrary. Trump intentionally sows distrust in our system because he knows that if we don’t trust the system, we are more likely to trust him (the one with insider knowledge…the only one who will give us the real goods).
I recognize that for many of my brothers and sisters, the prospect of a continued Biden presidency is more distasteful than whatever hesitancy they may have about Trump. I understand the tension. Biden’s opponents repeatedly broadcast the narrative that Trump has been unjustly charged—that his multiple indictments are politically motivated. Sandwiched into their messaging is the contention that Biden is just as bad. Sadly, their demonization of Biden has been effective. But careful examination reveals the truth: Trump’s intentional flouting of the constitution combined with his profound lack of character mean that he is uniquely unfit for office.
In 1790, George Washington wrote to his nephew, “A good moral character is the first essential in a man… It is therefore highly important that you should endeavor not only to be learned but virtuous.” Virtue is a quality that followers of Jesus pursue with all their hearts. Evangelicals emphasize that orthodoxy is not enough—orthopraxy is required. We are to be not just hearers but doers of the Word.
We do not expect anyone to be perfect, least of all our politicians. Nevertheless, we rightfully expect our political leaders to be true to their oath to defend and protect the constitution. The abrogation of democratic norms that Trump openly practices are rotting the nation from within. He is no “normal” candidate. A normal candidate upholds the constitutional structure and submits to well-tested electoral practices. Trump has done neither and shows little evidence that he will do so in the future. Laugh off, if you will, his “dictator on day one” comment. Recent history has demonstrated that Trump’s quips reveal his inner core. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Trump holds no promise for leading our nation in righteousness. He must be defeated in the upcoming election. If Evangelicals take their calling to value character over charisma seriously, he may be.
State of Washington Voters’ Pamphlet for the Presidential Primary
Statement from Donald Trump
| I left behind my former life because I could not sit by and watch career politicians continue bleeding this country dry and allow other nations to take advantage of us on trade, borders, foreign policy, and national defense. | Trump’s strategy includes at least three crucial tactics: 1. To portray himself as a common man with exceptional abilities. 2. To villainize those who oppose him. 3. To appeal to the longings and frustrations of the populace by igniting their sense of declinism: the belief that society is going downhill and that things were better in the past. In his opening salvo Trump effectively paints himself as one who sacrificed personal gain in order to protect the nation’s interests against those who serve their own interests. In point of fact, Trump never divested his interest in the Trump Corporation and therefore did not leave anything behind. Instead, he derived huge personal benefit to the corporation because of his new political career. In using the description, “career politicians,” he predictably employs his favorite tool in his toolbox, the ad hominin attack. There is absolutely no shame in devoting one’s life to politics. But in Trump’s mouth, “career politician” implies something sinister. |
| As President, I took on every powerful special interest, fixing globalist trade deals ending foreign wars, securing the border, and standing up to Big Pharma and China. Together, we put America First and returned power to the American People. | It’s not unusual for a politician to oversell their accomplishments, but Trump is quite convinced of his own glory. The facts speak otherwise. Overall, Forbes graded Trump’s trade policy somewhere between a “D” and an “F”. As to “securing the border,” Trump’s big promise was to build a wall. He added a mere 80 miles of new wall that Mexico obviously did not pay for. There is no doubt that illegal crossings of the southern border have risen dramatically under Biden. This is a recognized policy failure. But there were consistently 100’s of thousands of illegal crossings per year throughout the Trump presidency. Add to that the Trumps administration’s immoral policy separating minors from their parents. Trump gets an “F” on China and a “D” on his foreign policy overall. His trade restrictions didn’t move the needle compared to the tech barriers Biden put in. Trump ended US involvement in multilateral agreements like the TPP which gave the green light for China to increase their presence and influence throughout the world. |
