The "Failure" in Afghanistan is a Political Narrative, But It's Not Biden's Failure

Here's a fact that needs to be acknowledged before anyone writes a piece on the Biden Administration's policy in Afghanistan.  If you were not involved, you do not know.  Second guessing from the editorial office of a news network in New York, or Atlanta, or a newspaper in Chicago or Washington, D.C. is not a position from which an informed point of view can be cobbled into an editorial.  

History always seems to be the point at which American journalism falls short of its goal of informing the people.  As a country, we have never been good at interpreting it or teaching it correctly and objectively to our students.  That has forced us to endure repeating it and making the same mistakes that were made in the past.  We have a long history of interference in the affairs of other countries based on the generic "protection of American interests" that acts like a blank check to set aside principles that we claim are part of our national heritage and bully some other country, usually because of some economic interest that our leaders want to protect and oh, by the way, here are the principles of our democratic constitutional republic.  

So let's be clear.  We were not in Afghanistan for 20 years because of any decision made by Joe Biden.  He's the fourth president down the line who has had to deal with the mess there that someone else made.  Nor is he responsible for the limited options that were available to him when he finally set the deadline to get our troops out.  Those decisions were made by the Trump administration and Biden was forced to work with what he had.  

Let's face another fact.  Staying in Afghanistan to establish and support a democratic government will go down in history as one of the worst Presidential decisions ever made.  That's on George W. Bush.  Puppet governments, which is all an American-established government in a predominantly Muslim country would ever be, don't last.  History tells us that.  What happened is that as a stream of American money began flowing through the country, those in the "democratically elected" government figured out how to tap into it, and they figured out how to rig the system and stay in government.  

It was pretty clear early on that the constitutional government in Afghanistan would not be able to hold the country together without American help, at any point.  Even during the early years of Hamid Karzai's presidency, in the latter years of the Bush administration, the government was incapable of turning the corners it needed to turn in order to stand on its own.  It was never possible to trust the armed forces entirely, and areas that were not secured by American troops were just flat out dangerous.  

Biden was faced by a situation created by the indecisiveness and hesitation of his predecessor who did a lot of big talking about getting us out because it was popular with the American people.  He made some moves to make it seem like he was actually doing something, and wound up doing what Trump does, making a deal with the Taliban.  It was, as you might expect, an unrealistic deal, giving the Taliban just about everything they wanted, including the release of 5,000 prisoners, and a promise to leave the country in exchange for the Taliban making sure Afghanistan does not get used as a base from which to attack the US.  As the Washington Post reported, the deal required taking the Taliban's word on faith.

Deliberate Undermining of the Afghan Democratic Government by the Trump Administration

So in negotiating a deal to get the US out of Afghanistan, Trump goes to the Taliban?  He even proposed a secret meeting that would bring them to Camp David, until news of that incredibly stupid act leaked out and made him look bad.  But the whole Trump "deal" was a clear message to both the Taliban and the world that the United States, who stayed in Afghanistan and spent $6 trillion providing security for its fledgling democracy, was abandoning the Afghan government.  Nikki Haley, a Republican and former Ambassador to the UN tweeted that "Making a deal with the Taliban is like making a deal with the Devil."  

That's on Trump, as is everything that is happening in the wake of the American departure.

Biden's just the president who got stuck with the circumstances and had to figure out how to get Americans safely out of Afghanistan in a relatively short period of time while the army and government that we spent 20 years, 3,000 lives and $6 trillion dollars propping up.  He did a remarkable job, letting his military commanders do what they do best, not stepping in and interfering with anything they were doing.  It was an incredible feat, way beyond the capabilities of either George W. Bush or Donald J. Trump.  

What we are seeing from Joe Biden is a level of competence, integrity and honesty that we haven't seen in the Presidency for the past four years.  We are seeing a President who is familiar with both the limitations and the capabilities of the American military, who had a better perspective than anyone else has had about the situation in Afghanistan for the past 20 years, and who didn't hesitate to make the decisions that he needed to make in spite of the risks and the uncertainties.  We have a President who found the most competent leaders available, put them in charge of what they were experts at doing and let them do their job.  Somehow, in an event that the media has labelled a "failure" and "chaos," 5,500 American citizens and their families, and a total of over 122,000 people were evacuated by air from an airport with just one operating runway.  

What in the world would make you think that if Trump were in charge, anything close to that would have occurred?  You'd be able to use the words "failure" and "chaos" then.

Let's See Some Accountability from the Media

Maybe the media is tired of reporting on Trump's ineptness, incompetence, lack of leadership and inability to get things done.  There's been too much of it.  But the American people need to know and they need to keep writing and reporting until his role in this failure is a fact.  

Does anyone in the media want to go back to the four most miserable years in American history, and the most incompetent failure ever to occupy the White House?  Then this needs to be where it was when the orange idiot was President, on the front page.  People need to know that Trump undermined the democratic government in Afghanistan and helped hand the country over to the Taliban by making a "deal" with them.  

Maybe the reporter or editor who thinks themselves capable of organizing and conducting an air lift that could have evacuated more people from Afghanistan can criticize the situation as a "failure."  But Biden was able to get it done, so those who don't see themselves as being that capable need to point out what failure really looks like, and it's not been this evacuation.  

A Lost Opportunity for Evangelical Christianity

You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?  It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.  

You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  

Matthew 5:13-16, ESV 

Dan Darling, who was the Senior Vice President of Communications for the National Religious Broadcasters, appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program August 2 and spoke about how his Christian faith motivated him to get a COVID-19 vaccine.  

"I believe in this vaccine because I don't want to see anyone else die of COVID-19" said Darling.  "Our family has lost too many close friends and relatives to COVID, including an uncle, a beloved church member and our piano teacher," he said.  He expressed similar views in an opinion piece in USA Today. 

Darling stated that it was the command in scripture to "love our neighbors" that informed his decision to get vaccinated.  He encouraged fellow Evangelical Christians to get vaccinated, following his example of loving their neighbor, talking to their doctor and considering it in order to avoid having anyone else die from this lethal, contagious virus.  

For making those statements in public, Darling was fired.  Yes, fired.  He was told that NRB's position on the vaccine was "neutral" and that he was being fired for violating the policy.  He was offered the choice of signing a statement admitting to being insubordinate, or being fired with no severance.  He chose the latter.  

This statement can be found on NRB's website, in their statement of faith: 

"The church and all her ministers and ministries should publicly witness to society and to the state regarding the intrinsic, inherent, and inviolable dignity of all human life, from fertilization to natural death."  

And in their code of ethics, Point #3 states, "I will recognize and respect what the Lord is doing through other individuals and organizations while refraining from unnecessary criticism of them (I Peter 3:8-9) emphasis mine.  In point 7, "Nothing herein shall be construed so as to prohibit a member from expressing his genuine concern to another brother in a spirit of love and in accordance with Matthew 18:15-17.  

Perhaps the most ironic statement from the NRB is this tweet, "We are committed to fighting for the right of Christian communicators to speak freely and truthfully without fear of censorship."  

And yet one of their executives, publicly witnessing the proven value of vaccinations against COVID-19 for preserving human life, prompted by his faith and basing his perspective on scripture, was fired for doing so.  He was critical of those who shame those who don't get vaccinated and those who rejoice when someone who is unvaccinated, or who is openly critical of vaccination gets sick or dies from COVID, saying that such an approach "is not helpful." If that didn't meet the organization's standard for "neutral," it was certainly fair and unbiased.  

But I'm having difficulty understanding how an organization that can be so decidedly pro-life can be "neutral" on a pro-life issue like vaccination against COVID?  The only argument that can be made to take that position is that getting vaccinated is a "personal choice" based on "individual rights."  Isn't that the argument that pro-choice advocates make?  An anti-vaccination argument cannot be made from Christian doctrine based on Biblical truth.  

