Pragmatism or Principle?

The recent endorsement of Rudy Giuliani by Pat Robertson has me fired up.  There was nothing in his endorsement that led me to believe that he was basing his decision on a Christian worldview.  Rather it seemed that fiscal conservatism and the war on terror seemed to be his main reasons for the endorsement.

And Giuliani's "bold vision".  What bold vision?  What has Guiliani said or done that would make him better in the war on terror than any of the other GOP candidates (with the exception of Ron Paul)?  It seems that Robertson cares more about advancing the GOP than his principles.

Jim Wallis of Sojourners wrote a blistering critique of this endorsement.  I don't agree on much with Wallis, but this I do:

Remember Robertson's merciless attacks on President Bill Clinton's lapses of sexual morality with Monica Lewinsky? Or his comments about how the 9/11 attacks were the result of America's tolerance for homosexuals and abortion?

Now Robertson is for Rudy, a thrice married adulterous husband, who is estranged from his own children and is both pro-choice and pro-gay rights. According to Pat Robertson's twisted moral logic, forgiving the social conservative shortcomings of Republicans is a Christian virtue, so long as the same virtue is never applied to Democrats. But Pat thinks Rudy can beat Hillary, and Pat really cares about winning for the Republicans.....

Pat Robertson clearly has taken another position. His endorsement of Rudy Giuliani will seem to many to be unprincipled hypocrisy (emphasis mine).

Where I would part ways with Wallis is that I don't see any Democrats that would  be worthy of my vote.  I'm not sure that a caucus or primary vote or endorsement for Giuliani is a pragmatic one anyway... I'm not convinced that he will win the GOP nomination.  I believe that I as a believer in being salt in the political process (Matthew 5:13) need to vote for the very best candidate.  It needs to be a principled vote.  It should be a vote that is reflective of values I hold near and dear.  Especially in the nomination process.  The thought of a Giuliani-Clinton race is troubling for me.  I don't want to vote against a certain candidate, I want to vote for in support of one.  That is why Mike Huckabee has my support.  I believe he is the candidate that best represents my values.  By the way, I do not believe that a vote for Huckabee is not pragmatic.  Some believe he can win in Iowa giving him further momentum.

Principles before pragmatism and principles should come even before party (yes I would vote for a pro-life, pro-family values Democrat before a pro-choice Republican).

Update - listen to Michelle Malkin and Laura Ingraham discuss this endorsement.

Update #2 - I just read this blog post by Jonathan Garthwaite.  Huckabee's statement contained within is a thoughtful warning about what power can do.

Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani , Pat Robertson , Mike Huckabee , Jim Wallis , Presidential Race '08

A Christian Response to Waterboarding

Joe Carter is right on waterboarding.  Waterboarding is torture and should never be condoned by Christians.  We need to advocate that people who are created in the image of God be treated with dignity.  I encourage you to check out his well written post on the subject.

Technorati Tags: Joe Carter , Evangelical Outpost , Waterboarding , Torture

Randy Alcorn Endorses Huckabee

You can read about it here.  I didn't even know he had a blog.  I've enjoyed a few of his books, so I'm now a happy subscriber of his blog as well.

HT: Between Two Worlds

Technorati Tags: Mike Huckabee , Randy Alcorn , Presidential Race '08

The Evangelical Crackup

My mom on Sunday handed me an article she was given and wondered what I thought.  The article written by David Kirkpatrick entitled "The Evangelical Crackup" was in last week's New York Times.  It has been blogged on quite a bit, but I didn't get a chance to read it until yesterday.  After reading the article it seems to me to be an attempt at an obituary of the Religious Right and wishful thinking on the part of the liberal mainstream media (MSM). 

Here is the gist of the this article:

“There was a time when evangelical churches were becoming largely and almost exclusively the Republican Party at prayer,” said Marvin Olasky, the editor of the evangelical magazine World and an informal adviser to George W. Bush when he was governor. “To some extent — we have to see how much — the Republicans have blown it. That opportunity to lock up that constituency has vanished. The ball now really is in the Democrats’ court.”

You don't really see evangelicals lining up to join the Democratic party.  Yes, polling shows that some evangelicals are leaving the GOP, but they are not necessarily going to the Democratic party.  You are seeing a broadening of evangelical social concern which I believe is a good think, and a realization that we should not be beholden to one political party.

