Amy linked to a sobering piece by Randy Alcorn entitled I’m not Voting for a Man, I’m Voting for Generations of Children and their Right to Live.
I’ll try to restrain myself and only share a few paragraphs so you will read the rest. All of the bolds are mine.
Yesterday someone else left a comment saying, Hurry and compose a blog to the under 30’s Christians who are planning to vote for a 3rd party candidate in hopes of “sending a message” to the RNC! FOCA could very well be the last nail in the coffin.
I sympathize with wanting to send a message to the Republican Party.
But is this the time, when failing to vote for McCain could ultimately remove hundreds of laws limiting abortion at the statewide levelâinformed consent and parental consent and late term abortion measures? As a physician commenting on my last blog said, prolife physicians and nurses and hospitals could find themselves with a federal mandate to perform abortions, and lose their licenses if they refuse. The Freedom of Choice Act, which Obama promised Planned Parenthood he will sign if elected president (my previous blog has this on video), could ultimately do all this and more. It may also make life very difficult for Pregnancy Resource Centers.
Would John McCain be a great president? I don’t know. Maybe he wouldn’t even be a good president. There are so many claims by both candidates that their words seem like wind to me. I don’t feel like I know a lot. But I do know for certain that one candidate defends the right of the unborn to live, and the other is utterly committed to be sure that it remains legal to kill them. And on THAT issue I know what God says is right and wrong.
Yes, I realize Obama is cool. As I said two blogs ago, I really wanted to vote for him, so I could be cool too. John McCain is not so cool. And he’s a Republican at a time where being a Republican definitely isn’t cool. The question isn’t whether I’d rather have dinner or play golf with Obama or McCain. (I’d choose Obama.) The question isn’t whether I’d like the Republican Party to change. (I would.) I’m not voting for the Republican Party. In one sense I’m not voting mainly for John McCain. I am voting for McCain because it’s my only way in this election to vote for the right of unborn children to live rather than die.
Now, if you think that’s an overstatement, that the difference between the candidates isn’t that great, or they will not influence the future of abortion in this country, I challenge you to look at Obama’s dogged commitment to the legalized killing of unborn children, backed up by his 100% proabortion voting record. And look at McCain’s repeatedly stated commitment, also demonstrated by his voting record, to oppose the legalized killing of children. If you think your presidential vote is not for or against unborn children, you don’t understand the significance of the Freedom of Choice Act or the significance of the balance of power of the Supreme Court with the Obama judges who are certain to be pro-legal-abortion and the McCain judges who are virtually certain to be anti-legal-abortion.
My conversations with fellow Christians who are prolife but are voting for Obama have common themes these days. They always emphasize “Obama is prochoice, not proabortion.” To which I respond, “actually he is pro-legalized-abortion.” This is emphatically true, based on his own words and 100% consistent voting record. It shouldn’t be considered a matter for debate. What politician in the country is more strongly committed to legalized abortion than Obama is? Every radical proabortion group knows this, and everyone of them have been working tirelessly to get him elected.
I’ve heard other prolife people say “I don’t like either candidate, so I’m not voting at all.” Well, ask yourself who you’re willing to punish by not voting. If it’s political parties who will pay, fine, I really don’t care about them. Sure, it would be better not to vote than to vote against God’s children’s right to live. But if instead of abstaining you have a chance to vote for God’s children’s right to live, why would you not do that? (Don’t vote for the man, vote for generations of children who will have a chance to live if he’s elected, even if he’s just a mediocre president in other areas.)
Perhaps that’s why last night I wasn’t thinking about victory celebrations and balloons and confetti, and who will be wearing what, and how cool or uncool the candidates are, and how the winner will look on Inauguration Day. I was on my knees weeping for the unborn children, and for the fact that many Christians are going to vote against them. And others are going to abstain from voting for them. If every prolife Christian voter would vote for unborn children instead of against them, we would elect a prolife president who would not sign FOCA, who would appoint prolife judges instead of proabortion judges, and who would not reverse decades of gains made by the prolife movement. But right now this looks very unlikely.
And though I know it will outrage people for me to say this (and I take no pleasure in that), I believe that the blood of children will be on our hands. Yes, I think that God is already judging this nation for the blood of these children that cries out to Him from the ground (Genesis 4:10). And I believe there will be far worse judgment to come. He has always brought His wrath upon nations that kill their children. Why should He treat us differently? “Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you” (Ezekiel 35:6).