Darling's August 2 appearance took place on "Morning Joe" which airs on MSNBC.  I have no doubt that the leadership at NRB took offense at the fact that he even appeared on that particular network while taking a position that runs counter to extremist right wing politics, though completely consistent with Christian principles.  USA Today is not exactly an approved right wing media source either.  Darling's appearances, and the content of his message, might have had the effect of letting people know that there are Evangelical Christians who still hold to their Christian convictions and believe in the power of God rather than the power of politics.  It's clear evidence that there are Evangelical Christians out there who have not bowed their knee to the Baal of secular right wing politics.

An Accurate Characterization of Current Evangelical Attitudes

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.  Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.  If not, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place unless you repent.  Revelation 2:4-5 ESV

How Evangelical Christians, who once claimed that moral character was the main qualification for serving in American political office, could give almost unqualified support to a man whose lifestyle and reputation was built on immoral behavior that characterizes what the Apostle John called "the spirit of antichrist," is a legitimate question that many people, including many Evangelicals themselves, are asking.  It is also legitimate to doubt the sincerity of their faith since their support was given to Trump in exchange for his use of political power to achieve their ends.  If politics is the way to get things done, who needs prayer? 

Turning the pandemic into yet another political battlefield has denied American Evangelicals a major opportunity to achieve their mission and purpose.  One of the most effective ways the church has in its possession to win converts to faith in Christ is a visible testimony of unselfish service to others.  But instead, many Evangelicals have opted to whine about government "over-reach" and "tyranny," opposing mask mandates and vaccinations on the basis of political misinformation, echoing the same claims as pro-choice advocates do when asserting "my body, my choice." 

There's no Christian doctrine or Biblical principle that supports opposition to mask wearing or getting vaccinated.  But doctrine and principle among Evangelicals on the political right is no longer based on the Bible.  And those who attempt to call them back to repentance, like Dan Darling, will face the wrath of the political power that is being challenged.  

The salt has lost its taste. 

Arizona's Embarrassing Republican Legacy

Since World War 2, Arizona politics have been dominated by the GOP.  The Democrats have had a reasonable presence in the legislature, have succeeded in electing a few governors who have done a good job and under whom the state prospered.  Two of them had their terms cut short because they accepted Federal appointments, Raul Castro and Janet Napolitano.  At the federal level, after decades of not having a Democrat go to the US Senate, both senators are now Democrats as the same Republican, Martha McSally, was defeated twice after being appointed to fill vacancies.  The prospects look very good at this point for another female Democrat, current Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, to claim the governor's office in 2022, with a very likely Democratic majority in both houses. 

In the current state legislature, the Democrats are just one seat away from control of the Senate and two away from control of the House.  Democrats have increased their numbers by in-migration of people from the Northeast and California, and by massively increasing the number of Latinos registered to vote.  A decade ago, fewer than 30% of Arizona Latinos eligible to vote were registered, but growing opposition to the notorious former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio helped increase that number to 60%, and flipped the sheriff race, several house and senate districts in Maricopa County and the US Senate races.  Only 22% of Latinos in Arizona voted for Trump in 2020, which was the narrow numerical difference in the margin by which Joe Biden won the state's 11 electoral votes. 

It hasn't been a Republican lockdown by any means, mainly because the Republicans who get elected to office engage in activities which sabotage their ability to get re-elected.  I often wonder, with all of the shenanigans, corruption, illegal activity, one former GOP governor impeached and removed, one who was sent to prison, about how partisan the political atmosphere must be.  And now, the entire Republican contingent in the state senate has fallen for another scam.  

Governor Evan Mecham

Evan Mecham dropped out of college to start an automobile dealership in the small mining town of Ajo, Arizona.  As the copper vein there began running out, he moved his dealership to Glendale in Maricopa County  He made multiple attempts to run for the state legislature and managed to get a term in the state Senate.  He was a typrical Republican of his time, wanting the US out of the UN, critical of the Supreme Court decision banning publicly recited prayer in public schools, and tax cuts for the rich.  He won a GOP primary election for governor with very sparse turnout on the strength of his support from fellow Mormons, a strong presence of Birchers and from the large segment of retired Arizonans because he promised them a tax cut.  He got 54% of the vote in the GOP primary, and 40% of the vote in the general election because the Democrats split between two candidates.  

His governorship was characterized by his past experience as a used car dealer.  He cancelled the state's Martin Luther King holiday, declaring "King doesn't deserve a holiday." which more or less set the tone for everything else he did, killing Arizona's thriving tourist business and leading to the cancellation of hundreds of conventions and sports events, including a Super Bowl bid.  He was known for racial slurs, not only involving African-Americans, but Asians and Latinos as well.  Many of his cabinet appointees were either under criminal investigation, including one for murder, had served prison time and one had been court martialed out of military service.  

Mecham couldn't avoid making serious gaffes, using the term pickaninny in reference to African American children, insisting that the US constitution was "divinely inspired" (a Mormon doctrinal assertion) and he was not obligated to the state legislature, and claiming that the state's daily newspapers were against him because he had been their competitor at one time.  But it was the corruption in his administration, combined with his own tax evasion tactics that got him impeached and removed from office.  Though both houses of the state legislature had Republican majorities, it was members of his own party that provided testimony, submitted evidence and voted to convict him and remove him from office.  

Governor Fife Symington

Bank fraud, extortion, involvement in real estate development fraud for which Arizona is well known, claiming to have an encounter with UFO's, and after being convicted of fraud and extortion, enrolled in  a culinary school.  This guy had it all. 

Arizona is dotted with real estate developments that never lived up to their billing.  People buy land, sight unseen, for the purpose of developing it by building homes or investing in business as the population grows.  Symington was involved in loans and deals for a retail project in Phoenix which he claimed led to his loss of $23 million and declaring bankruptcy.  It was this deal that led to the extortion and bank fraud charges. 

He was pardoned by none other than his good friend Bill Clinton, whom he had rescued from drowning in an incident in Connecticut many years before.  That just adds to the strangeness.  Not facing a prison term, Symington enrolled in the Arizona Culinary Academy and had, as he described it, a "humbling experience."  

While still governor, Symington claims to have had an encounter with a UFO, the famous "Phoenix Lights" episode of March, 1997.  He described the UFO in relative detail, claiming that as a pilot, he knew every kind of aircraft that was in existence and this wasn't an aircraft.  Many other people also claimed seeing the lights, but the governor's detailed description is unique.  

Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio

The self-proclaimed "Toughest sheriff in America," Arpaio was openly racist when it came to his way of enforcing the law.  His term as sheriff stands as an example of how easy it really is to abuse power, pander to a particular constituency, violate the law at multiple points and get away with it as long as you know the voters won't hold you accountable.  Arpaio served as sheriff from 1993 to 2017, gradually seeing his margin of victory in elections diminish as his record of police misconduct and incidents of abuse mounted.  After being convicted of contempt of court, he lost to Democrat Paul Penzone in the 2016 election, in spite of his support for Trump, with whom he appeared at a rally. 

Arpaio's notoriety didn't really materialize until 2005, when he came out strongly against illegal immigration.  His support for the state's notorious anti-immigration bill SB1070, which was struck down by the Supreme Court, was just the tip of the iceberg.  Litigation in civil cases of wrongful death, wrongful arrest, entrapment, racial profile and discrimination cases cost the taxpayers of Maricopa County $140 million during his tenure.  

This is the sheriff who "investigated" President Barack Obama's birth certificate.  I put the word in parenthesis because it wasn't actually a real investigation.  The authenticity of his birth certificate was proven long before either Trump or Arpaio made their claims, and Arpaio never produced any evidence to either prove his claim, nor to even justify the money the county spent on the so-called investigation.  