Joe Carter of the Evangelical Outpost wrote a great post on why what is going on in evangelical circles is often misunderstood by MSM.

The article itself is mostly a rehash of the dominant media perspective on evangelicals and politics, though it is noteworthy for Kirkpatrick's style of "journalism by name-dropping." The 7900 word article manages to cram in the names of 23 evangelicals leaders: Terry Fox, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Paul Weyrich, D. James Kennedy, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Marvin Olasky, David Welsh, Ralph Reed, Frank Page, Rick Scarborough, David Wells, Scott McKnight, Jim Wallis, Tony Perkins, Gene Carlson, Todd Carter, Joe Wright, Paul Hill, Harry Jackson, and Donald Wildmon.

But while Kirkpatrick focuses on the cult of personality, the true crux of the conservative Christian political movement is based on a culture of principles. Rather than focusing on a "Who's Who" of Christian leaders, an adequate understanding of the "evangelical Right" requires the recognition and prioritization of six core principles.

These principles of Christian political engagement were outlined in the National Association of Evangelicals' paper - "For the Health of the Nation, An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility".

• We work to protect religious freedom and liberty of conscience.
• We work to nurture family life and protect children.
• We work to protect the sanctity of human life and to safeguard its nature.
• We seek justice and compassion for the poor and vulnerable.
• We work to protect human rights.
• We seek peace and work to restrain violence.
• We labor to protect God's creation.

Carter goes on to say that there is a broad consensus among evangelicals, but there is a broad range of viewpoints on how each relates to specific issues because we do not have a developed political theology and tend to borrow from non-religious political philosophies (liberal, conservative, etc.) or glean from other traditions like Catholic social thought.

He explains...

This is why evangelicals can agree on how the sanctity of life affects our position on abortion while disagreeing on how it relates to the death penalty. Likewise, we agree on the principle of seeking peace and restraining violence but differ on how this affects our view of the Iraq War.  What Kirkpatrick is noticing is not a "crackup" among evangelicals but the continual re-prioritization of principles and disagreements over how they correlate with specific issues. At the level of the level of the church and community this is an ongoing, never-completed process.

Carter notes that the emphasis of the different priorities will fluctuate with different leaders and groups.  So when one leader places an emphasis on seeking justice and compassion for the poor and vulnerable that doesn't mean there is a disagreement with the other principles.  MSM erroneously places too much attention on different personalities with the evangelical community, when this is just a natural fluctuation in the prioritization of principles and issues.

Kirkpatrick's piece does point out a problem however he writes...

Conservative Christian leaders in Washington acknowledge a “leftward drift” among evangelicals, said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council and the movement’s chief advocate in Washington. He told me he believed that Hybels and many of his admirers had, in effect, fallen away from orthodox evangelical theology. Perkins compared the phenomenon to the century-old division in American Protestantism between the liberal mainline and the orthodox evangelical churches. “It is almost like another split coming within the evangelicals,” he said.

I'm not exactly sure what "orthodox evangelical theology" Perkins is referring to?  You have to be pro-Iraq war in order to be orthodox for example?  We should not confuse the GOP platform with evangelical theology, which I'm afraid some have done and that is a problem.

Anyway I wouldn't play a funeral dirge just yet.

Technorati Tags: New York Times , Evangelicals , Politics , Christianity and Culture

DM Register: Church Rules Drive Away Longtime Parishioner

Something tells me there is more to this story than what John Carlson is reporting. I don't understand why the Register felt this was worthy of being front page news. From what I read in the article it sounds like this person hasn't been a part of Trinity Lutheran Church in Conroy, IA (LCMS) for a very long time. I've always wondered why people who are no longer active in a church still want their names on the membership roles.

I'm sure it could have been handled better though. I do applaud the church for not defending itself and not talking to the press in what they say is an internal matter, in other words, "Carlson it is none of your business!"

What do you think?

Technorati Tags: John Carlson , Trinity Lutheran Church of Conroy , Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , Church Discipline

New Desks = Better Education

At least according to teachers and parents in Des Moines who are upset that schools that are constructed or renovated won't automatically get a furniture allowance between $100,000 - $150,000 the Des Moines Register reports.