Frankly, I just don’t think enough people, Christian or not, fully realize what is at stake in this election. Be mad at the Republicans all you want. Hate big business for what they’ve done to the country. Hate the Democrats for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Despise the leadership who let this happen.
But this election is not about global warming or poverty or alternative fuels or women’s rights or your 401k or the mortgage crisis or anything else. This is about taking the United States to a place we have never been. This is about potentially electing the most liberal, socialist person to ever come this close to the presidency. One who has a public record of supporting the most inhumane abortion practices.
This is not about four years of Obama or McCain. This is about decades ahead of judges and abortion policy.
I realize there are Christians who are saying they are voting their conscience and so they are going to vote third party for the most godly candidate or they are going to write in someone else. It distresses me to see those votes wasted that could prevent the continued slaughter of millions of future children.
I’ve shared before that I said I would never vote for McCain when he won the nomination. But that was before I knew Obama would be the other candidate. I honestly do not know how anyone who believes in life cannot vote for McCain. I don’t care what any other issue is your pet issue. The implications in this election will impact this country for years and years to come.
Despise the Republicans all you want. But think beyond that to what a socialist, extremely liberal, pro-infanticide President with both houses of Congress under Democrat control will mean. Running unchecked for at least two years. If that doesn’t scare the h*ll out of you, I have no idea what would.
Sometimes There Isnât a Whole Lot of Joy in Being Right | Willow Creek Admits They Got It All Wrong
Thankyou so much for summerizing what I have been feeling.
Amen Sallie! Since 3 of my 4 children will be voting in this election, politics has been a hot topic in our household. My oldest daughter, who majored in polital science has been very vocal with us and her friends that most of what these candidates promise they cannot deliver, it is up to Congress to legislate. She says, and I agree, that the most important reason to vote for a president is for who that person will chosse for federal and Supreme Court judges. And to think she learned this at a very liberal state college and still has remained a staunch pro-life conservative.
Yes, this election truly scares me. It bothers that me that there’s an entire generation of young voters who will be voting for Obama just because he’s hip, because the entertainment industry loves him. He’s also going to get the novelty vote from people who just want to see the first black president. The thought that this man has no problem with a fetus being obliterated yet he won’t let the country’s citizens protect themselves by owning a gun is so alarming. He has no mercy for the innocent lives right here, yet he’s ready to jump into bed with our foreign enemies the first chance he gets.
I only foresee anarchy with him at the helm. It breaks my heart that so many claim to want him as their leader. I think a lot of his fans are in for a very big wake up call should he win.
Sallie, thank you for your blog entry.
We are in a battleground state, and I am working hard to get the word out. Today at a sign waving at a major intersection we received a lot of positive feedback.
This isn’t over, friends, as the TV and written media would want you to believe. We can make a difference.
Now more than ever we need to stand with a President who is Pro-Life. John McCain and Sarah Palin are both Pro-Life candidates.
I considered âthird partyâ options, but realize that now is not the time. Iâm not happy with Republicans or Democrats, but the prospects of an Obama presidency bring the threat of too many freedoms lost.
Some Christians may say, âIâm voting for the [insert third party here] because they think more like I doâ. Fine. Great aspiration. But consider this: YOU are not running for President. Somebody else is. And nobody thinks like you do.
Now is not the prudent time to âsend a messageâ to one party when the other is poised to have the Presidency, Congress, and the Senate all at once. And Obama is the least experienced and most liberal Senator of them all (and has spent half of his first term campaigning for President â give me a break).
And there are reports that Democrats are claiming victory already and want to get started in November with the agenda, not waiting for Jan. 20. Thatâs scary. Thatâs how eager they are to get the liberal agenda rolling. The fact that they wonât wait until theyâre officially in office shows that they donât care about the Constitution but just want to impose their will on people.
I know God is sovereign, but we must still act. To not act endangers our freedom and ability to do so in the future. Maybe a third party will be a great option in the future. But not in these dangerous moments. To give away your vote, or to not vote because McCain isnât what you want him to be, is to give power to the ones who could very well prevent a third party⌠or a second party⌠from making a difference in the future.
And… thankfully, there is a lot to like about McCain and Palin. I actually do like them. So I’m not dragging my feet on this choice.