Apparently, the political landscape in Arizona is improving.  After Maricopa County voters tossed Arpaio out, and he got a pardon for his crimes from Trump, he made an attempt to run for the Senate and lost in the GOP primary.  In an attempt to reclaim his sheriff badge, he also was defeated, in a primary election.  Much of the success achieved by the Democratic party in Maricopa County and in Arizona can be attributed to the organizing of Latino opposition to Arpaio. 

The Latest Chapter in Arizona's Embarrassing GOP Saga:  The Cyber Ninjas

Trump, according to several of his cronies, threw a foaming fit on election night when, with just about 80% of the vote counted in Arizona, and Biden leading comfortably by 136,000 votes, the propaganda parade at Fox News gave in and declared that Joe Biden would carry the state of Arizona and its eleven electoral votes.  It was incredibly ironic, since only the Associated Press, out of all of the other news media networks, followed suit.  It would be nine days after election day before any of the other major networks would make the call.  

Obviously, it was a terrific blow to Trump, the earliest sign on election night that things were not going to go his way and a miserable blue spot during the four days of waiting until Pennsylvania finally got enough of its ballots counted to be declared for Biden, putting him over the top for the electoral college victory.  

It's not that this couldn't be seen coming.  The Arizona of Barry Goldwater was a Republican backwater, a politically backward and provincial outpost where the GOP majority was made up of a core of Mormons, who believe in white supremacy and whose church doctrine excluded dark-skinned people from church membership or leadership, and the descendants of settlers who pushed the native tribes off their ancestral lands and slaughtered them, along with Mexican settlers who also wouldn't give up their claims.  It was politically more like Mississippi or South Carolina than neighboring California or New Mexico, a fact born out by the electoral college votes gathered by Goldwater in his blistering 1964 defeat.  

But the state has added over six million new residents since 1964.  Many of them have come along with corporate headquarter relocations to Phoenix or Tucson from the upper Midwest and the Northeast, urban and suburban areas where the majority of voters are Democrats.  Being a border state, the Latino population in Arizona has also surged and political situations have caused them to become more organized.  In Arizona, the Latino vote is frequently 75% Democrat or higher.  Much of the growth in the past two decades has come from neighboring California, which is also heavily Democratic.  

The political shift has been inevitable.  The legacy of corrupt GOP governors and the failures of recent governors to accomplish much of anything, like Jan Brewer and Doug Ducey stands in contrast to Democrats like Bruce Babbitt, who resolved the state's financial deficits, Rose Mofford, who cleaned up Mecham's mess, and Janet Napolitano, who went on to become Secretary of Homeland Security under Obama, and the whole Arpaio-Trump disaster, have changed things in Arizona.  The Congressional delegation, even with blatant gerrymandering, has shifted and the state has gone from having two Republican senators to two Democratic senators in one election cycle.  

In spite of all of that, the Republicans of the Arizona Senate are presenting the Democratic party in Arizona with a beautifully wrapped gift.  The very presence of the Cyber Ninjas as a serious attempt to "audit" the votes in Maricopa County is a joke that just adds to the already miserable Republican legacy of the state.  They have conclusively proven that they do not know what they are doing, do not know how to count ballots or audit a ballot count.  They have succeeded in convincing enough Republicans in the state senate that they are a waste of time and money and that they will produce nothing useful.  They have convinced somewhere around 85-87% of the Arizona electorate that they are a fraud.  

But the Cyber Ninjas will achieve success.  They will help the Democrats gain a majority of seats in both houses of the Arizona legislature, put a Democrat in the governor's chair, help at least one, maybe two Democrats get a GOP congressional seat and guarantee that a Democrat will carry Arizona in the 2024 election.  

A President For Our Time

The sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams, is usually not ranked very high on lists of favorites, the highly accomplished or greatest among the 46 men who have served in the office.  He only served one term, the only President to be elected by the House of Representatives in a "contingent" ballot where none of the candidates got a majority of the electoral vote.  When he ran for re-election, he was soundly defeated by Andrew Jackson, a regressive populist with far less government and political experience, and even less common sense, sound judgement, intelligence and moral character.  

And yet the son of America's second President, John Adams, and first lady Abigail, was perhaps the most experienced and most qualified man ever to run for the American Presidency.  He was a man of outstanding intelligence and education, prior to being elected President served in the Senate, represented the United States in Britain, Russia, Prussia and as ambassador to the Netherlands, and in the Massachusetts state house as a senator.  He was a visionary progressive, with his observations and studies in foreign lands, saw how America had the potential and resources to take its place as a world power.  His Presidency promoted opportunities for economic and social development ahead of its time.  

But his visionary leadership and progressive ambitions came along just a little bit too soon.  The limits of government were still being tested, fears of too much of it were still strong and America was still, for the most part, a backward, provincial place.  Adams was the first American President to publicly oppose slavery, prompting accusations that he was a "closet abolitionist" which was not a good thing in the early 19th century.  The loss to someone like Jackson is quite telling about just how backward the United States was at that time.

He was just about a generation behind his time.  I believe that if Adams had become President in 1848, the year that he passed away, he would have prevented the greatest tragedy in American history up to that point, the Civil War.  Instead, in 1852, the country was subjected to a lack of leadership ability and the gross incompetence of Franklin Pierce, whose efforts to move the country backward on the issue of slavery led to violence and hostility.  It cost Pierce the Democratic nomination in 1856, but subjected the country to even more incompetence and failed leadership under James Buchanan, who failed to heal the wounds and was too weak and inept to stop the fracturing of the country.  Had Adams been around and in office at the time, he would now be what Lincoln eventually became.  

For Us, The Time Was Just Right

Joe Biden's age is not a problem as far as I am concerned.  We're fortunate that we have his energy, expertise and commitment.  He's the most effective United States Senator of our generation, and picking him as Vice-President was one of the best moves President Obama could have made.  His Presidency has been absolutely nothing like the propagandists and clowns in the extremist right wing media predicted.  The piece I linked below from the Chicago Tribune explains the right wing media frustration over Biden's clear, articulate news conferences and speeches, the fact that their childish labelling of his administration as socialist, far-left progressive and Marxist isn't sticking anywhere, and they're especially fuming about the fact that he put competent people in his cabinet and in the federal agencies, and that his administration has had more success in its first six months in office than Trump had in his lifetime.  

And I don't care if they don't ever get over it.  

Even what the media has attempted to label a "debacle" in Afghanistan bears little resemblance to the term itself.  We weren't in Afghanistan because of a decision Biden made.  This is a can that has been kicked down the line to him, the fourth President who has had to deal with what has never been a good situation.  So he is dealing with it, in exactly the way he said he would deal with it.  It's not his fault, and shouldn't really be his problem, that some Americans put themselves in places in an unstable, fundamentalist Muslim country in a place where it might be hard for them to get out when the time came.  

And with Trump's record of getting things done, I can't even begin to imagine what a botched up mess the evacuation would have become, if, indeed, there would have even been an evacuation.  He had his chance, claimed it was what he wanted, but wasn't willing to take the political risk to get it done.  Biden has done it, and I honestly don't think he's lost any sleep over the political punditry that throws around words like "debacle" and claims he's had a "bad week" like they really know what that looks like.  And that's what makes him a leader.  In the long run, this isn't going to be seen as a political liability, it's going to be seen as a promise kept by a President who knows what he's doing.  And you can take that to the bank. 

