Opting for the Prayer Closet Over the Polling Booth
10 Oct 2006
You’ve probably figured out by now that my confidence in Republicans and Democrats governing this nation is right up there with my confidence in foxes guarding hen houses. There’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the two parties. One wants us under the thumb of corporate America and the other wants us under the iron fist of a socialist government. Both are condescending toward Christians and neither is willing to take principled stands contrary to public opinion and political expediency. One must credit the Democrats, however, for not being disingenuous about their championing of decadence. Unlike the Republicans who are two-faced about it, the Democrats are more than willing to get in your face.
When it comes to George W. Bush, he is without question the most disappointing Oval Office occupant in my lifetime. Many of you will wonder how I can say such a thing in light of the Clinton presidency. The simple answer is: Clinton never disappointed me. I knew when Clinton was elected that he was a slick, womanizing, unethical, liberal politician in an empty suit with a Cheshire Cat smile. Thus, I expected the worst, and “Slick Willy” never failed to deliver. Although his presidency was a disaster, it was not a disappointment, since I expected it to result in dire consequences for our country. President Bush, on the other hand, came to the White House promising to return integrity and sanity to Pennsylvania Avenue.
After six years, it’s safe to say that Bush’s promises ring hollow in America’s ears. Our courts have continued under Bush’s presidency to profane our society by striking all semblance of our country’s Christian heritage from public view, abortion—the American holocaust—has continued unabated, the Gay Agenda has continued its unprecedented advances, our borders remain revolving doors for illegal immigrants and would-be terrorists, North Korea has become nuclear armed and extremely dangerous, Iran has continuously poked its finger in the eye of the international community in its dogged pursuit of nuclear weapons, and our military is bogged down in Iraq trying to create a democracy in a Muslim country that is adverse to it and populated by Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, all of which happen to hate each other.
As if things were not bad enough, the unfolding Mark Foley scandal is raising serious questions about the sincerity of Republican claims to care about issues important to Christian supporters. When you couple the Foley scandal with former Republican House majority leader Dick Armey’s recent references to Christian conservatives as a “gang of thugs” and “real nasty bullies,” and David Kuo’s upcoming book that accuses the Bush Administration of using religion for political ends and privately ridiculing Christians who helped get them elected, it’s easy to see why Republicans are in jeopardy of losing control of both the House and Senate in the approaching midterm elections. The Republicans’ “Values Voters” are walking out on the Party, adopting the old adage, “Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice shame on me.”
Like me, many Christians today are both disillusioned with and disgusted by the sad state of modern-day politics. A choice between the least of two evils is not good enough for a people called by God to eschew evil altogether. While many may harp about our obligation to vote, I contend that my Christian convictions may prohibit me from voting at all in this year’s midterm election. I just don’t see how I can make a choice at the polls until I’m afforded with a choice I can make with a clear conscience. Granted, this may mean I’ll never vote again. Still, I’d rather stand before God and answer for not voting at all than for voting for the least of evils. Besides, I can still preach and pray, whether I frequent another polling place or not; and Christ, not any political candidate, is the only hope America has anyway.
Don Walton
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