They have to use leftover furniture that is in good condition in the district's warehouse first and then purchase items as needed.

Why are people upset?  I applaud the Des Moines Public Schools for practicing good fiscal responsibility (at least in this area).  The furniture should not have any affect on how well a child learns.  Used is fine provided it is decent shape.

Jaynette Rittman, the principal at Garton Elementary School that was recently renovated said,

"It gives everything a fresh look. ... New furniture just enhances the appearance of school buildings, and in turn that supports learning in the classroom because people are excited to be there."

Give me a break!  I grew up in Bondurant, IA and when I went to Farrar Elementary (where 4th - 6th graders attended in my time) and then Bondurant-Farrar Jr./Sr. High School.  I attended classes in buildings dating back to 1925 and 1917 respectfully (those buildings are no longer in use today).  Our furniture wasn't new - the desks I used were probably 10-15 years old.  If anything diminished my education at that time it was the fact I was lazy and a procrastinator.  I don't think new desks would have helped.

The schools need to stop making excuses and just teach (get back to the basics) and families need to be involved in the education of their kids to make sure they are indeed learning.

Taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for new furniture to help make "people excited to be there."  Not when there is a stockpile of perfectly good used furniture.

Technorati Tags: Des Moines Public Schools , Bondurant-Farrar Community Schools , Fiscal Responsibility , Education

Reason...

#599 why my children are home schooled.

Source: Fox News

Technorati Tags: Public Schools , Juvenile Deliquents , Delaware

Yepsen on Huckabee

David Yepsen of the Des Moines Register has written a positive piece on Mike Huckabee.  Check it out.

Yepsen: Positive, Reagan-like spirit spurs Huckabee's rise - Des Moines Register

Technorati Tags: Mike Huckabee , Presidential Race '08

Huckabee Pulls Ahead of Romney!

My friend, Matt shared about Mike Huckabee moving ahead of Mitt Romney in the latest Rasmussen Poll.  Sweet!

HT: MATTR OF FACT: Take One Minute

Technorati Tags: Mike Huckabee , Mitt Romney , Presidential Race '08

Newsweek's Alter - A Case for Huckabee

Newsweek's Jonathan Alter makes a case for Mike Huckabee as the GOP nominee saying he is the GOP's best bet in beating the Democrats.

Huckabee comes across more hopeful than Giuliani, more believable than Romney, more intelligent than Thompson and fresher than McCain. He would hold the base and capture moderates drawn to his down-home style. His greatest asset is that he alone among the Republicans "speaks American." He connects to his audience with stories and metaphors and a geniality that can't be faked.

Interesting.

Technorati Tags: Mike Huckabee, Presidential Race '08

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Huckabee and the Christian Right

Check out this article on Mike Huckabee from Time.

Coming off a heady week of endorsements from heavyweights in the Christian Right world, including Bob Jones III and Don Wilton, former president of the South Carolina Southern Baptist Convention, Mitt Romney technically won the straw poll with 1,585 of the total 5,576 votes cast. But it was former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee who lit up the crowd with a fiery sermon as the last candidate to address the gathering. He took second place, just 30 votes behind Romney. When organizers broke the votes down into those cast online and those of summit attendees, the results revealed a true thrashing. In the tally of those present at the summit, Huckabee swamped his opponents, capturing 50% of the vote. By contrast, Romney was the choice of only 10% of on-site values voters.

Mike Huckabee clearly has momentum. Over at the Campaign Spot on National Review shares that Mitt Romney's "win" is merely perception.

A strategist for a campaign that is neither Romney's nor Huckabee's: "How did Mike Huckabee's media team let headlines get out that said, 'Romney Wins FRC Straw Poll'? (A good collection of those headlines can be found here.) This guy won almost all of the votes that were available on the floor. He's the much more compelling story coming out of the straw poll. His team ought to be trying to get the 'Huckabee's the real winner' story out there.

Technorati Tags: Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Values Voters, Christian Right, Presidential Race '08

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The Secret Weapon

I subscribe to Mary Katherine Ham's Ham Nation videos on YouTube (she is the Managing Editor of TownHall.com). This one made me laugh out loud.

