Just before Christmas, a moral dilemma faced by many Republicans was exposed by Christianity Today. While they like many of President Donald Trump’s policies, they object to his shameful behavior.
“None of the president’s positives can balance the moral and political danger we face under a leader of such grossly immoral character,” wrote the respected evangelical magazine.
“This president has dumbed down the idea of morality in his administration. He has hired and fired a number of people who are now convicted criminals. He himself has admitted to immoral actions in business and his relationship with women, about which he remains proud. His Twitter feed alone – with its habitual string of mischaracterizations, lies, and slanders – is a near perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused.”
“Trump Should Be Removed from Office” was the startling headline and conclusion of the article.
This growing dilemma has political risks for Republicans, particularly those who are conservative, moral Christians. Over the coming months if Trump sticks to his capricious and self-serving ways, increased voter dissatisfaction could result in a pro-choice Democrat winning the presidency.
So what is the alternative?
Also the week before Christmas, the Republican controlled Senate approved massive spending bills at Trump’s urging – “Go for it Republicans” – that suspended the debt ceiling for two years and adds $1.7 trillion to forecast deficits.
“These spending bills are a fiscal dumpster fire,” conservative Sen. Mike Lee of Utah told Fox News. “This is embarrassing.”
“Washington continues to swipe the national credit card and stick future generations with the bill,” said Heritage Foundation President Kay Coles James. “This is another dark day for fiscal conservatism,” said Jason Pye of FreedomWorks.
This spending deal comes as the national debt has surged past $23 trillion with an annual budget deficit already projected to exceed $1 trillion. An “unsustainable” path said the Congressional Budget Office.
And a path totally opposite conservative Republicans’ goal to eliminate deficits and balance the budget.
You see, this massive spending deal, not budget tightening, was politically necessary to keep the economy humming. Touted by Trump as the strongest economy ever, this expansion actually depends on a rickety foundation – ever-growing government spending and Federal Reserve monetary stimulus normally reserved for recessions.
Liberal government spending plus stimulative Federal Reserve policies, pushed by Trump, to keep interest rates artificially low and liquidity high are the sugar fueling this economic high, not real, sustainable economic strength.
Nothing conservative about this either.
That’s why 23 conservative Republican senators voted against the deficit busting spending bills.
That reveals the sole alternative. Twenty conservative, moral Republicans serving in the U.S. Senate would have to find the fortitude to join with Democratic senators to convict Trump in the upcoming Senate impeachment trial, thereby replacing this not really conservative, not very moral president with Vice President Mike Pence.
Contrary to Trump, Pence is a true balance-the-budget conservative and practicing Christian with a moral compass. He could return the nation to a sane Reagan-like uplifting path and save us from Trump’s destructive path.
“For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14.
Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Bill Crawford: Sticking with Trump Risky for Moral, Conservative Republicans
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51 comments:
By Godfrey, there's no guessing where Bill stands.
There are no binary choices in politics. You can't vote for Trump if you're a Christian, you can't vote for the godless baby killing Democrats if you're a Christian, you can't vote for the dope head Libertarians if you're a Christian, blah, blah, blah. It's ridiculous, and anyone who buys into the blather is an idiot. Vote for who you think is the best candidate - or against the candidate who you think is worse - and tell the Bill Crawfords of the world to go have a sandwich or something.
Bill's just pointing out that many folks are avoiding that look in the mirror.
I didn't vote for Trump based on his moral compass.
I voted for him because he has no fear of other politicians and I was / am sick of conservatives being so gutless.
There is no moral compass in Washington and no single individual will be able to put one there.
Well said 11:23. You characterized my exact feelings. Hell....you can’t g around apologizing to the world like Obama did and the world keep sticking their hands out for giveaways. It’s got to stop. Economy is great. If you can’t find a job it’s because you don’t want to work.
President Trump is going to win in 2020. Landslide.