Biden would have been a good President if he'd been elected the first time he ran.  But I think he's a better President now, simply because he's gained even more experience since then, including eight years as Vice-President and chief advisor to President Obama.  Big egos die hard in politics, thankfully, neither men had one and their relationship worked well.  Choosing Joe Biden as his running mate and VP was an indication of Obama's desire for success.  It worked the way it was supposed to work.  And those eight years are working on behalf of all Americans now.  We couldn't have done any better. 

We Have a Real President

Afghanistan is a routine foreign relations issue compared to other items on President Biden's agenda.  For those who are unhappy about what is going on, and want someone to blame, start with Dick Cheney.  Honestly, it was an American occupation of a foreign country and it never should have happened.  We're getting out, as we should have done two decades ago.  End of story.  There are more pressing matters. 

Handling the effects on this country that have come about as a result of COVID-19 is the crisis of the century.  We've gone from President Hoax to an action plan that has delivered millions of vaccines efficiently and effectively across the country, to the point where ignorance and stupidity are the only reasons everyone is not vaccinated.  Competent people who know what they are doing are in positions where they can do their job of protecting people.  

That the Biden administration has overseen the most rapid private sector job growth in history is not an accident, either.  Giving the tax dollars of the people to millionaires and billionaires has never been a successful job creation program or an economic stimulus as we saw during Reagan, both Bushes and Trump.  Fixing the economy depended on fixing the pandemic and Trump's solutions for fixing the pandemic can be compared, legitimately, to taking deworming medicine to prevent getting sick from COVID.  Sorry, it's a good analogy.  Well, I'm not sorry. 

It seems that when it comes to every issue, the approach of this administration is based on what can be done for the people involved.  It's not like they're lobbing political grenades at the other side or sticking them with the bad side of an issue.  Somehow, the Biden administration has a grasp of humanitarianism that the other side just doesn't seem to comprehend and they can't seem to avoid looking bad in comparison.  In spite of all of the right wing media rhetoric, the Republicans are taking a beating from the Biden administration on immigration.  

Even the news conferences and press briefings are a contrast to those of the previous occupant of the White House.  Biden has a real, competent, sharp, quick-on-the-feet press secretary.  Trump had Sean Spicer and Sarah Pinocchio, eh, ah, Huckabee.  It went downhill from there.  Apparently, among the press corp in Washington, the Fox News reporters are afraid of Jen Psaki because she already has a reputation for beating them up with facts.  Facts and Fox News is an oxymoron.  

The Measure of Real Patriotism and Statesmanship

To be honest, I am frustrated with the approach the Biden Administration is taking to the political situation in Washington.  What I want them to do is fight fire with fire.  I want them to break the filibuster, pack the Supreme Court, pass voter reforms till the cows come home to protect voting rights and keep Republicans in red states from deciding that every vote for a Republican candidate counts twice.  I want the justice department to go after Trump and anyone else in Congress who helped with the insurrection on January 6, invoking section 3 of the 14th amendment.  

But Biden, and most of the Democrats for that matter, are old-line politicians who believe in the Constitution, in good-faith negotiation, in the give-and-take of politics and who place their trust in the way the system used to work,  when doing what was best for the American people was the priority in political negotiations and when Senators and Representatives represented their constituents, not an agenda driven party platform.  Biden still has friends on the other side of the aisle, for goodness sake!  He doesn't lash out with blistering attacks against those who publicly disagree with him.  He still thinks that a bi-partisan approach is a win-win situation.  He has integrity and he tells the truth, even when it is inconvenient.

And more than anything else, in spite of all the media hype and the fact that many of those in the media don't remember what it was like when things got done that way, it's that approach that convinces me he is going to be successful.  People are seeing and experience the results of this success.  We're emerging from a period of sensationalism, social media hype and constant bombardment with inaccuracies, misrepresentations and lies used to apply political pressure to achieve an agenda.  We had a tabloid presidency, it will take time to get used to a government with integrity again.  But voters respond to this kind of approach.  And as I said before, you can take that to the bank.  Keep an eye on November 2022 and don't be a pessimist.  There's another blue wave coming. 

Here's the editorial I linked from the Trib by Rex Huppke.  Enjoy the laugh. 

Christian Faith Evaporates in the Hothouse of Right Wing Politics

I know your works; you have a name for being alive but you are dead.  Wake up and strengthen what remains and is at the point of death , for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God.  Remember, then what you heard; obey it and repent.  If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.  Revelation 3:1b-3, NRSV

It would not have been possible, in the small Baptist church in which I grew up, to identify the political party affiliation of any of the members of the church.  It was never a topic of discussion that I can ever recall, not in any Sunday school class, never in the worship service or sermon, not in fellowship gatherings in members homes, or the regular "pot luck" dinners.  Never. 

My own father, baptized into the membership of a Baptist congregation in his hometown when he was seven years old and a deacon in the church we belonged to when I was growing up, was a Democrat.  But the subject never came up at church.  He was a member and officer in a labor union, cast his first Presidential ballot for Franklin D. Roosevelt, voted for every Democrat in every election since, John Kerry being the last one before he passed away.  I think there may have been some members of the church who knew, since one of the other deacons worked at the same place and they had both served as local officers at one time or another, but politics were never part of the discussion.   

It's certainly not that way now among most Evangelical Christians.  I don't know about my home church, I haven't been there in thirty years, but the marriage between Republicans and Conservative Evangelicals that was officiated by Jerry Falwell during the 1980 Presidential campaign has had a devastating detrimental effect on the doctrine and theology of many who call themselves Evangelical Christians. 

It's a marriage that has forced Evangelicals to own positions on issues that are completely inconsistent with their doctrine.  What started as single-issue support for overturning Roe v. Wade has become full acceptance of anything Republicans support and anyone they choose as candidates for office.  It's put Evangelicals, who claim to be the most doctrinally correct and theologically accurate branch of the Christian church, at odds with the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles on many, many issues including the morality of war, financial and economic policy that favors the rich and victimizes the working class and poor, issues that are classified as "social justice" simply because the right has distorted the meaning of the term, and at odds with  considering healing and health care as basic human rights .  It has caused them to "make deals with the Devil" as I call it, exchanging their voting support based on promises of worldly power and influence for candidates who have built their reputation around their flagrant immorality and worldly lifestyles.   

Going Off the Rails

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.  When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.  Psalm 146:3-7 ESV

Most Evangelical churches and denominations are characterized by a doctrine which declares the sixty-six books of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments without the apocrypha, to be the written "word of God," and therefore to be without error and infallible in its content.  That includes a belief that the very words of the Bible were inspired by God and an interpretation style that almost universally defers to a literal interpretation outside of the historical and cultural context in which it was written.  Most of the time, the literal meaning is favored over the meaning discerned from historical context.  

But in spite of their claims, while many pastors and church leaders are well educated in theology, most members of an Evangelical church couldn't really tell you much about what they believe beyond some of the basic "essentials".  The prevalence and growth of media influence has become the means by which most church members get their doctrine, so those individuals who have the means to get their books published and their preaching and teaching in front of people have become "religious celebrities" and are bigger influences than the pastor of a small, local church. And that's where the link between Evangelical Christians and the Republican party was forged.  

The Old Time Gospel Hour and the Moral Majority

Prior to the Carter administration, most conservative Christians, including Evangelicals, the old-line Pentecostal denominations and Fundamentalists, tended to stay away from politics.  Many of them teach what they refer to as the spiritual discipline of separation, which is the practice of avoiding influences that are considered "worldly", meaning the opposite of "spiritual".  That included things like not going to movies, not going to secular music concerts or plays, not reading popular literature, avoiding stylish clothing, watching television or joining civic organizations or clubs.  They avoided politics because they tended to view all politicians as corrupt, worldly and dishonest.  They believed that someone who genuinely practiced their brand of Christianity could never be popular enough among those "in the world" to get elected to office. 