This is going to sound heartless, as if I don’t care about abortion. I do. Very deeply. As a mother to a special needs child, I am very, very much pro-life.
However, I never see Roe V Wade ever being overturned in this country, no matter who or which party is in office.
Call me cynical, but I think if you vote ONLY based on a candidates roe v wade stance, you are missing other issues.
I will be voting McCain, but it has more to do with the fact I trust McCain more on security issues and on appointing SC judges in the future.
To be quite honest, I often find the person who votes solely on abortion issues and nothing else to be misinformed and immature citizens with only one battlecry.
Sorry to play devil’s advocate here—but I wanted to share my feelings on this.
NormalMiddle – Hey, you don’t have to apologize for playing devil’s advocate! It’s one of my favorite pastimes! LOL! But, seriously, I understand what you are saying. I’ve already outlined in other posts why I think Obama is such an unqualified and scary prospect. But I do think that maintaining the status quo re: abortion is a better option at this point then racing towards anything goes. No, it is not ideal and not as it should be. But it is better than it would be otherwise.
Frankly, I don’t think either candidate is going to fix the financial mess. There is no way to fix this mess other than to let it unwind on its own and pick up the pieces afterwards. The thought that makes my stomach churn is that we are headed toward a hyperinflationary depression. I hope and pray it is not the case, but if I had to make a prediction that would be it.
And I agree with BethM’s daughter. The picking of justices is so critical. They are lifetime appointments and you can expect some of the most radical folks to get nominated by Obama. And with both Houses of Congress being controlled by the Democrats, it will be basically just rubber stamping whatever Obama wants. That makes my stomach churn as well. đŻ
One of the other things that scares me about Obama and Biden is that you can’t ask tough questions or criticize them without being “punished”.
“Joe the Plumber”. Asks an honest question when Obama visits his neighborhood. Goes on Good Morning America the morning after he’s the focal point of the third debate. Gives his honest opinion in a criticism of Obama’s tax plan. Obama makes fun of plummers that day in New Hampshire. Biden makes fun of him that night on the Tonight Show. The media digs up tons of dirt on Joe.
(And then McCain started rising in the polls.)
Now, a TV station in Orlando is cut off from further interviews with the campaign because they asked tough questions that many Americans are asking. Rather than take the opportunity to answer them thoughtfully and persuasively, Biden ridicules the interviewer and asks who wrote the questions.
“Punishing” people for asking honest questions is very un-American. And Democrats talk so much about “free speech”. Obama and his campaign are “unquestionable”.
I know people who are like that. You ask them a tough question and they get very defensive and turn the questions back on you rather than give an honest answer. They are unapproachable control freaks.
Thanks for the link Sallie. Thought-provoking to say the least.
I really feel disenfranchised at this point. I want to vote for a pro-life candidate but I disagree with McCain and Palin on everything else. Literally everything else.
I am a pro-life Catholic Democrat. Not a fun place to be these days.
I live in a state that is solid for Obama. I have convinced myself that my vote doesn’t matter because of that.
Off to church to pray.
McCain is not pro-life. He believes “life begins at conception” and is in favor of providing federal funding for destructive embryonic research. How is a vote for him a pro-life vote?
Here’s my biggest question. EVERY SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION is like this.
It’s aaaalways this way: Our guy will save us, but the Dem guy will not just be lousy, no, he’ll RUIN EVERYTHING (insert hysterical screaming here).
Well, we got “our guy,” for eight years. Neato. Count me as thoroughly disgusted. Look at the huge mess we’re in. Who did this to us? The Republicans in power.
So, while I’m fiercely anti-abortion, I’m also too cynical to bother with the extreme black and white stuff this go-round. I’m voting third party. I think for Nadar (I’ve loved everything I’ve read so far, anyways).
Katie – From NARAL Pro-Choice America:
I’m not going to link to the site. People can look it up if they want to read more.
Obama’s record from NARAL:
No, I may not agree with McCain on every issue related to life. But there could not be a starker contrast between the two candidates.
Molly – I don’t believe McCain will save us. I didn’t believe Bush would save us either, but I did expect him to do a better job. If McCain wins I won’t be celebrating as though “my man” won. I will be letting out a huge sigh of relief that Obama lost.
Obama makes Hillary look like a moderate. I never thought I would wish for her to be president, but I would have chosen her over Obama every single time.