| The corrupt government cartel is once again destroying our country. We are a nation that surrendered in Afghanistan, and allowed Russia to devastate Ukraine, China to threaten Taiwan and Iran to build a nuclear weapon. We are a nation where free speech is no longer allowed, crime is rampant like never before, terrorists are invading our southern border, and the economy is in a recession. We are a nation that is hostile to liberty, freedom, and faith. | Here Trump wields the full force of his declinism argument, asserting that our society and status in the world are in radical decline. Calling government a corrupt cartel creates the gut reaction of disgust, and that is Trump’s intent. Logically, if our government were a corrupt cartel and fully half of the legislators are Republicans, they would be at least half to blame for the corruption. But Trump’s words are not meant to be analyzed because they weren’t intended to make sense. They simply invoke an emotional reaction of longing for “the good old days”—a status that Trump, through his exceptional powers, will purportedly restore. “Surrendered in Afghanistan” – Trump signed the surrender peace deal with the Taliban and then criticized Biden for taking too long to withdraw. Ukraine: Trump has repeatedly praised Putin and initially refused to condemn Putin’s war in the Ukraine. Eventually he backpedaled: “I want everyone to stop dying,” and then pronounced, “And I’ll have that done in 24 hours.” When asked whether he would support giving continued aid to Ukraine, he stated: “We’re giving away so much equipment; we don’t have ammunition for ourselves right now.” Iran: Trump pulled the US out of the multinational agreement that kept Iran’s nuclear program under close watch, thus effectively ending the oversight (and shocking our European allies). If Iran is now closer to building a bomb, Trump set the wheels in motion. “The economy is in a recession”— This is a pure fabrication. The stock market is at an all-time high. Unemployment under Biden equals the all-time low in the past 30 years. The U.S. economy is remarkably strong compared to Europe. “We are a nation that is hostile to liberty”— another nonsensical assertion. If that were true, why would immigrants from all over the world be so anxious to live here? |
| Our populist movement to Make America Great Again is the only force on earth that will lead our country back to safety, prosperity, and peace. I will never stop fighting for you, the American People, against the failed political establishment. I take the slings and arrows for you so that we can have our country back. Together, we will finish the job of saving our country once and for all and raise the next generation of strong American Patriots and Leaders. | In the final paragraph, Trump returns to touting his uncommon ability and his uncommon sacrifice. He again appeals to declinism, implying that the nation does not presently experience safety, prosperity and peace. But through his persistent fight against “the failed political establishment,” the nation will be saved “once and for all.” Wow! “I will never stop fighting for you…I take the slings and arrows for you.”–Part of Trump’s strategy is to convince us that he’s suffering on our behalf. Thus he continuously seeks to de-legitimize the prosecutors and the courts. Contrary to Trump’s bluster, the judicial system makes every effort to remain genuinely impartial. He casts dispersion upon it because his own conscience is seared and he can’t believe that anyone walks justly. In fact, Trump is not suffering for the sake of the people. He is suffering for his own sins. It is his lies, his trickery, his hubris, his wantonness, and his blatant disregard for the rule of law that have produced legal charges of 91 criminal offenses in four criminal indictments against him. But if he can convince the majority of voters that he is merely a scapegoat, then he can escape justice. That is his hope. |
For compelling evidence that the 2020 election was fair and accurate, see https://lostnotstolen.org//wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Lost-Not-Stolen-The-Conservative-Case-that-Trump-Lost-and-Biden-Won-the-2020-Presidential-Election-July-2022.pdf
Steve Pecota - a Pastor in Seattle 
Thanks Steve…so appreciate this wisdom.
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Steve, this is so well-articulated. Thank you for spotlighting what should be abundantly clear to everyone. My great apprehension is that the evangelical church is sleepwalking through a historic political year–one fraught with plenty of uncertainty, and yes, even danger. How can we be more proactive? May God have mercy on us. He’s got this and will keep us in perfect peace.
Thanks for this, Steve. Have you read. Have you read Tim Alberta’s ” The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory”? Sue ________________________________
Alberta’s book is on my Libby queue. I’ve read a couple of articles where he talks about the contents. I’m looking forward to reading it soon!
Interesting that at the end of you post you only used Trumps statement from the pamphlet and dissected it with your opinion. Why did you not do the same with Bidens statement?
Unfortunately, we have a two-party system and every election it always seems to boil down to voting for the lesser of two evils.
It’s essential to recognize that voting is a way to make your voice heard, regardless of whether you fully endorse a candidate. As the saying goes, “Your vote is your voice, first and foremost. Don’t leave it on the sidelines”.
Jim, I know you sent me a laugh emoji when I said “Thanks for your comments” on Facebook. But I really am thankful.