That started to change with Jerry Falwell.  Falwell was a Fundamentalist Baptist pastor with a television ministry called "The Old Time Gospel Hour" that was mainly a broadcast of the worship service at the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia.  Falwell, a staunch separatist Baptist, believed that all of the social and government institutions were corrupt and that worked its way into his sermons, which reached an audience of listeners of like-minded Christians mostly across the South via radio and television.  He used the media to raise money, appealing to listeners to help in order to keep the ministry on the air, which he used not only to continue broadcasting, but to support the school and college he had established and to recruit students.  

Falwell's initial foray into politics was opposition to the Civil Rights Movement and criticism of the sincerity of Dr. Martin Luther King.  He was openly segregationist, invited George Wallace and Lester Maddox to appear on his broadcasts and was a vocal critic of the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision.  In the 70's, he helped outside sources raise money to run ads in the South critical of President Jimmy Carter.  He used his fame and the popularity of The Old Time Gospel hour to raise millions of dollars for his schools, and for just about any cause he wanted to support, including the political organization he built, "The Moral Majority."  White Christian Nationalism is a popular perspective among the Independent Fundamental Baptists of Falwell's religious tribe.  It wasn't openly promoted by the Moral Majority but it was a means of motivating contributions.  

The pull of Evangelicals into politics is driven by money. Seeing how Falwell was not only able to influence voters, but also raise large amounts of money, it was only a matter of time before others who had the means to access the media decided that while politics may be worldly, they are also profitable.  Prayer leads to discerning and following the will of God.  Politics leads to the accomplishment of agendas without the pesky requirement of them having to be in accordance with God's will and it's an easy way to raise tax free contributions.

It's All About the "R" After the Name

Though Bill Clinton was baptized and raised in a Southern Baptist church, and was an active and regularly attending member of one of the larger Southern Baptist congregations in Little Rock when he ran for President in 1992, like Carter, he was opposed by the Evangelical establishment,  By then, for those in the morphed edition of the Moral Majority, known as the "Religious Right," every issue advocated by Democrats was tainted by their support for abortion "on demand," though Clinton's moderate views were far from those of the left. 

The Religious Right tore into Clinton's moral failures.  No Evangelical Christian would have ever declared, "I'm not voting for a pastor-in-chief, I'm voting for a commander-in-chief" when Clinton was the Democratic nominee and at any point during his presidency.  The character and morality of politicians then ranked higher than the issues.  Republicans gave their support to Bush's re-election in 1992 in spite of the fact that, while he gave lip service to the pro-life position to get on the ticket with Reagan, his judicial appointments reflected a decidedly pro-choice position, and he deliberately kept the pro-choice majority on the Supreme Court.  

After Clinton's scandal with Monica Lewinsky and the impeachment, noted Southern Baptist pastor Dr. Adrian Rogers, put the entire movement on the record when it came to supporting candidates.  Dr. Rogers, in a widely hailed and frequently cited sermon series entitled, "Does Character Count," laid out an incredibly strong argument claiming that moral character was the single most important characteristics in choosing leaders, especially a President.  Rogers asserted that moral character directly affects the ability of a President to make decisions and lack of it is a flaw that puts the whole country in danger.  He made his case using multiple references from the book of Proverbs.  Dr. Roger's arguments render the excuses used by Evangelical leaders for their support of Trump as flat out, blatant, sinful denials of the truth.  The fact that it was written in the 1990's and that Dr. Rogers passed away before Trump came on the scene makes it even more damning and condemning of those Evangelical leaders who openly supported Trump's candidacy and his Presidency.  

The Widening Gap Between Evangelical Right Wing Politics and Sound Christian Theology and Doctrine

When John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod the Great, he heard reports about Jesus in prison and sent messengers to ask him if he was the Christ or if they should look for someone else.  Jesus replied, "Go tell John what you have heard and seen:  The blind can see.  The crippled can walk.  People with leprosy are healed.  The deaf can hear.  The dead are brought back to life.  And the good news is being told to the poor.  Great blessings belong to those who don't have a problem accepting me."  Matthew 11:4-6

Your love must be real.  Hate what is evil.  Do only what is good.  Love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters.  And give each other more honor than you give yourself.  As you serve the Lord, work hard and don't be lazy.  Be excited about serving him!  Be happy because of the hope that you have.  Be patient when you have troubles.  Pray all the time.  Share with God's people who need help.  Look for people who need help and welcome them into your homes.  

Wish only good for those who treat you badly.  Ask God to bless them not to curse them.  When others are happy, you should be happy with them.  And when others are sad, you should be sad too.  Live together in peace with each other.  Don't be proud but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others.  Don't think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.  

If someone does you wrong, don't try to pay them back by hurting them.  Try to do what everyone thinks is right.  Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone.  Romans 12:9-18 

Both of those passages shed a lot of light on what it looks like to "practice" the Christian faith.  Do you see anything in there that resembles Trumpism?  I didn't think so.  If those words were spoken at a Trump rally without any reference to the scripture from where they came, they would be loudly booed.  

None of the candidates nominated by the GOP since the days of the Moral Majority during the Reagan administration have been members of Evangelical Christian churches.  That certainly sends a message, doesn't it?  The only two actual members of an Evangelical church who ran for the GOP nomination were soundly beaten by the voters in the primaries.  Ted Cruz was labelled "Lyin' Ted" by Trump, and as Trump gained in the primaries, it was at Cruz' expense.  Mike Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist pastor who led a large Arkansas church before becoming governor, was soundly defeated by Mitt Romney, a Mormon.  There are a dozen or more books circulating around, written by Evangelical authors, showing how little resemblance Mormonism has to Evangelical Christianity and labelling it as a "cult."  So it seems like a clear message has been sent regarding the importance the Christian right places on doctrine and theology when it comes to their political support. 

Trump's lifestyle reflects none of the Biblically based values of Evangelical Christianity.  I can't find even one thing anywhere among his rally speeches, books, public comments or anywhere in his social media ramblings and rantings.  He has stated, on multiple occasions, that he does not need to ask forgiveness for anything and nothing he has done indicates acknowledgement or adherence to any principle of Christian faith.  His inspiration motivated some Evangelicals to abandon their belief in the Bible in order to participate in an insurrection against the government.  So this is a new low point. 

Is it faith if the defense of it abandons it?

Too Good Not To Share: "The Immoral Lifestyle Republicans Won't Condemn"

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/08/covid-vaccine-refusers-immoral-gop.html

by William Saletan, Slate News and Politics

Republicans Will Pay a High Price for Making Mask Wearing a Political Issue

Even as a group of parents were leaving a school board meeting in Franklin, Tennessee, muttering threats against the medical professionals who showed up and told them what they didn't want to hear, many of their neighbors were lining up, rolling up their sleeves and getting vaccinated.  Though some people are clearly still living in LaLa Land, the severity of the Delta variant is reaching into homes and families and hitting hard, especially in parts of the country where the vaccination rate was low.  

In fact, seven people died at the hospital in Williamson County, where Franklin is located, not very far from the school where the meeting was held on that same day, a hospital where local media reports indicate there are no more available beds in the ICU and no additional ventilators are available.  It appears that mask wearing and getting vaccinated can be driven by the infection and death rate. People who die of COVID have relatives and friends who mourn their death.  And after watching their friends and family members die a miserable death, they are getting the vaccination.  At least, many of them are.  The intelligent ones are.