If Obama wins, people will get what they asked for. I just think they will be shocked to find out what that really means.
Thanks for your political posts. Many people are afraid to say what they think for fear of “offending” someone else. I’m glad that you are not one of them. I find your posts to be very educational and backed up by facts.
I also feel that “if Obama wins, people will get what they asked for”. I have said that many times over the last few weeks. It’s just a shame that they can’t see into the future the possibility of a very scary future.
Not American, but praying for you guys none the less. Sometimes the Lord gives people what they ask for- even if it is not the best thing for them- remember the people who wanted a King rather than God’s prophet? Samuel annointed Saul. All was well at first- until he lost sight of God. Then the people regretted their choice. Sallie is right- no one man is going to ‘save’ a country- they can’t , they are human, but as scripture says rightouesness exalts a nation- and vice versa. A persons words and actions betray what is in their hearts-there is precious little Godly leadership over here either and barely anything to choose between our leaders on moral issues. At least the abortion issue is clearer for you- McCain is clearly on a different level to Obama on this issue. Over here ammendments to the abortion laws have beeen thrown out (praise God) but embryology bills look set to come in. What a confussed morality we have!
Just adding my proper link…keep forgetting the old one is on my comments bar.
Lura – Thank you for your words of encouragement. I have struggled with putting so many political posts on my blog. It really isn’t the purpose of what I am trying to do here. On the other hand, if I see danger coming (political or otherwise – such as the housing bubble and the economy starting three years ago) and I don’t say something, then I feel I will have failed those I care about. And I honestly do care about the people who read here. I don’t want to drive people away, but I have felt compelled to speak out. Anyway, thank you. Your comment really blessed me. đ
Our pastor addressed politics this week. the gist of his message was this. As christians we need to get away from the Idea that a politician or political party can Save us/our country. We already have a Savior. once we are put our Hope in Christ, and refuse to put it in people or parties, then we are grounded enough to make decisions. Neither political party has an exclusive right to Christianity. and Christ did not acheive his goals by political means.
that said we do owe it to our country to vote since this is a democratic republic. so how do we decide who to vote for?
we need to put aside personalities and schemes for the future and think about the moral issues
What is the most important issue?
For most of us it’s abortion.
once we have figured out our most important issue, then we must vote our conscience.
as for me
given the extreme anti-life position of the dem candidate. I could not bring myself to waste my vote on a third party candidate. the time for personal preference voting was during the primaries. the time for morals guided voting is now.
and if we really want (as christians) to make a difference in our country we need to show up and vote when the lawmakers (house and senate) are running for office. I believe less than half of registered voters vote in non-presidential elections. If christians would vote en masse at these elections there could be real change at a level that can accomplish more than what is in the presidents job description.
Mrs N
I’m just skeptical. As in, I don’t believe it. I don’t believe Obama is a socialist (whereas real Socialists can’t stand him, he’s too capitalistic—-the guy is practically owned by Wall Street, for goodness sake!) and I don’t believe his election would cause America’s abortion rate to triple (did the Clinton years see abortion triple? Have the Bush years caused abortion to decrease?) and I don’t believe a lot of the other cr*p that I’m hearing.
Just as I don’t believe that a Republican in the White House will keep America on track. I don’t believe any of it. (Did you see chewymom’s posts on this topic? I really resonate with a lot of her thoughts).
The glorious beauty of capitalism without restraint (a primarily conservative ideal) can be seen by viewing what’s happened to Wall Street recently. All sorts of people, elderly people, etc, are losing everything, thanks to a conservative vision (keep government out of it, self-regulation works best) of how financial systems should be handled.
So…there…that’s my opinion.
In the meantime…
Go Nadar! đ
(With apologies to my Rep and McCain/Palin voting brothers and sisters for my highly jaded/skeptical views, which probably could have been worded more tactfully but, well, weren’t). đ
Love to you all!
Hi Sallie,
I don’t disagree with you that McCain is a better choice than Obama. No argument there. But those embryos are living people, too. McCain said “Life begins at conception” but he is on the record for supporting federal funding for embryo research. NARAL hysteria notwithstanding (they don’t want ANY kind of obstacle to abortion), we know what life is and when it is being unjustly destroyed.
