Posted on 06/17/2020 7:42:44 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Many of us who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 had serious misgivings about him as a person and a candidate. Yet it was either Trump or Hillary Clinton, so our vote for Trump was effectively a vote against Hillary.
Now, in 2020, the stakes are considerably higher. As expressed by George P. Bush, “Trump is the only thing standing between America and socialism.”
That’s why many voters will support Trump again, even if they are put off by some of his tweets and public statements. In their minds, it’s either Trump or Antifa, either Trump or chaos on our streets. In that light, the choice becomes simple.
We’ve seen how bad things can get with Trump in office. What would happen if he was not in office? What would happen if socialist-leaning Democrats ran the country? What then?
In my new book, Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?, I lay out the evangelical case against Trump, explaining why many Christians could not vote for him in good conscience. For these evangelicals, our association with Trump has hurt our witness and damaged the cause of the gospel.
As expressed to me with great passion by an evangelical colleague (he voted Republican for years until Trump), “He has set back, no he has utterly destroyed the credibility of the evangelical world. Who respects evangelicals because of Donald Trump? NO ONE. Who feels more attracted to the gospel because of evangelical fealty to Donald Trump. NO ONE. Is this undeniable and massive good?”
This is all laid out in my book, detailing the case against Trump as clearly as I can. It is a powerful case, indeed.
But then I lay out the pro-Trump evangelical position, one which basically says, “We needed someone to stand up to a one-world government movement. To face down Iran and China. To fight against Islamic terrorism. To push back against extremist elements in our own country. To stand for our religious liberties. To fight for the lives of the unborn.
“So what if he makes stupid statements and sends out nasty tweets. We’re dealing with massive issues of national and global importance here, and Trump has been the man for the job.”
This is similar to the reasoning of Middle East expert Daniel Pipes who penned a June 4 editorial titled, “A Reluctant but Unhesitating Vote for Donald Trump.”
He first listed his Never Trump bona fides, which were impressive indeed: “I watched in dismay as I helped the Ted Cruz presidential campaign, seeing Republican primary voters select Donald Trump out of a field of 16 viable candidates and make him president-elect. I signed an open letter committing to ‘working energetically to prevent the election of someone so utterly unfitted’ to the presidency and wrote many articles lambasting Trump. I left the Republican party on his nomination and voted for Libertarian Gary Johnson in the general election. After the election, I hoped for Trump's impeachment and President Mike Pence.”
Yet now he will be voting for Trump, encouraging others to do the same. As he explains, “Nearly four years later, Trump's character still troubles and repels me. If anything, his egotism, disloyalty, and bombast exceed those vices when he was a mere candidate.
“But,” he continues, “to my unending surprise, he has governed as a resolute conservative.”
And so, “Slowly but inexorably over the past three years, my approval of the policies has outbalanced my distaste for the person. Finally, knowing that Joe Biden will represent the radicalized Democrats in November, I conclude that I will do my small part to help Trump get re-elected by writing, giving, and voting.”
Today, as we see just how radicalized the Democrats have become, with “defund the police” becoming the latest mantra, we understand how high the stakes have become.
I personally know Christians who voted for Trump in 2016 but told me they were not going to vote for him again. (They did not plan to vote for Biden either, so they would sit out the presidential elections or cast a third party protest vote.)
They were too repulsed by his character and felt that he often made a mess of things with his words. And, as much as they appreciated the good that he did, they felt that the damage to the nation outweighed his positive contributions. He was too divisive. Too destructive. He degraded us more than he helped us. Because of that, they would not vote for him in 2020.
Now, as our cities are on fire and angry mobs stand ready to cancel our freedoms and demand conformity, these same voters are confronted with a stark reality. In short, it could well be that Donald Trump is the last line of defense again a radical, leftist takeover of our government, the likes of which we have never seen.
This will push many a reluctant voter, like Daniel Pipes, firmly into the Trump column.
It could be as simple as that.
(For the question of how evangelical Christians can vote for Trump without destroying their personal witness, see my 10-point strategy in Evangelicals at the Crossroads.)
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program.
DO they REALLY believe he wanted the economy THAT HE BUILT UP DESTROYED??? GOOD GRIEF!! Come on...he is President JOB..as I BIBLICAL JOB!!