Vaccination rates are now soaring in places where the Delta variant is also soaring. Well, that's a good thing, I suppose.  But it's too late for those who are already dead, especially those who have died since the vaccines became available.  We are at a point where everyone in the country could have had a vaccination by now except for children under 12.  It's painful to watch family members of these people, some of whom have had a chance to express regret for not getting the vaccine before they died, blame themselves for not insisting, for being a source of bad advice based on bad information, or simply grieve because someone who was perfectly healthy a few weeks ago is now gone.  

The long term effects of this aspect of the pandemic won't go away.  Once someone dies from COVID-19, their memory remains with their family members and friends.  If the preventative measures put in place to fight the pandemic have been turned into some kind of test of political preference or loyalty, the political party that opposed them is not going to be perceived in a positive way.  We are already seeing parents who have lost their children vent their grief on social media, and they're not happy with Republicans who seem insensitive and tone deaf to their grief and loss.  I'm watching this develop on social media and while my observation may be anecdotal, the anger and frustration is building and growing, and is increasingly aimed at Republican politicians who are openly opposed to any measures taken without their approval to stop the spread of COVID.  

Is the unnecessary, sudden death of a parent, sibling, grandparent or best friend enough to change your mind about a politician who is trying to use the virus that killed them as a political launching pad?  

It would seem so.  

I live in one of those "liberal" cities up north (think upper Midwest) where there hasn't been a whole lot of griping among the population about wearing masks, social distancing, taking precautions and where the vaccination rate runs upwards of 70% in some areas and averages about 60% overall.  Our local and state officials worked hard, followed sound science in their decision making process, communicated daily, and didn't let a little bit of conservative shrieking and whining bother them.  As a result, our per capita rates of infection, hospitalization and death are far lower than two thirds of those in the major cities in the country.  And during this current surge, which has shown up here as well, our numbers are a fraction of what they are in hot spots like Arkansas, Texas and Florida.  The masks were out before the governor ever announced a new mandate.  

This isn't about politics, but it has been made into it by Republicans, mostly governors who are going to run for President.  They are appealing to their base and jockeying for position, and it is costing people their lives because they aren't fulfilling their duty and obligation to protect their citizens.  They're not just resisting putting mask mandates in place, they are actually interfering with school districts whose leaders and employees are the ones who have to walk into the classrooms each day, along with students whose parents are going to hold the school officials accountable if anything happens to their children that could have been prevented.  

And perhaps, they might hold a few governors and state legislators accountable, too. 

Faithful Christians Wear Masks and Get Vaccinated, so Where's the Resistance Coming From?

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not in your own interests but to the interests of others.  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus..."  The Apostle Paul, Philippians 2:3-6a

Today, I watched a YouTube link posted on a podcast that showed people gathered in a tent for a church service in Tennessee with a pastor raging back and forth on the platform, yelling at the top of his lungs, proclaiming that the Delta variant wasn't real, that no one in the church better walk in there wearing a mask, that they better not go and get a vaccination and that Joe Biden's days were numbered.  I guess he covered it all, huh?  I'm not going to link the video here, it needs no further publicity.  I'll just say that seeing that tantrum is what prompted this post. That's not a church, either, and I don't care what they call themselves.  True Christian churches preach the gospel.  That preacher does not.  

There is nothing in the theology or doctrine of Christianity that leads to an anti-vaccination, anti-mask wearing position when it comes to COVID-19 or the Delta variant.  There's not even anything that would lead to either of these things being just a matter of individual choice, since getting vaccinated not only protects you, but it also contributes to everyone's benefit by reducing the spread of the virus and by knocking down the development of variants that could be more deadly and contagious.  Wearing a mask keeps others around you from getting infected if you happen to have been exposed and it's been proven to be more than 90% effective in doing that. 

Christians are "Christ-followers," whose response to the grace that is given to them by God is to live their life in "Christ-likeness," following the life principles laid out by Jesus and by the apostles who gave testimony to his life and teaching.  Paul says it clearly in the passage from Philippians that I cited at the beginning, "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus," going on to say "who though he was in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."  

That is the gospel. Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, God in the flesh, made the ultimate sacrifice for all humanity, every individual human being, by emptying himself, taking on human likeness, humbling himself and becoming obedient, setting the example of Christlikeness for everyone who accepts the grace of forgiveness and redemption to follow.  

So what are we looking at here?  

This is really very, very simple and easy to figure out.  Wearing a mask is 90% effective in preventing the spread of COVID.  It's a good thing to do.  It sets an example of humility that is the exact characteristic Jesus exhibited in fulfilling his purpose, bringing forgiveness of sin and redemption to humanity.  A pastor, correctly interpreting the Bible to his congregation, encouraging and exhorting them to set a Christlike example as a testimony to their faith would be telling them to wear their masks not only out of the compassion and concern for people that are supposed to be the most visible signs of Christian faith, but also to glorify God as an act of worship.   

On the other hand, whining and complaining about government intrusion and "tyranny" on individual rights, and refusing to wear masks as a political statement is selfish.  Selfishness is the root of human sin and is the opposite of the gospel message of Jesus.  Refusing to wear a mask is a demonstration of a complete lack of concern for people, especially those who are frequently in close proximity, like family members and friends.  Even if you have doubts about the veracity of the claim that masks are 90% effective against the spread of COVID-19 (which is now an established fact) wearing a mask is a demonstration of Christian compassion and refusing to wear one is a sinful and evil act of selfish contempt. How's that for tact?  And if you think of those who wear masks as "sheep", take note.  That's exactly what Jesus called his followers 😉.  

Vaccination protects from a virus that is unpredictable in what it might do to the body, including death. Those who get one are contributing to the protection of others.  The more people who have the vaccine, the harder it is to spread, the less likely it is to mutate into a form that is more contagious, deadly or vaccine-resistant.  Maybe there's a little more sacrifice involved than in wearing a mask, because there can be some side-effects, usually minor and the benefits exponentially exceed the risks. For those who are tired of the restrictions, the regulations, the quarantines, and the masks, there's a point where the percentage of vaccinated persons represses the spread of the virus and "herd immunity" is achieved.  

For a Christian, getting vaccinated is an act of love.  The Apostle John says, "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth." I John 3:18, ESV.  Hiding behind claims that COVID is a hoax, that it's no worse than the flu, or promoting conspiracy theories about vaccines containing tracking microchips or genetic altering agents is believing a lie.  A Christian who goes and gets vaccinated is an act of love in deed, and a declaration of truth, dispelling the ridiculous lies and evil conspiracy theories that are blinding people and preventing this pandemic from ending.

Refusing to get the vaccination isn't just an "individual choice."  It is harmful to others, and no one has a "right" to do that..Yes, it is and it's selfish.  It's not a neutral, "I'm not hurting anyone else" position.  Where did we ever get the idea that a virus that has a 2% death rate and leaves up to 20% of those who get it with permanent damage to their health is not worth making sacrifices to prevent its spread? The Bible teaches the sanctity of all human life, and that includes an 89 year old diabetic with asthma and dementia.  Even "mild" cases of COVID have produced permanent lung damage, sometimes not discovered right away, congestive heart failure, digestive problems with the pancreas, liver and colon, and kidney failure.  It is far worse than the flu, as bad as AIDS and affects far more people.  

Do all things without murmuring and arguing so that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation in which you shine like stars in the world.  Philippians 2:14, NRSV

This viral pandemic should be the Christian church's finest hour.  Christians should be, in the words of the Apostle Paul, "shining like stars in the world."  Not only should Christians be running to the head of the vaccination line to set an example for others to follow, encouraging those who are reluctant and comforting those who are fearful, but church classrooms and fellowship halls should be vaccination centers, with plenty of volunteers on hand to give out encouraging words and a cup of coffee.  As I walk around the city, I see people wearing masks with college or pro-sports team logos, business logos, photographs, or pithy sayings, but hardly any with crosses or the ichthus, or a scripture verse or even a church's name.  They should be everywhere.  They were very visible and prevalent in the mob that committed the Trump Insurrection on January 6th.  Not so much when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

I don't see very many Christians "shining like starts."  

