Ron Paul, Huckabee and Romney are all vying for Christian attention. Who's the best fit? by John Dennis
(libertarian)
Friday, December 14, 2007
"Do to others as you would have them do unto you." Luke 6:31
While Mike Huckabee declares himself a, if not the, Christian leader in this presidential campaign, Ron Paul quietly lets his actions do the talking. As Dr. Paul practices his faith privately, Mitt Romney and Huckabee stumble over themselves to bring religion smack dab into the middle of their campaigns and if they win, their governments. Huckabee's intentions regarding faith and government are clear. It's his card, and he'll never stop playing it, especially if he were to become President. And Romney went one step too far in his "religion" speech by declaring
"We should acknowledge the Creator as did the Founders in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history "
Oh boy...
"Nor would I separate us from our religious heritage. Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office, is this: does he share these American values: the equality of human kind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty?"
Um, isn't that a religious test? By this standard, would anyone who doesn't recognize that we are obligated to "serve one another", much less believe in God, be acceptable for political office?
And then there is Ron Paul who told Howard Fineman this week that he hopes his "Christian values reflect in (his) character and what he believe(s) in." Dr. Paul found the necessity of Mr. Romney's speech "tragic." As the only candidate to issue a press release on the speech, Dr. Paul urged that "Gov. Romney should be judged fairly, on his record and his character, not on the church he attends." Compared to the deafening silence and, in the case of Huckabee, snide innuendo, of the other candidates, Dr. Paul's Christian character reflected admirably.
Dr. Paul's political philosophy likely finds its roots in Christian ethics' greatest hit - the Golden Rule. Let's ask: if you don't want to give money to corporate welfare, should I be able to force you to? If you want to spend money on stem cell research, should you be able to force Sally, who is pro-life? If you were Sally, how would you like to be treated? This is the crux of the philosophy of freedom. If you don't want to be forced to donate to a project with which you don't believe, don't force other people to give to projects in which you believe. The goal of a Paul government would be to get the money out of the government's hands and back into yours. Then you can vote with your dollars by donating to any project you want. And Sally can do the same.
For all their sad pandering, maybe the candidates who call themselves Christians, and those who feel they need to prove themselves Christians, might learn something from the Christian who doesn't advertise his faith.
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If there already weren't enough reasons to side with Ron Paul, have people seen the video about how badly Haliburton is treating the troops? Not understanding how any candidate wants to continue to "stay the course". Does "the surge" refer to Haliburton's profits?
The Bible I read says, "You will know them by the fruits they bear" and warns of false prophets who come in the name of the Lord. So I'm going to vote for the candidate who lives, breathes and speaks reason and law.
The "do unto others" law you cite is, of course, the sine qua non of real Christian belief and I give a hearty amen to your argument that it applies to the welfare state fallacy of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Paul may like the handout but should consider how Peter feels about the matter.
I hasten to add that Dr. Paul's foreign policy is built on the same principle of doing unto others. If you don't want foreign countries to bomb you and abort your institutions, don't bomb them and abort their institutions. This does not lead to pacifism because if your neighbor doesn't want Mexico and Canada to run his country, you have no Christian right to acquiesce to opening of our borders to foreigners. Nor do you serve God by making desparate working people the scape goat for the malevolant actions of the high and mighty who make policies that erode America's sovereignty.
By every test, Ron Paul is the real, Christian candidate.
You can hear the interview here: http://tinyurl.com/2x4frt
There is nothing at all wrong with it. They are simply talking about his record as all of us talk show hosts do when we get the chance. The UPI happened to pick up on the fact they were helped with their expenses. Big deal. What about those of us who do this for free?
Huckabee got in trouble for making fun of Romney's religion. They are not making fun of Huck's religion, but his record while governor. Different thing.
