I’ve always heard that there are two subjects you don’t talk about in mixed company – religion and politics. I suppose the reason we are told to avoid religion and politics is because people are fixed in their opinions; trying to change their views in a social setting can lead to strong verbal disagreements.
With that being said, I am going to wade into the area of … politics.
I was asked recently if I would vote for former President Donald Trump, now that he has wavered on his position on abortion. In September, Trump expressed that he would, in fact, vote the correct way (pro-life) on the Right to Abortion Initiative (Florida Amendment 4) in November, even though he personally thinks the ballot initiative is too restrictive. He said Florida needs to allow “more time” for women to consider getting an abortion.
In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed the Heartbeat Protection Act (SB 300), which prohibits abortion after six weeks’ gestation (with some exceptions). It was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Trump was critical of the law at that time.
However, to be fair to Trump, he was a staunch pro-life president during his four years in the White House. He followed through on every campaign promise he made to the pro-life community, as best I can recall. He was the first sitting president to speak at the annual March for Life event. His federal judicial appointments, including three Supreme Court justices, were constitutional conservatives.
With that as the backdrop, it is valid to ask whether I could, in good conscience, still vote for Trump, given his evolving position on abortion. The broader question is how we, as voters, decide who we will vote for in any election – whether it be for mayor, governor, president, or any position in between. For me, here are a few of the qualifications I consider:
▶ Does the person have good character?
▶ Does the person believe in limited government?
▶ Does the person acknowledge God?
▶ Who are the people the candidate associates with?
When it comes to answering these questions about Trump, he is a mixed bag. His faults are plain to see, although he doesn’t see them. He is boorish and over-the-top braggadocious, and he runs his mouth too much. But he does have some good qualities too. The man can definitely “take a licking and keep on ticking,” as they say.
In addition, there are two crucial realities voters must face:
▶ Who is the candidate running against?
▶ Can the candidate win?
When it comes to politics in our country, it’s the vote of the public that decides who our leaders are. Conservative Christians are a significant voting bloc, but no single voting bloc decides elections. That’s why I consider just how bad it will be if the worse candidate wins. So, when someone says to me, “How can you vote for … (fill in the blank)?” I ask, “Who is the alternative, and what if my goal is to stop the terrible ideas of the alternative?”
Some would call that compromising. I would argue that it may be, and that is sometimes OK in politics. After all, we are not talking about electing leaders of a local church where only Christians vote; we are talking about the votes of the broad, general public.
When I was a younger man, I tried being a political purist, and it didn’t work. My guys rarely won. So, I decided to look at politics through a broader scope.
If you disagree, we can still be friends, as long as you understand that I am right, and you are wrong! Wait … that sounded boorish, didn’t it?
(Digital Editor's Note: This article was published first in the November 2024 print edition of The Stand. Click HERE for a free six-month subscription.)