The tragic thing about this presidency is the willingness of some descent people to excuse and even defend this man's horrible statements just because they don't like the other party. We know he has lowered the standard of the office but we should not let him lower the standards of the whole damn country. This does not mean I favor his impeachment/removal from office, but I do think we need to let him know that we don't admire his bullshit. Stop encouraging this madness or we will all live to regret it.
Trump has shed light on the reality of "fiscal conservatism". It's not the money or the spending, it's WHO gets the money. He spends like a drunken sailor to keep the economy sailing, and barely a peep about deficits or "tax- and-spend" from the "conservative" right. What happened?
There is no one that I agree with 100 % of the time. NO ONE. I do think it boils down to the one that you agree with the most & for me it certainly wasn’t Hillary. And to 12:58, I feel like you must have forgotten about Bill Clinton. In my lifetime, he is the one that lowered the bar and was condoned by the left so much that his wife was nominated years later. I don’t love nor agree with everything Trump says or does, but he was better than the alternative by a mile. The media is so jaded and one sided that I never feel like I hear the truth. NEVER. The left has so disrespected the office that I hope they realize the precident that they are setting. It will only go down from here except they will yell prejudice when the Republicans act the way that the Democrats have. It is a sad that we have come to this place, but it wasn’t all Trump’s doing. I also agree with the comment above that conservatives have become spineless. It has taken someone with the brassness of Trump to get things done. He says way too much sometimes, but at least he has followed through on his campaign promises as opposed to “if you like your health provider, you can keep them”.
Trump, with all his faults, it’s much better than a Socialist.
Go back to Meridian....look how you continued to discourage the Republicans so that the Democrats run it now - that is the ones that aren't in jail.
Like many others I don’t like Trump but I don’t have to like him to know that the Democratic lineup for President is a circus of clowns. It’s really scary to think of one of them being elected. The impeachment hearing was similar to the Salem Witch trials. I would agree if they wanted to convict him of being a jerk. But unfortunately for them it’s not an impeachable aoffense.
Great economy for the rich, but 48% of working Americans make under $18k per year. My guess is that none of you Trump lovers are in that boat.
How much embarrassment are you willing to take? If I need to explain it to you. You are a hopeless case. You can't compare this guy to Harding, Grant or Carter.
Crawford is shilling for Espy now.
Crawford is a holier than thou punk. He wants to have relevance desperately.
I don't approve of Trump's prior personal indiscretions. That being said, his enemies are my enemies, and he is a fighter. You're damn right I'm voting for him again.
I have to agree that there are no binary choices.
Under the "how can a Christian do that theory of politics" - Christians can't vote for baby killing socialist. They can't vote for an admitted immoral Trump. So does it mean we can't vote? I mean the argument itself is morally bankrupt and has no logical resolution.
WSJ: Wages for rank-and-file workers are rising at the quickest pace in more than a decade, even faster than for bosses, a sign that the labor market has tightened sufficiently to convey bigger increases to lower-paid employees.
5:24 Be careful. Pledge allegiance to your country, not some would be monarch. His enemies are your enemies? Ease up.
Explain to me how Trump is worse than Bill Clinton? Everything Trump is accused of, Clinton did the same or worse.
Matter of fact, quite a few Clinton defenders back in the 90's said character didn't matter.
3:31 I'm FAR from the station you call rich but It's not my fault that they (what-ever-percent-you-make-up) are lacking. You should no join the socialist club... that evens everything out to all.
Consenting sexual encounters between adults, one being the POTUS, was deemed acceptable behavior after the Clinton impeachment it seems. Possibly colluding with and bribing foreign governments to provide dirt on opponents will be deemed acceptable behavior when this current impeachment ends.
White House Travel Office, Lippo Group, Charlie Trie, nuclear secrets walking out the door, chinese money funneled to Clinton campaign, want me to keep on going?
Kingfish,
Same lobby group, different president. It's spelled AIPAC.
How did China get their ICBM guidance technology?
According to Mordechai Vanunu it was passed along by Tel Aviv.
KF 7:52 Both men are scumbags and should never be considered having presidential character. Clinton was a careful liar who would pretend to be a man of decency and integrity. Trump on the other hand doesn't give a damn what he says as long as he has the power to make people accept it. Neither
man has the integrity of a skunk and both soil the office.
