This Election Cannot Be About Electability
by Dr. Laurence White
After months of coy flirting and media maneuvering former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson has finally admitted that he is running for president. He made it official – in a manner completely consistent with his style over substance approach to date – on the Jay Leno Show rather than the New Hampshire Presidential Candidate Debate held the same night. CNN reports today that on his first official day of campaigning in Iowa the core of his pitch was electability – he’s the man who can beat Hillary Clinton. (CNN “Thompson: I Can Stop Hillary Clinton†Thursday, September 6th, 2007) My response, as a Christian conservative who is deeply concerned about the future of this country, is “So wha t?†Beating Hillary Clinton is not good enough at this critical moment in America’s history. Thirty-four years into an abortion holocaust that has produced the slaughter of nearly fifty million defenseless infants we need more than an election victory. We need to transform American culture and put an end to abortion.
For years we have foolishly heeded the counsel of pragmatists who have advised us to be realistic and settle for Republican establishment candidates who promised us by and large pro-life judiciary appointments in return for our support. These guys don’t see abortion as a crucial factor in America’s future. They say as much about being “Pro-Life†as they have to pacify us during the primaries. But once they have been nominated they promptly head for the safety of the Center. After they are elected the same pattern prevails as abortion and the other controversial “social issues†are relegated to the back burner. That’s the way “politics as usual†works in this country. In the meantime the little ones continue to die and with them the soul of America is dying. The establishments of both of our political parties are complacent and corrupt. They care only for the continuation and expansion of their own power. There is no possibility of ending abortion as long as Christians are content to continue to play “politics as usual.â€
God doesn’t give a damn (literally!) about which party or candidate wins the next election. The blood of the innocents cries out to Him for justice from the soil of America. The day is coming soon when He will heed that cry and when He does, woe to us and to our country. We Christians can no longer be satisfied with the crumbs that fall from the politician’s table. Certainly, some good justices and judges have been appointed. But America has been going to Hell in the meantime. If the Supreme Court were to overturn Roe vs. Wade today its decision would be completely un-enforceable. In a country where sex is recreation and procreation is an inconvenience to my personal pleasure, abortion is a practical necessity. We who bear the name of Christ have got to change the culture. More Christians must engage in the decisions that shape our society. We must participate in that process not as Republicans or Democrats but as sons and daughters of the Lord Jesus Christ. Politics is the art of the possible but Christianity is the art of the impossible. Christians must stop settling for the lesser of two evil as we choose our candidates. An establishment Republican who will do nothing to stop abortion is no better to us than a liberal Democrat. What happens to our economy or even to our national security in the face of terrorism won’t make any difference if we cannot stop abortion. This single issue will determine the future of America. “I Can Stop Hillary!†So what! Can you stop abortion?
—
I would only add that all life must be precious. I don’t think we can scream and shout about abortion being legal if we don’t also agree that every life after birth is just as precious.
(read more on Huckabee’s thoughts about the sanctity of life)
