Now I've been a fan of Ron Paul pretty much ever since I heard his name and learned what he's about. I appreciate his commitment to upholding the Constitution as written and with a strict interpretation (Paul is known to many as "Dr. No" - a reference to his "no" votes on any legislation that attempts to broaden the powers of the federal government or violates the Constitution), and his belief that life begins at conception and the commitment to protecting that life - as he's shown in his many years of practice as an obstetrician. His views on immigration, economics and foreign policy are perhaps a little foggier to me, but understandable enough that I put myself in his camp. Stephen has read his most recent book, and although I've been a bit slower in making my way through it, I've started it as well.
So I'll readily own that I voted for Ron Paul in the primary. We cheer everytime we see a Ron Paul for President sign or bumper sticker. :-) I've long thought that I'd vote for him in the general election as well. I don't particularly care for John McCain. I haven't for years - back to when we were living in Arizona and he was on the ballot there. And I seem to recall that there were many conservative Christians back in 2000 and 2004 who did NOT want McCain on the Republican ticket. He was not considered a true conservative. He was about as liberal a Republican as one could find (excepting perhaps Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania!), just one or two steps away from being a Democrat. We didn't want him representing the Republican party or sitting in the White House.
Choosing Sarah Palin as his VP running mate was a very smart choice for McCain. It has garnered him lots of support that I don't think he otherwise would have had. But I've had my reservations about her from the beginning as well. I know that I have plenty of friends who are wholeheartedly supporting her (and McCain because of her), but she just hasn't won me over in the same way.
I expect that my most serious criticisms of her would have to do with her role as a wife and mother. Please take this all in the way in which it is meant - just my personal musings and thoughts, looking into her life as an outsider, trying to understand her character.
I am tremendously thankful that when she learned that her baby would be born with Down Syndrome, she understood her responsibility to raise and love that child just the same as any other. I am glad that she and her husband are commited to the right to life. I commend her for that.
But I can't help but wonder at how she can leave her precious baby (and her other children who also very obviously need her) in the care of others while she's meeting the demands of a stressful and, well, demanding career. She was back to work as governor of the state of Alaska only three days after giving birth to her son Trig this past spring. Three days!! That's insane! Having given birth twice, I know what the "aftermath" is like. I'm sure she had plenty of help with the baby and other children. But come on.
And then there's the issue of her teenage daughter's pregnancy. I say this not to judge her daughter, but to point out her daughter's NEED for focused guidance from her mother during this time. Thankfully, she does not plan to abort this child, but to marry the baby's father and raise the baby. But it's a traumatic time in the life of her daughter. Isn't that more important to her than public office?
Anyway, like I said, I have reservations. I have serious reservations about casting my vote for the McCain-Palin ticket. Now, obviously, (or at least I hope it's obvious by now!), I would not, WILL NOT, vote for Obama-Biden. Obama's complete disregard for human life is disgusting. His alliance with Planned Parenthood and other baby-killing groups is well-documented, and his support of a bill that would refuse life-sustaining measures for infants born in a failed abortion attempt make me ill. That's all to say nothing of his other policy-making plans such as universal health care, tax policies and immigration.
So...my dilemma has been whether to vote my conscience and cast another vote (a write-in, presumably) for Ron Paul, or to vote "against" Obama by voting for McCain. I've been undecided for a while, hating the choice for the "lesser of two evils."
But after deliberating...agonizing...and reading Randy Alcorn's blog, I expect that I will support and vote for McCain-Palin after all. I don't agree with McCain's policy-making agenda. I don't like his immigration plans. I don't really trust his foreign policy-making either...or his tax policies...and I could go on. But I do believe that he and Sarah Palin are committed to the right of unborn babies to be given every possible opportunity to live and thrive. (By the way, McCain is not 100% pro-life, as is evident in his exceptions for the life of the mother and rape cases - which I don't agree with!) And as the next President of the United States will most likely have the opportunity to appoint two - or more - Supreme Court Justices, the repercussions of this election will be great. How much longer will we allow this killing to go on?
Read Alcorn's blog - here - even if you don't still need to be convinced to vote for McCain...to vote for life.
Editing this to add:
I just want to note here how THANKFUL I am to know that the outcome of this election, the future of our country, is in the hands of an Almighty, sovereign LORD who rules over the hearts of kings. Yes, it has been an agonizing decision for me to wrestle with in deciding who to vote for. But I am so glad to know that whether McCain wins this election and is able to appoint justices in favor of preserving life or Obama wins the election and appoints justices who allow the killing of unborn babies to continue or worsen, our God Jehovah is in control. He rules over all.
May we all remember that it is only by His mercy that we all are not consumed. Praise His name!
No comments:
Post a Comment