You decide which is worse, the sly sneak or the blatant howler.
Everyone who keeps regurgitating the brainwashing disinfo that Clinton was impeached for Monica are idiots.
Articles of Impeachment were filed for William J Clinton due to the perjury he committed during the investigation of the rape allegations brought forward by Paula Jones.
His affair with Monica Lewinsky was discovered during the Paula Jones rape investigation. His proclamation that he did not engage in sexual relations was made regarding Paula Jones.
8:52 - clinton never touched Paula Jones. He showed his weinie and asked her to bless it. Cost him only $850,000.
Paula's attorney was George Conway, husband of Kellyanne. Conway is a smart man.
It has taken someone with the brassness of Trump to get things done. He says way too much sometimes, but at least he has followed through on his campaign promises as opposed to “if you like your health provider, you can keep them”.
One hell of a oxymoron title there. Most of them died about 40+ years ago.
There is definitely an alternative to voting FOR Trump. If it makes you feel any better vote AGAINST his Democrat opponent. That's what I did last time.
Come on Kingfish did Clinton try to force a foreign government to investigate a political rivial. If isn't true why isn't Bolton and the others allowed to testify.
Trump is who he is, and does not try to hide it while pretending to be something he is not. MY biggest concern is people still refuse to acknowledge the hypocrisy that these career politicians, at all levels (municipal, state, federal), trade in daily. Both sides wanted his money when he was just a businessman, so why do these same people attack him know that he serves as president? And, after 3 years, and what point does everyone truly start to wonder how people in the legislature become multi-millionaires? Why does our health insurance not look like theirs? Why are prescription drugs so much more in America? Why would we not want answers to the whole Biden / Ukraine thing? Why do we not protect our borders better? Why can they change their profound ideals every 4 years, but others can't? Then you get into the whole FISA/FBI thing, and why our elected officials, placed in office by the people, to serve the people; are not going through the rough to correct what was so obviously done with malice and fraudulence.
If the last blue wave was a preview to the next election, then Republicans days are numbered.
If the last blue wave was a preview to the next election ...
It wasn't.
KF I don't disagree with you about Clinton.
But, I wonder why you defend doing the same or worse? I think worse because Clinton didn't engage in personal and public vendettas ( often petty) against those who criticized him or disagreed with him and didn't profit from the Presidency until leaving office. Nor did he engage in blatant nepotism or praise dictators or lose the respect of allies or help Russia and China and Iran form an alliance. Clinton had some sense of history. what a functioning government needs to function and did bother to read and be briefed by those working full time to keep him informed ( he knew what he didn't know and needed to know rather than be a " know it all"}.
Frankly, that our President's job is too demanding in a complex world to be tweeting and spending time rallying and golfing and tweeting and visiting properties entertaining so many days and hours.
The point is that it's fine if you like his policies, but Crawford is saying," don't pretend that this President is Heaven sent". Don't be" holier than thou" while you are wallowing in the nastiness of politics and ignore that the President's " sins" are infecting our children and our society as well as affecting our future.
"Behave as badly as you want, lie all you want, as long as you make money for me and I keep my guns and no one has an abortion and you look like a tough guy from a movie while you screw up? I'm happy if you just put that gun to the heads of anyone who is not a Christian or isn't white and I'm good" is somehow compatible with Christianity? A pardon from Trump isn't a pardon from God.
Are Trump supporters truly arguing that there is no mature, well-mannered person in all of the Republican party or conservatism who could accomplish the policies without tainting the office of the Presidency and being a poor role model?
I have benefitted financially from this administration but I realize the world my children and grandchildren inherit is more important than my creature comforts. This President is incompetent when it comes to seeing beyond his own ego and into a future where he doesn't exist.
And, I'm a bit surprised that someone who is against crime and corruption and battle it personally ignores that our President seems to know, appoint and still defend so many convicted criminals. He professes "love" and " friendship" for the most evil rulers of our time.
