I love ice cream. My favorite flavor is peanut butter cup. My least favorite flavors are lemon sherbet and bubble gum. At the start of the Presidential race 2 years ago, I had my favorite flavor in mind as a candidate, peanut butter cup …Yum! But, as the debates were held and the party conventions drew near, I realized that not everyone shared my love of peanut butter cup flavor. So, I lowered my expectations and started accepting the idea of mint chocolate chip, pistachio, or even plain old vanilla.
But, here we are after the GOP and Democratic conventions are wrapped up, and my choices are lemon sherbet and bubble gum! I could always just go ahead and cast my vote for a third option, marshmallow nut, but let’s face it…that is just a wasted vote. Marshmallow nut will not be able to muster enough support and votes, it won’t win. Either lemon sherbet or bubble gum will win, and I will end up not having a voice in choosing between those two options. So, it comes down to this…which one of the flavors do I want if I am going to be forced to accept that one flavor for at least 4 years?
I do not like Trump. I have from his entrance into the contest said that he is abrasive, self-absorbed, and not adequately informed on most issues. He simply is not Presidential material. On the other hand, I certainly do not care for Clinton. She is experienced, but has shown herself to be dishonest, careless, and exhibited poor judgment numerous times. Beyond that however her values and political stances are for the most part in direct opposition to my own. So, while voting for Clinton is out of the question based on moral and political reasons, how exactly do I bring myself to vote for Trump?
The 4 options that all voters will have on November the 8th is to vote Trump, vote Clinton, vote for a third party option, or not vote at all. Now I have to admit that I was leaning towards simply not voting for a presidential candidate for a while, but as I have been told by several people (rightly so), that is just throwing away your vote and actually voting for ----- (insert the other parties candidate here). And, as discussed earlier, a vote for a third party candidate, while in some ways attractive, is actually just another way of throwing away your vote and skewing the election one way or the other, depending on how you would have otherwise voted.
So here it is, here is the one thing that everyone else in this situation needs to consider. Here is the only thing that really, when it all comes down to it, matters in this 2016 Presidential race. A race where it has been described correctly that both major parties have clawed their way to the very bottom to come up with two candidates who people either completely love or completely hate. The winning Presidential Candidate will have the right and responsibility to appoint at least one, and potentially several, Supreme Court Justices on the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has had more and more of a role in decisions which directly affect our everyday life. Just look at some of the major issues they have ruled on recently, and will most likely revisit or look at in the near future: Abortion, Marriage Equality, 2nd Amendment Gun Rights, Voter ID Laws, Affirmative Action, Immigration, States Rights, and Religious Liberty.
For me, this is where the “rubber meets the road.” This is the missing puzzle piece which makes the entire picture on the puzzle come together for me. I have to look at the overall party platforms and decide which parties candidate best meets my personal values, morals, and political ideals. But more importantly I must look at the candidates and ask myself “who is more likely to appoint Supreme Court Justices that will reflect my morals, values, and political ideals? Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?”
For me, this is where the “rubber meets the road.” This is the missing puzzle piece which makes the entire picture on the puzzle come together for me. I have to look at the overall party platforms and decide which parties candidate best meets my personal values, morals, and political ideals. But more importantly I must look at the candidates and ask myself “who is more likely to appoint Supreme Court Justices that will reflect my morals, values, and political ideals? Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?”
The answer for me is Donald Trump (even now I can’t believe I just said that!). As a Christian and a Conservative, I must vote in such a way that the values, morals, and political ideals that I hold near and dear are best reflected and championed. To be clear, I do not agree with everything the GOP has included in its platform. I do not agree with every action and stance of GOP elected officials. And I certainly do not agree with everything that Donald Trump says or stands for. But, as I prayerfully ask for discernment, guidance, and direction in electing men and women to be Leaders, I also fully recognize that God is in control. The Bible clearly states that it is God that places kings and leaders in their positions and for His purposes alone.
My prayer is that this nation would turn back to God, that we would honor Him with all of our laws, actions, and words. That our elected officials would rule in a manner which reflects the greatness of our Nation, one built on the concept that all men are created equal, and that there is a Creator who guides and directs our lives. May we as Christ Followers do our very best to be a light in the darkness, and salt to a world that needs to be preserved from decay and rot.
God Bless.
God Bless.
