And Christians Call Them "Leaders"

Moses Demanded That Pharaoh “Let my people go.” Gideon took the meager hand he was given into an apparent mismatch against him. Paul followed his calling through beatings and imprisonment and ultimately martyrdom. With “leaders” like ours, is it any wonder the state that the Christian church has left American society in?

Paul Weyrich in his explanation of how he decided to endorse Mitt Romney, said that he thought it would come down to Romney and Giuliani, and he couldn’t endorse Giuliani. Of course, Pat Robertson did endorse Giuliani, explaining that Rudy is a proven leader and had promised to appoint judges in the mold of Roberts, Alito, and Scalia. What a dupe! Robertson endorses a man who does not understand the most fundamental dogma of America’s founding documents and of a civil society: the sanctity of human life. This he endorses to be the chief executive charged with protecting and defending The Constitution!

I assume Robertson’s parochial and anachronistic sense of politics had written Mike Huckabee off, though Huckabee has only gained all year and is poised to challenge Romney in Iowa, even without a scrap of help from his Christian brethren! Never mind asking where Robertson has left his faith in the unique potential of the truth when bravely carried. Anyway, in discussing the other options, Weyrich said,

"Huckabee, I came close to supporting him, and if we were running for some sort of religious organization, I would support him, but we're not. He has compromised on so many conservative issues, I simply can't be for him. Every time you turn around, he's taking the wrong stand on a different issue."

What wrong stands would that be, that I as a conservative of all prefixes have been unable to discern while watching the campaign extraordinarily closely all year?

In any case, one could hope that James Dobson might ultimately exercise more fidelity and better judgment. But, Phyllis Schlafly has already brandished her susceptibility to hearsay and Tony Perkins and Gary Bauer their ambiguity (obvious years ago, in his case) about the discernment, advocacy and pursuit of virtue. The lesson is that people should use the extraordinary information tools now at their disposal and do some thinking and praying for themselves, rather than relying on these amateur politicos and faithless Christian “leaders.”

STUNNED: Pat Robertson Endorses Rudy Giuliani

My mother went to work with Pat Robertson when he was setting up The 700 Club in Detroit, over 35 years ago. I was already pretty politically observant as a boy. Pat Robertson has obviously taken a posture on political matters in The United States, as I believe is appropriate in a nation where the people are the designated and accountable sovereign. He even declared his own candidacy for President in one cycle. And, many people have relied on him as a source of counsel for Christians who are not so keenly tuned to the process.

The news this morning is that Pat Robertson will endorse Rudolph Giuliani’s candidacy for the nomination of The Republican Party for President of The United States. CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker Pat Robertson endorses Giuliani «

I am most sorry for the Christians in this country who will still rely on Pat Robertson as affirming the legitimacy of a destructive and cowardly decision to cast a vote for Rudy Giuliani in their state’s primary or caucus. I can only assume that such a calculation is made on the basis of who can win the general election and/or the hope of holding some influence in a possible Giuliani administration. I believe that the prior calculation is misguided and false: even setting principle aside, Giuliani does not offer the best prospect of a Republican victory. And, the latter interest of having influence is a forlorn one.

This action is especially misguided when Giuliani’s positions on the issues are least consonant of all the candidates with what Robertson must know is a noble disposition for the nation. And, it is especially so when one of those candidates is one who defines his objectives and actions according to the character of Jesus Christ: Mike Huckabee. I have supported Huckabee all year because he is bound by what is not only proper but vital principle. But even more so because whether I agree with a prescription or not, his model is the character of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps Pat Robertson has buried his head too deeply in the conventional so-called “pragmatism” of American politics to cast his lot with such an ideal. But, whatever the perception, I will trust in the model of Christ’s character in addition to the most fundamental principles of human propriety and American principle, both of which Giuliani plainly misunderstands. I will not support a Republican candidate who cannot decipher the most basic principles of The Republican Party and the founding of The United States Of America. To paraphrase Michael Corleone: “It’s not personal. It’s strictly Christian American business.”

Personally, I long ago assumed the responsibility to respect such principles and make up my own mind. I would at this point say to Pat Robertson: “Thank you for your service, but Christian Americans should now consider your political counsel irrelevant.”