Technorati Tags: Mary Katherine Ham, HamNation, TownHall.com, Hillary Clinton
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Common Sense is Gone

Yesterday a Portland, ME school committee voted 7-2 in favor of allowing the city-run medical clinic in King Middle School to give middle school students birth control pills without parental consent. When I was in school, my parents had to give permission for the school nurse to give me Tylenol for a headache. This is ridiculous!

Girls' as young as 11 will be able to receive birth control pills. Parents have to give consent for students to go to the clinic (which if I were them I wouldn't), but when they do they can get birth control pills (as well as condoms and other birth control items) without the parents' knowledge. The school has no place in this discussion. This is a family matter. Schools need to educate... period! By that I mean - reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

This is simply outrageous!

(Source: Fox News)

Technorati Tags: Middle School Contraceptives

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Finally... a new podcast episode.

You can check out my latest podcast episode that I uploaded today - over a month in waiting! Included some music by Christian Hip Hop artist, FLAME, the Log Cabin Republican's recent anti (or is it pro?) Mitt Romney commercial, my endorsement of Mike Huckabee on the podcast, and some thoughts on Christian citizenship as it relates to politics and government. All that in under 14 minutes.

You can subscribe to my podcast here.

Technorati Tags: Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, FLAME, Christian citizenship

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Huckabee Rising in the Polls

Some good news for the Governor Huckabee. He continues to have positive momentum.


New insider Advantage polls show Mike Huckabee rising:

Iowa

Romney – 24%

Giuliani – 16%

Huckabee – 13%

Thompson – 13%

McCain – 10%

(http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/insider_advantage/iowa_gop_oct.html)



South Carolina

Thompson – 21%

Giuliani – 16%

Romney – 16%

McCain – 16%

Huckabee – 11%

(http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/insider_advantage/sc_gop_oct.html)



New Hampshire

Romney – 28%

Giuliani – 20%

McCain – 17%

Huckabee – 8%

Thompson – 8%

(http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/insider_advantage/nh_gop_oct.html)



Michigan

Giuliani – 19%

Romney – 16%

McCain – 15%

Thompson – 14%

Huckabee – 6%

(http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/insider_advantage/mi_gop_oct.html)



Florida

Giuliani – 29%

Thompson – 19%

Romney – 16%

McCain – 10%

Huckabee – 6%

(http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/insider_advantage/fl_gop_oct.html)


Technorati Tags: Mike Huckabee, Presidential Race '08

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Huckabee 101

My friend Eric embedded this video on our team blog. I liked it - it sums up Mike Huckabee pretty well, and has a lot of great clips. I thought I would share it here too.


Technorati Tags: Mike Huckabee, Presidential Race '08

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Huckabee Video Conference

Mike Huckabee held a live webcast conference where he entertained questions from mainstream media, bloggers, and ordinary citizens who joined in. I thought I would post the video from that here.


Technorati Tags: Mike Huckabee, Presidential Race '08

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Have I said before that I...

hate frivolous lawsuits?

Technorati Tags: frivolous lawsuits, Iowa News

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Huckabee Wins the Values Voters' Debate Straw Poll

Check out the Huckabee blog on this story. The comments section includes some links to other news articles. He received 63% of the vote that was taken at the Values Voters Debate. I'm disappointed that Romney, McCain, Guiliani and Thompson chose not to show up, but I think it is only going to hurt them in the long run. I can understand that they felt there really was no upside to this since they would have been on the hot seat numerous times.

You can read David Brody's take on it here on his blog the Brody File. You can check out the story on Fox News here. You can check out a video on CBS here.

Technorati Tags: Mike Huckabee, Values Voters Debate

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God is getting sued.

This isn't the most ridiculous thing I've read, but it is pretty darn close.

Nebraska Democratic State Senator Ernie Chambers has decided to go straight to the top in an effort to stop natural disasters from befalling the world.

Chambers filed a lawsuit against God in Douglas County Court Friday afternoon, KPTM Fox 42 reported.

His constituents must be so proud. His lawsuit is a political stunt to make a statement against a possible law that would restrict the filing of frivolous lawsuit. Why is this a bad thing? I hate it when I see frivolous lawsuits in the courts. It is a waste of taxpayer money.

Technorati Tags: frivolous lawsuits, political stunts

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