Some of the things you mentioned were actually points that I gave consideration to while writing the post. For example, whether or not it would be more credible to also analyze Biden’s voters’ pamphlet statement through the same lens. Or whether some of my comments, like my observation that Trump can’t handle losing, implied mind-reading on my part and weren’t really fair to the argument. I try to live by Rapaport’s rules, which include: “You should attempt to re-express your target’s position so clearly, vividly, and fairly that your target says, ‘Thanks, I wish I’d thought of putting it that way.'” I admit that I did not live up to that standard in this piece. Nevertheless, I was trying to limit my assertions about Trump to information that can be verified.
Regarding one of your concerns, I do think that Biden’s stance on abortion is far too liberal and inconsistent with this Catholic faith. I cringe inwardly each time the Democratic politicians emphasize the fight for “reproductive freedom.” I believe that an abortion takes into human hands what belongs in God’s hands. And I believe that human laws ought to reflect God’s loving purpose for his creation.
I also believe the screaming on both sides has prevented sensible legislation about abortion that could actually be passed. Like establishing a 12-week limitation, for example. But our partisan environment does not allow rational compromise. My friend, Steve Ignell, observes that abortion rates actually rose during the Trump administration for the first time after decades of decreasing numbers. One of my great disappointments with the Republican party is that they seem to care more about their talking points than they do about the lives that are being lost.
As far as whether to vote for Biden even if we disagree with many of his policies, I guess you and I have a certain luxury because we live in Washington. We can vote however we want and it won’t affect the outcome. We can afford to vote for an independent as a protest vote. But if I lived in a swing state, I would vote for Biden without question. That is because for me, the dangers of Trump winning a second term are far more grave than any Biden policy decision I may disagree with.
Thanks for caring deeply about these issues.
Please…expand on these “dangers of Trump”. So many people say that but then can never expand on it…you mean the wars he got us into (none…Biden 2)…the horrible economy (Trump near zero inflation…Biden record Inflation) …Supporting Terrorists (Trump got rid of Isis, Biden basically supports Hamas instead of Israel) and the list goes on and on. Still waiting for your dissection of Bidens Pamphlet statement…I won’t hold my breath. lol
Hi Jim,
As to the dangers Trump poses, I find them to be quite blatant. But obviously we’re looking at the train wreck from different sides of the track. To list a representative sampling of the dangers:
1. Trump’s incendiary language has resulted in various violent attacks, including the infamous “peaceful” storming of the capitol. I realize that Republicans have tried to reverse engineer that event, but go back and listen to the terror in the voices of the legislators and staffers on that day. And Trump clearly incited that attack. His lies about the election are what gave it fuel. His “fight like hell or you’re not going to have a country anymore” lit the match. His “demonstrate peacefully” was, in the context, clearly thrown in to cover his own rear end. The crowd understood the message. So much so that they were willing to do violence.
2. Another example of language that could result in real harm are Trump’s comments about General Milley, stating that his actions were “treasonous” and that in the past that would result in death. Former staffers, including John Kelly, interpreted Trump’s comments as an open invitation for someone to take action.
3. Speaking of Milley, the incident that Trump so chastised was the fact that Milley gave notice to the Chinese that the US had no intention to initiate a nuclear strike against them. That activity was deemed necessary because of Trump’s ill advised bluster. Milley, who served with distinction and is respected across the board, believe Trump in the position of Commander and Chief poses a genuine threat to world peace. Personally, I trust his opinion over that of Tucker Carlson. (I know that has nothing to do with the argument…just felt compelled to get it in there.)
4. Trump’s willingness to reject or ignore historical alliances threatens national and international security. Anyone who argues that a comment from a potential President that Putin could do “whatever the hell he wanted” to a NATO ally has no impact on the delicate balance in the European theater has blindfolds on.
5. Trump’s incredibly banal comments and insults have significantly lowered the bar for what is considered acceptable public discourse in our nation. His mockery of people with disabilities is frankly disgusting. His recent mocking of Biden’s stutter was beyond the pale. The real harm that results is that it corrupts the public morals. Just think about how many teenage boys have felt a greater freedom to talk about, if not commit, “grab ’em by the p*****” because the President of the United States felt the freedom to do so.