There is a lot of rhetoric among Evangelical Christians about the "crooked and perverse" generation of our day.  But a lot of the rhetoric coming from Evangelical Christians whining about individual rights, griping about wearing masks and spreading misinformation about the vaccines is crooked, perverse, hateful and evil.  It has made wearing a mask and getting the vaccine a political statement.  It is unfathomable that those who claim to be Christians have become caught up in the politics of deceit and misinformation that is the opposite of the Christlikeness which characterizes the gospel.  Some of that is just ignorance and being influenced by the wrong people.  But some of it is a sign of the extent of apostasy that exists among Christians in America.

"And no wonder!  Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of unrighteousness.  Their end will match their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, NRSV 

Where Republicans Lose the "Evangelical Christian" Culture War

Jerry Falwell married the "religious right" to the Republican party with his "Moral Majority" back in the 70's and 80's, based on a false but effective claim that the Republican party was much better aligned with his version of Christianity because of "family values."  Never mind that Republican economic policy was tilted in favor of the rich in every conceivable way, that working parents were saddled with the bulk of the tax burden while the wealthy walked away without paying taxes in most cases.  The one thing that brought the two groups together, aside from the fact that most white Evangelical Christians of the Falwell-type mold were, themselves, upper middle class and as such, tend to favor politics which primarily benefit upper middle class whites, was opposition to abortion.  

That's really been the bottom line through the whole thing.  Somehow, being aligned on this single issue makes you a champion of family values, righteous, Godly and Christian.  And siding with the other side, whether you support abortion rights or not, makes you evil.  I can almost guarantee that in any discussion with an Evangelical Christian over the intersection of their politics with their faith, abortion is going to be the centerpiece of the discussion and it will be (pardon the pun) the trump card that gets played in objection to any other value or perspective in the discussion.  

I think there is a whole lot more to it than that.  

Personally, my view on the morality of abortion is shaped completely by my Christian faith.  That's where it is informed and where it is lived out.  Beyond that, I could write a whole lot on what I think the government's position on it should be.  You can argue for a long time about the Christian influence on the founding fathers and whether or not the establishment clause means "separation of church and state."  As a Christian, I believe life, and human "personhood" begins at conception, and I don't believe abortion should be used as birth control.  But outside of an exclusively religious environment, there are all kinds of different interpretations and perspectives, and the establishment clause requires the government to make decisions in consideration of all of those.  

If laws are going to be passed limiting access to it, then some responsibility must be assumed by the government for contributing to a woman's decision not to have one.  For most women who have one, it's a last resort among very few options resulting from circumstances.  And that's where the difference lies between abortion being about politics and candidates getting votes, and genuine desire to at least help with the circumstances in which most women contemplating one feel that it the only choice.  

And if you're going to be passionate about restricting access to abortion, shouldn't that passion rise to the same level when considering government policy that would actually address the issues of poverty, rape and incest, and fear that are root causes of virtually all abortions in this country?  The Obama administration provided several avenues of assistance that helped alleviate some of the pressure on women considering abortion and the numbers of abortions went down substantially.  The right wing media ignored it, Republicans prefer an all-or-nothing approach.  

Evangelicals claim that human intellect and effort alone is not capable of resolving humanity's problems, yet they are waiting around for the government to do something about abortion instead of stepping up and doing something about it with all that political passion, energy and money. Where are those Christian denominations, organizations and churches working to help by ministering to the needs of those who, because of poverty, family dysfunction, fear, mental illness or multiple other life circumstances, consider abortion?  There are some ministries out there, though almost half of the charitable organizations who provide things like temporary housing, employment, food, medical care and other assistance enabling women to keep their babies are not Christian or religious-based, and those that do exist are few and far between.  If the kind of effort that is put into politics to resolve the issue were put into ministry that helps meet the needs of those who feel abortion is their only choice, the numbers would drop significantly.  

My convictions about abortion are shaped by my Christian faith, and my actions will be governed by that, not by waiting around until politicians have milked all the votes they can get out of it before actually getting around to doing something about it.  The shortcomings of the GOP's "all or nothing" approach leads me to conclude that voting for candidates with bad character or who are inept and incompetent just because they give lip service to a negotiated position on abortion isn't enough for me to support the GOP.  I need a whole lot more than that.  

The GOP is Out of Step With Christian Values

I used to think saying the Republicans were 'the party of the rich' was my Dad's way of avoiding a political discussion.  But he honestly believed that they were and in spite of being a died-in-the-wool, down to earth Baptist, would never vote Republican.  He thought their coziness with Jerry Falwell was insincere, and instead of pushing him closer to the GOP, it discredited Falwell's image in his mind.  He was a mechanic, worked in civil service and was keenly aware of the politics that surrounded economic and labor issues and affected those who worked for a living.  He measured Republican lack of sympathy and support for the working class by the words and deeds of Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.  I measure it by tax cuts for the wealthy, coupled with the inevitable increases for everyone else, which has happened twice in this century under Republican-controlled government.  

For Republicans, the term social justice is equated with political liberalism.  But the fact of the matter is that all through the Bible, "social justice" is the broader term for the "works" that follow the application of the gospel itself, even though many Evangelicals now exhibit distain for use of the term "social justice" because of Republican influence.  The Christian gospel teaches that only God, not human intellect and reason, is capable of resolving humanity's problems which are the result of sinfulness and separation from God  But the response to the gospel is not mere spiritual acknowledgement.  You cannot earn God's favor by your works, including social justice, but they are the evidence of a life that has been transformed by the gospel.  

The apostle James wrote that "Faith without works is dead."  Jesus himself, when responding to envoys from John the Baptist asking him if he was the Christ said, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:  the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have good news preached to them."  

The Old Testament prophet Micah writes, "He has told you, O mortal, what is good .  And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?  The entire three year ministry of Jesus follows that pattern.  The gospel is redemption, the response to it is "doing justice and living kindness and walking humbly with God," whether that means racial equality or helping the poor.  

I don't see the Republican approach to health care, which is to consider it a "market driven industry" and in which the price of goods and services provided is directly established by the demand that is created by human pain and suffering. Health care is a basic human right and as such, society as a whole bears responsibility for making sure it is provided and equally accessible to everyone regardless of their financial status.  We're a long way from that ideal, largely because of Republican resistance to it.    

But the biggest failure of the GOP to claim consistency with Evangelical Christian principles, or at least, with Biblically established Evangelical teaching sans the bias of right wing politics, is in one specific area.  It has exchanged its values, morals and integrity in exchange for the political favor of a man whose character and lifestyle are virtually the opposite of those found in the Bible. 

Does Character Matter?

How does a party lay claim to being the "righteous" because of its belief in one particular moral perspective, the party of "family values", the party of "law and order," and do such a bad job of picking its leaders?  As long as Trump is considered the "leader" of the GOP and has influence over its nominees and candidates, and is still considered to be legitimate and viable by Republicans himself, I will not support the GOP.  I would not cast a single vote for anyone who would support Trump in any way.  

Dr. Adrian Rogers, long time pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church of Memphis, Tennessee and a former two-time President of the Southern Baptist Convention preached a sermon in 1998 which outlined his beliefs regarding the character of those who sought and served in public office in the United States.  Dr. Rogers' words were considered one of the best standards for the expression of Evangelical belief at the time, which, as you may remember, was right about the time of the investigation into Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky.  