So true. He was caught in a no win situation, so decided to take the safer route, as any type of death regardless of numbers would have been hung on him
I will go to my grave thinking Reagan was ok but trump is superior. Maybe it’s age but Reagan to me let democrats do the bidding especially after the Iran contra crap.
Bingo
Half the country thinks that anarchy won’t come to their front stoop. They are sadly misguided.
Relative lives outside of Minneapolis. Cites that the destruction is way greater than MSM shows, and that marauders were coming for communities, not businesses outside the city.
Also that it got so bad inside that Somalis were forming their own militias to protect their properties.
The nightly local news, and the bigger lying names will never show a balanced view.
Right-I can’t wait for the Joe Biden s*&t show to END!
I think I can assure you this; that PDJT was dragged, kick and screaming by those stinking backstabbers like Dr. Fauci and others to do what they did to our economy.. I believe nearly all of his so called "advisers" told him he had no choice in the matter..
The poll was pure bullshit.
It was 4426 registered voters with 2047 demonRATs {46%}; 1593 pubbies {36%} and 784 Independents {18%}.
With a 10% edge over pubbies and a 28% advantage over indies, there is no way this "poll" is close to reality.
Remember, hildabutchbitch was "UP" 13 points over Trump in OCTOBER, 2016, SHE WAS A LOCK UNTIL 9:00 PM EASTERN TIME ON ELECTION NIGHT.
Then it was John King on cnn pissing his pants because he, "cannot find any more votes in PA for the bitch".
They knew it was over, but dragged it out for six more hours.
THIS born again Christian and family can’t wait to vote for TRUMP either!!!!!!
Any so called conservative that lives in kalifornikator, has no standing to give advice on strategery.
Jimrob is an exception to the rule, all others, that haven't founded FR, get out of that shit hole and give it back to the Spanish Monks, i.e. San Fransisco, San Jose, San Luis from an abyss, etal.
No, it will come down to Trump vs. the economy and unemployment. That's what he has to beat.
You and your family, evangelicals all, are also stupid for blaming him over the advice that he acted upon.
Did you forget the 2.2 MILLION COMING DEATHS?
If you are angry, that is an emotion that is on you, not President Trump.
If you are so angry, that you won't vote for Trump, you are not an evangelical, you are a communist.
I’m cool with that.
Why aren’t they repulsed more by George W Bush’s personality?
RE: Why aren’t they repulsed more by George W Bush’s personality?
Because Dubya was a meek lamb who refuses to fight back even when he was attacked viciously by the Mainstream media. That didn’t do him any good but the media was not PUBLICLY exposed for their blatant ideological bias.
Trump on the other hand, made the term “FAKE NEWS” a popular term and he isn’t afraid to expose these news outlets for who they really are.
Why should they not be repulsed by this?
“Why should they not be repulsed by this?”
These are Republicans.(I guess not.)
Obviously, my view of life is far more optimistic than yours.
My husband and I lived and traveled a lot. We've seen how the rest of the planet lives. If you think that OUR country is losing to evil, then you haven't visited the second, third world countries or even other first world countries.
Compared to the rest of the planet we are living in the VERY BEST, SAFEST, HEALTHIEST, RICHEST country on the planet.
There IS a reason why people try so hard to get here and live here.
But you don't know that or believe that.
How awful this life must be for you if you are dissatisfied with our life in this BLESSED country.
Only the Roman Empire tops us.
Yup. BS.
Now the officials, Trump included, have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes but they refuse and we continue to march towards the cliff while the band plays merry tunes.
Wake up!
Yes, and if they value this country and their freedom, they better vote for Trump.
Problem is, I know many who call themselves Christians and HATE Trump with a passion.
Now, if you disagree with him or don’t like his policies, that’s fine, but hating him is NOT an option for a person bearing the name of Christ. And to go off on other Christians because they support him as opposed to abortion pushing, homosexual supporting, Israel hating democrats, is not acceptable.
They need to really consider what they are supporting by voting democrat.
So who are you going to vote for?
A democrat?
A third party candidate that will split the vote and give the dems an advantage?
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