6. I spent a lot of time in my article writing about Trump’s election lies. Those lies directly resulted in numerous death threats to public officials, disruption in many of their lives when they were forced to leave their jobs, wasted taxpayer dollars on multiple audits (even after the initial audits showed no foul play), and a general decline in public trust. All for nothing! Trump started protesting about election fraud months before November 2016. He’s been greasing that wheel for a decade. And every accusation has been spun out of whole cloth.
As to the economy, I cited in my blog that the US economy is doing exceptionally well right now compared to the rest of the world. Because economies are so interconnected, this is perhaps the most important marker. The fact that inflation rose dramatically is an expected result of the massive COVID stimulus packages that were passed as a bipartisan effort under both Trump and Biden. All of us benefited from those packages and there was very little complaining when they happened, but common sense told us that inflation would result. No matter who was in office, that die was cast. The current high interest rates cause real pain to real people, yet are the actions of the Fed that operates according to accepted best practices for reducing inflation.
As to terrorism, to say Trump got rid of ISIS and Biden basically supports Hamas instead of Israel just doesn’t square with the facts. The war on ISIS essentially began in 2014 and was very active when Trump took office. It was a multinational undertaking and no single country brought about their diminishing influence. As to Biden and Hamas, the circumstances in Israel and Palestine are clearly complex, but Biden has demonstrated genuine sympathy and support to Israel while at the same time recognizing that humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people.
I am taking your questions seriously and doing my best to respond respectfully. I hope that comes across.
Steve
Oh my God Steve…really??
“And Trump clearly incited that attack”. “The crowd understood the message. So much so that they were willing to do violence.“ So, YOU, as an individual are able to tell us, what each and every person in that crowd “understood”. Fact…the only real violence on that day was when an unarmed woman was murdered by a Capitol Police officer…because the other “violence” was certainly a LOT less than the BLM riots that destroyed police stations, federal buildings, killed dozens of people and took down whole cities costing BILLIONS of dollars of damage…all the while Democrats urging them on…!! But that violence was “justified”.
2. “Another example of language that could result in real harm are Trump’s comments about General Milley, stating that his actions were “treasonous” and that in the past that would result in death. Former staffers, including John Kelly, interpreted Trump’s comments as an open invitation for someone to take action.”
So, you are saying I could twist your comments here as treasonous, just because I don’t agree with them? And note some keywords in your above paragraph…”could” and “Interpreted.” “Could” does not mean it actually happened…”Interpreted” does not mean that is what Trump meant…it is just how HE (the staffer) took it…does not mean he took it correctly…and since neither one of us was in the room where it was said, our opinion means absolutely NOTHING!!
3. Speaking of Milley, the incident that Trump so chastised was the fact that Milley gave notice to the Chinese that the US had no intention to initiate a nuclear strike against them. That activity was deemed necessary because of Trump’s ill-advised bluster. Milley, who served with distinction and is respected across the board, believe Trump in the position of Commander and Chief poses a genuine threat to world peace.
“That activity was deemed necessary because of Trump’s ill-advised bluster” Deemed necessary by whom? Milley?? His boss was TRUMP!!! He was totally out of line! Would you like it if one of your Assoicate Pastors went over your head? Yep…the left was saying for 4 to 5 years that Trump would lead us into World War III and a Nuclear War…hmmm…don’t remember that happening, do you? On the other hand, Putin invades Ukraine, China is threating overtaking Taiwan, Iranian supported terrorists are killing American soldiers and Hamas kills, rapes, and beheads innocent Jews…all on Bidens watch because they all know he is a very weak leader.
4. Trump’s willingness to reject or ignore historical alliances threatens national and international security. Anyone who argues that a comment from a potential President that Putin could do “whatever the hell he wanted” to a NATO ally has no impact on the delicate balance in the European theater has blindfolds on.
See rebuttal to #3 to see your very own blindfold.
5. Trump’s incredibly banal comments and insults have significantly lowered the bar for what is considered acceptable public discourse in our nation. His mockery of people with disabilities is frankly disgusting. His recent mocking of Biden’s stutter was beyond the pale. The real harm that results is that it corrupts the public morals. Just think about how many teenage boys have felt a greater freedom to talk about, if not commit, “grab ’em by the p*****” because the President of the United States felt the freedom to do so.