But Rogers does not specifically mention Clinton.  He simply goes to the Bible, specifically the book of Proverbs, and outlines principles which he believed applied to the character of anyone serving in office in the United States.  His words can't be taken back, since he passed away several years ago, before Trump came on the scene.  I don't think he would have revised his theology or preaching to give Trump a pass like most other Evangelical leaders have done.  

"I want the hands of those who hold the heart of this nation to be clean.  Clean hands and a pure heart are necessary for godly leadership and godly leadership is a prerequisite to blessing," according to Dr. Rogers, citing Proverbs 29:2 in support.  He goes on to make these points: 

• A leader must be righteous.  Proverbs 16:12 and Romans 13:4
• A leader must be wise.  Proverbs 8:12, 15-16.  
• A leader must be absolutely honest.  "Liars and leaders are not the same.  If a man is a liar, he has a character flaw that goes all the way to the core of his being.  People are not liars because they tell lies.  They tell lies because they are liars.  (emphasis mine) Proverbs 20:28; Proverbs 17:7
• A leader must choose wise leaders.  Proverbs 25:4-5, Proverbs 29:12
• A leader must be sexually moral.  Proverbs 31:1-3. If we as a nation laugh off the sexual sins of our leaders, should we be surprised if our children treat immorality lightly? (emphasis mine) If a leader cannot keep their most sacred promise of all, the promise made to their spouse before almighty God, how can they be trusted to keep any other promise?
• A leader must protect the weak.  Proverbs 31:8-9, Psalm 94:20-21, Jeremiah 22:17, Habakkuk 2:12

You can do a search online for the whole message and all of the material.  This is from the core section on the character of government leaders.  

Trump's character, image, fame and personal reputation are built on his immoral behavior.  His public humiliation of his first two wives was legendary, made-for-television stuff that attracted attention and which he used to build ratings.  He made a good chunk of his fortune in business ventures that sold immoral behavior for money, including gambling casinos, nightclubs and bars, and strip clubs.  Though he has dissolved his "entertainment" enterprises for the most part, he still has one operational strip club and a traveling group of strippers who make the rounds of his golf resorts. 

His lying and fraudulent business dealings are the subject of several books, and his failures to honor contracts and pay off debts is another one of his legendary claims to fame.  When he decided to get serious about running for President in 2016, he had his "fixer" (and what honest person needs a fixer?) take care of a few loose ends he thought might not go over well in public, since they were very recent, including paying off porn stars with whom he had affairs.  

It's not hard to jump from that to lying about election fraud, abuse of the power of the presidency for personal profit and "deal making" to get around laws and subvert the constitution.  And this isn't hidden, people.  Trump put it all out there for everyone to see.  It's who he wants you to believe he is.  He can't live in any other world.  

Dr. Rogers has laid out a crystal clear Evangelical Christian perspective declaring that character does matter in a constitutional Republic when a Christian goes to the polls to vote.  Character does indeed matter, and the fact that the Republican party has made deliberate choices in nominating Trump for the Presidency twice, and continuing to recognize him as the party leader even after he incited an insurrection and attempted a coup, among other numerous seditious acts means that the GOP has abandoned any claim to being a party of morals and principles and has become the party of "win at all costs."  

I Have Rights, Too!!!

After being careful, washing my hands, keeping my distance, disinfecting everything I could get my hands on, wearing a mask and avoiding crowds, I came down with COVID-19 about a week before Christmas.  I'm not sure exactly where it came from, though I am suspicious that it might have been transmitted by a fellow employee who had it, but who came to work until he got his test results at work one day.  Pretty sure that's where it came from.  But I can say that I was never so sick from anything else I've ever had in my life, including colon cancer and a bad strep infection.  It somehow got into my digestive system and it was like the flu on steroids.  

Fortunately, it did not invade my lungs.  I spent eight days in the hospital dreading the possibility of intubation, on a floor of one of the wings of the hospital designated for COVID-19 patients.  I could hear the coughing of other patients in nearby rooms.  I had no appetite and couldn't eat, didn't feel like drinking but kept forcing myself to drink water, couldn't raise up in bed and the first couple of nights were miserable episodes of spiking fever, throwing up and aching all over.  I cannot describe the joy I felt the first time I went 24 hours without fever, when I got up out of the bed and was able to walk a few steps, and when the doctor said that I could go home on Christmas Eve.  We hadn't even put up the tree this year, nothing was decorated, no shopping or presents, but it was the best Christmas of my life.  

They kept the doors to the rooms closed on the hallway of the COVID wing, I thought to keep down the spread of the virus, but it was so you couldn't see the nurses running to an emergency, or bodies being moved out after someone died.  That would have been most discouraging.  I'm glad I didn't know until I left.  

That is not an experience I would wish on anyone else.  It was miserable in terms of the physical symptoms, which is why I called it "flu on steroids". It was frightening because for the first few days I could tell I wasn't getting any better and I was afraid it would lead to bigger problems.  About 10% of those who get COVID get sick enough to have to be hospitalized, far more than any other viral-caused illness.  

At the first available opportunity, my wife and I went to get vaccinated.  We waited in the line, got the shot and were out in about an hour.  The second time went much faster because the lines for the first vaccine were shorter.  After both shots, I got a little achy and drowsy, but after about 24 hours, all was fine.  It was worth it. I don't want to get this virus again and I have a right to take all of the medical precautions not to get it.  What we have done will contribute to eradicating the virus and getting to the point where wearing masks, and all the other precautions, will no longer be necessary.  And it also contributes to not having another lockdown as a result of COVID-19.  It was doing a patriotic duty, putting the interests of others ahead of our own, and whatever inconvenience was involved was well worth it.

Then there are those who are whining and complaining about government intrusion, about not wanting to wear a mask because, frankly, they just don't like to do it and don't like the government telling them they have to.  They are the people who don't keep their distance, who insist that the seriousness of COVID-19 and the whole pandemic are being exaggerated on purpose, just so the government can control people's lives.  They are the ones who spread the false information about the effectiveness of the vaccine, some insisting that a micro chip is inserted into your body with it in order to "track" your movements.  They think their "rights" are more important than the rights, and by extension the lives, of others because, after all, the survival rate from COVID-19 is 99 percent (it's actually about 96%) and the people who are dying are old and have co-morbidities, so they don't really count, right?  

So let's take stock here.  In exercising my rights, I am taking steps toward not having to wear masks and not having restrictions on what can be open or how many people can go there.  My actions, and the similar actions of everyone else who is vaccinated and wearing a mask, contributes toward the goal of not having to wear masks or comply with a potential lockdown, and toward eventual eradication of the virus. Those exercising their right not to wear a mask and not to get the vaccine are contributing to the continued spread of the virus, making continued restrictions, including mask wearing, mandatory, increasing the potential of another mandatory lockdown, and putting more people's lives at risk.  

If it were just a matter of those making the choice not to be vaccinated or wear a mask, then I'd say let them suffer the effects of their own ignorance and stupidity.  But the fact of the matter is that their behavior puts others at risk, and their Constitutional rights and individual freedom does not include the right to do that.  The government in this country is "of, by, for" the people, of which I'm one, and if I'm willing to do what I need to do to help stop the spread of this virus, for my own benefit as well as others, then I'll do it.  And that makes me a Patriot.  If some people won't, because they believe conspiracy theories and want to make a political issue out of it, or they're just ignorant and stupid, they shouldn't be allowed to get on a plane, buy a seat at a ball game, go to a movie or play, shop in the grocery store, eat in a restaurant or send their kids to school.  They made their choice not to contribute to making things better.  And that makes them a deplorable subversive.

The selfishness that is being exhibited by refusing to get vaccinated yet shrieking and flapping lips over personal rights, conspiracy theories and government intrusion is, frankly, pathetic insanity.  Stupidity and ignorance are protected free speech rights, but choices also have consequences.