Also, do you really want to accuse those of us voting for a third party (a pro-life third party at that) of murdering those babies? (your blog entry title) Accuse the Obama supporters of that if you choose, but really, I think you have gone too far on that. My conscience is clear and I have not murdered any babies. I wouldn’t even accuse you of murder for voting for John McCain, even though he’s for the embryo research.
I think we need to focus on trusting the Lord and not give way to fear, even in the face of very serious trouble in our nation.
Grace and peace,
Katie
Hi Katie,
Thanks for your reply. These are hard issues. Do I feel passionately about people not voting? Yes. (And for more than just keeping Obama out of office.) Do I feel passionately that an Obama presidency would be devastating for this country? Yes. Otherwise I wouldn’t write these things.
Who was responsible for the deaths of the Jews? Only the Nazis working at the death camps? Will God hold anyone else responsible? I don’t know. I ‘m not the judge. Are we guilty in God’s eyes if we stand by and do nothing while millions of innocent children are slaughtered? Only God knows. Some Christians might call me a pragmatist and tell me I’ve sold out, but my conscience requires that I make a productive vote against a radical man who would rather see a newborn infant dropped in a bag of saline solution to die than find a way to place it with a couple who desperately wants to adopt.
I agree that McCain is not an ideal candidate. Every time he talks about mortgage bailouts my blood boils. His policies on immigration make me just as angry. Enduring four years of him as president will be hard because his views do not line up well with mine in many ways. But four (or eight) years of Obama? With the House and Senate? Literally, God help us.
No, I’m not acting out of fear. Genuine concern, yes. But I’ve done what I can do (other than actually vote). Truth be told, I mentioned to David this evening I’m not even going to stay up and watch the election returns. It will either be too stressful or depressing and I don’t need either. I think I’ll watch an hour of Due South or Pride and Prejudice and go to bed. đ
Sallie, I’m literally standing up and applauding. Thank you, once again, for focusing on the real issues at stake here and cutting away the fringe topics. I say, Bravo for your passion, as shown in this post!
Becky – Thank you. Your words encouraged me. đ
Many of you said you are not voting out of fear but I tell you I am. I am voting with a trembling hand. I cant stand either candidate. I think they are both godless and evil men who will bring much damage to our society. Both of them desire centralized power and just go about it in different ways. Socially and governmentally, the system is hoodwinking us into thinking the outcome will be different between the two. And there is little or nothing we can do about any of it apart from beseeching the Creator.
However, there is one issue which we as a society will be judged. Did we stand up and put our economic comfort, personal pursuits and yes even our very lives at stake over! Over three thousand INNOCENT LIVES being ripped from the womb every day. Those numbers add up over the years! How can we avert judgement for such blatant debauchery? How can a God who is Holy stand by while we let innocence go off to slaughter.
Many years ago I toured a very small slaughter house. Believe it or not, it was part of a school field trip. I grew up in cattle country so no one made a big deal over it. I can still remember the tears and remorse some of the more tender hearted girls from our group had about the shedding of ANIMAL blood. Are we so hardened that we care more about our nice car, full refrigerator and 46″ TV than we do about infant life being drained at the end of the scalpel? Where is the outrage? Where are the tears.
We make it big news when an unfit mother murders or abandons her children. Yet we are all guilty for abandoning millions of babies over the years. You and me alike, we are guilty! We should be crying out to the God that made us for forgiveness and seeking to rescue every last one! And how do we make that first step of rescue? With our vote. Either a vote for someone who stands for life OR a vote against someone who’s agenda is geared toward the personal freedoms that allow murder to go unchecked in our civil society.
I don’t believe any of this is going to go unchecked in God’s economy. It isn’t biblical. Unless repentance on a massive scale hits our land, judgement will. And just as the blood that was shed during slavery was demanded of our young men during the Civil war, so also will it be demanded of our children in the coming days. So yes, I am filled with fear for my children and this nation. And not for mine alone, but your children and grandchildren. If we don’t do everything in our power to turn this around, we will see it.
And while I’m on the topic. It’s all the rage to bash George W. Bush. But I will not. I don’t like a lot of the things he has done to my country. In some ways he, Bill Clinton and George SR have all had the same agenda. Yet this one man who the nation seems to be vilifying has done more to turn the tide against abortion that any other president by placing honest constructionist judges in the supreme court. I think many of us will eat our words about him on judgement day.
Reading this post and comment thread 15 years later with what we know now about all the politicians we were discussing…
So interesting…