He was not President when he said that…But it’s just fine that Biden sniffs little girls hair…touches them inappropriately and says he is “proud of his son”…you know Hunter…crack smoking, making his own porn videos, sleeping with his dead brothers’ wife and prostitutes, Hunter….yea…that doesn’t corrupt the public morals, now does it?
6. I spent a lot of time in my article writing about Trump’s election lies. Those lies directly resulted in numerous death threats to public officials, disruption in many of their lives when they were forced to leave their jobs, wasted taxpayer dollars on multiple audits (even after the initial audits showed no foul play), and a general decline in public trust. All for nothing! Trump started protesting about election fraud months before November 2016. He’s been greasing that wheel for a decade. And every accusation has been spun out of whole cloth.
How soon you have forgotten about the death threats to Supreme Court Judge Cavanaugh…or the violent protest in front of his home and family…or the Democratic senators that have yelled remarks to large crowds about taking down Republicans…even Schummer saying “Cavanaugh we are coming after you!! Good thing Democrats have never said Trump did not win in 2016…or that he cheated…or that they questioned his legitimacy as President, right?
Maxine Waters: Trump Is ‘Not My President,’ Leads Crowd in ‘Impeach 45’ Chant (youtube.com)
And how about listing all Bidens lies over his 40 years as a Public Servant/ Why no mention of those?
FactChecking Biden’s State of the Union – FactCheck.org
Biden’s Folksiness Can Veer Into Folklore, or Falsehoods – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Fact check: Biden makes false and misleading claims in economic speech | CNN Politics
PolitiFact | Ad Watch: Fact-checking a video about Biden’s academic record
and it goes on and on and on…
“I am taking your questions seriously and doing my best to respond respectfully. I hope that comes across.”
Sorry…it does not come across as that because you are refusing to look (in my opinion) at “the left side” in the same way you are looking at “the right side”. Both men have their faults, my beef is the faults you have listed for Trump can just as easily, if not more so, be listed for Biden.
Hi Jim,
We certainly have differing perspectives. It’s probably best to leave it at that.
Steve
Not sure if my comments will appear or not. I actually came across this site by researching. I am a woman of few words as I would rather listen than speak. I love Gods precepts. I love fighting for the unborn babies. And I love Israel. Finding out through DnA that I am Jewish makes me even more so. There’s only one candidate willing to cover these moral issues for me and I may not like his personality, but I sure love his mention of Gods name, his fight for the unborn. No man or woman is perfect. But Harris saying you are in the smaller crowd and wrong rally when someone said “Jesus is lord” speaks volumes. May God have mercy on us.
Thanks for reaching out and responding.
I’m shocked….what would your father and mother recommend? I remember your sweet mom at the book store! Your father was so wise! I suggest praying for Gods wisdom at the ballot box! I think the last 4 yrs is good enough who NOT to vote for. Incompetency at its best!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻✝️🙏🏻 🙏🏻praying for a miracle…Gods will be done!
I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this, Christine. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
I sincerely believe that my father would hold an opinion that would be similar to mine. Dad was always one who valued the integrity of character above policy positions. Though he might disagree with Harris/Walz on policy, I don’t think he would have been able to stomach Trump/Walz on character.
I am a woman of few words. I am usually very silent and I process in stillness. No man or woman is perfect. I certainly can’t judge and the media distorts. I speak up however for the unborn babies and I always will speak up for Israel. There is only one candidate who supports those two and without even stating who, one already knows. Sometimes we are called upon to be bold. Sonetimes our words are only mocked. Like the woman candidates mocked the person who said Jesus is Lord at her rally. Gods way ultimately is done. Meanwhile I pray. I listen. I cry. And I boldly will speak for those who are babies never to see the light of day.
may God bless you, Steve. You are dear to us as you married Tom and me. We were baby Christian’s at Calvary Chapel. We dedicated our babies in front of the church. We sang. We worshiped. We put our hope in God and our trust in Him. God defines who I am in Him. Having almost died a year ago in a car accident has been a real eye opener. Heaven awaits. Perhaps sooner now. We are closer to the times in Revelation, aren’t we! Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him.
Yes, you and Tom are indeed dear to Karen and me, as well. These blogs have not been easy for me to write. I understand that the points of view can differ so drastically from each other, even when we are each following Christ with our whole hearts. Yes, heaven awaits. And God will be glorified. May each of us remain faithful to his calling.