I keep hoping I'll wake up from this national and international nightmare that will end western civilization one way or another as our enemies continue to succeed in dividing us and empowering themselves.
@9:30AM
November is a long way off. And the chain of disinformation that flowed out of the darkest corners of the web into the social media platforms are being identified and shut down. Russia will have a much harder time promoting their disinformation agents, spreading their lies, and promoting conspiracy theories.
And before you argue that Russia has no influence. You people literally hung on every cryptic word of someone named Q Anon on 8chan and you didnt even know if it was controlled by Putin.
@9:56 run for cover. Quickly. Black copters approaching your location NOW. Turn OFF all your electronics. Damn it, take that tin foil off your head. HURRY.
Thirty pieces of silver was the price for which Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Matthew 26:15. What's the going price for Republican to betry democracy in the United States?
@11:22
Is that some top secret Intel from Q Anon or did you just forget to take your boomer medication again?
@ 12:01pm
I didn't vote for Trump based on his moral compass.
I voted for him because he has no fear of other politicians and I was/am sick of conservatives being so gutless.
There is no moral compass in Washington and no single individual will be able to put one there.
So basically, you have no moral compass yourself, making it easy to justify voting for a man that has the same moral makeup as yourself? SMH
Not sure why there is so much outrage with Trump, he’s basically par for the course for the Republican Party. Even the most beloved Regan was a POS racist. The rest I guess were better at pretending to be better people than they really were so I guess there’s that?
Take a look at Soros' monetary support of this organization and the man who penned the article serving on Soros' so-called morality board.
And for 6:07 - Please do continue to salute your beloved leaders with a chant of "GOT DAMN America!"
I will vote for what’s best for my family and what’s best for the country. If you can convince me that any one of the democrat candidates represents that, then I will consider.
8:52 pm Dec 29, We know that. For some, being a liar in a case about sexual behavior is not as bad for a President as ignoring the oath of office re: defending Constitution which includes the laws passed that are Constitutional rulings like the one about Congressional power when it comes to approved spending of taxes for Ukraine. Congress approved and the conditions on " corruption" were met. No justification has been given for legally holding up the funds.
Also, there is nothing in the Constitution for a President's "personal" attorney to be involved in foreign policy in Ukraine or Venezuela.
And, there's the Senate report on foreign interference and Mueller's report that he could not rule out Presidential " obstruction of justice".
Those who could rule everything " in" or " out" are being prevented from testifying by...the President or else he's protecting the culpable.
11:22 am You need to go to senate.gov and read the Intelligence committee report on Russian and Chinese interference in our elections and how they are spreading propaganda.
Maybe you'll believe a GOP controlled committee. It's clear you don't believe any of our intelligence agencies or the FBI , all of whom have also issued reports.
Indeed, you also have zero clue about advancements in technology.
God save us from the deliberately ignorant who let others think for them.
A true Christian would never support/defend Donald Trump. Politics aside, he is a horrible human being with serious personality disorders.
It always amuses me when non-Christians try to tell Christians what they should do.
You do remember who the two choices were, right? Not a Trump fan either, but Hillary was just completely unacceptable. The Dems are who put him in office by their arrogance in running such a corrupt and unlikable candidate, and it damn sure looks like they are going to do it again with the idiotic attempt at impeachment.
@3:34 - what, pray tell, is your definition of a TRUE Christian? Can't wait for this one.
I'll vote for Trump when he learns to read. He is illiterate and too stupid to listen to his advisers. Every time he opens his mouth, a lie comes out. He's such a joke that other world leaders laughs at him. What leader of a country has time to tweet all day long? For God's sake, he wanted to build a wall around Colorado to keep out illegals. He wasn't joking about that; he is just that stupid. Now he's making Republican leaders look ignorant for condoning his behavior. Say what you will about the Bushes, Clintons, and Obama, but the office of the President was dignified and respected during their tenure. Dignity and respect have definitely left the White House.
7:09 Yeah... remind us again what all that 'dignity and respect' you cite did for us? We'll wait.
@4:43, true means genuine.
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