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Hello. A very important election coming your way?
Gonna vote in November?
This election season is a conservative’s conundrum. I
am a registered Republican, which means less and less
every election cycle. If not for North Carolina’s
closed primaries, I would have some other affiliation,
but I want a voice in the primary process. I teach high
school US History and Government and I have taught the
background that led to the American Revolution and the
Convention that formed our Constitution. The ideas of
limited government, separation of powers, and checks and
balances should be guiding principles, but over time
these have eroded.
Our government is broken and a shadow of what our
founders intended. Each branch vies for power at any one
time, and under the auspices of the “Greater Good,” the
national government has become oppressive toward
individual states, sometimes bringing lawsuits instead
of trying to offer support and compromise. The
Constitution is used more these days to restrict states
than the original idea of restricting the national
government. We are teetering on the edge and I’m
convinced that only a few and very specific events or
actions could push us over the edge. In the midst of
this chaos, we have a very consequential election.
First, let me state what most everyone reading this is
thinking. We have two of the most undesirable
candidates for which to vote!
Donald Trump makes me nervous as a candidate. Since
the beginning of the Republican primaries, he has been
brash, rude, and has said some loose things. He has
broken every rule for winning elections and seems to be
better for it. Through it all, I’ve had time to
process why he makes me nervous and the hesitancy to
vote for him. He is the anti-politician, he speaks off
the cuff, he refuses political advice at times, and
wants to be his own man. He has a fiery and no-nonsense
approach that is so non-political that it makes voters
uncomfortable. His rhetoric coming from someone else
would be a gaff of some sort and cost that person
votes. In the primary, he did this over and over again
and it still did not hurt him.
Hillary angers many because she is shielded by the
media. The media bears a lot of responsibility for the
fact that Hillary, with all of the despicable and
deceptive things that she’s done, can run for any
office. She epitomizes the elite, political, ruling
class who does whatever she wants and gets away with it,
and since she is a Liberal, the bend of most of the
media is to support her, except for token shows of
“pressing her” on things. The media presents one or two
hard questions to appear impartial, but really this is
illusory.
When it first became apparent that Trump would become
the nominee, I faced the way Trump treated Ted Cruz and
stated to friends that there was NO WAY I could vote for
Trump. There was no way that I could vote for someone
who treated others that way. Friends told me that I had
to vote for Trump and that if I didn’t, it was a vote
for Hillary. I gotta say that I hate anyone
telling me that. A vote for anyone other than Trump is
a vote for Hillary? Really? I’m supposed to sell my
moral soul to the devil and you’re telling me that if I
don’t vote for Trump, it’s as good as a vote for
Hillary? That really ticked me off. This is my vote
and it should mean something. “I don’t have to
vote for this guy if I don’t want to. I can vote
on principal,” I said.
In the days following the primaries, time healed some
of those wounds and gave me time to think. You know
what? It’s true. There is no candidate that will come
closer than these two. The winning vote will be a
fifty-fifty decision between two candidates, which
brings me to my next point. There are ZERO moral
victories in elections. One can vote for someone else,
some third party candidate or write-in, and can feel
some sense of moral completion. If that leads to Hillary
Clinton getting elected, then there is no moral victory
in that. The Supreme Court will be overrun with liberal
justices and then even our very Bill of Rights will be
on the chopping block. There will be more Federal
control over our lives that will constrict liberty in
the name of global social justice. This country will get
more and more dangerous and oppressive.
My only compulsion is that I must vote for Trump. In
fairness to my moral judgement, I am voting less for
Trump and more on issues, such as the Second Amendment,
abortion, paying down the national debt, and a strong
national defense; but the main issue – Hillary
Clinton should never, ever be President of the United
States. To me, there is no more dangerous vote or
non-vote than not voting for Trump. If you take a moral
stand by not voting for him, then you are conceding the
immoral results and have some responsibility. You have
no standing to complain if radical things happen and our
country is fundamentally transformed before your
eyes.
What about Trump? “Won’t he do the same?” you
might ask. Actually, no. This is the motivation that
Congress needs to get some of its power back. They are
going to want it back after Trump is elected. In fact,
Speaker Paul Ryan has already said as much, as the
Republicans (and let that sink in), yes
the Republicans prepare to reign in the power of
the Presidency. Never in recent history will we have
seen so many checks and balances as under a Trump
Presidency. Where were these jokers the last six years
after the Republicans retook the house? They’re waiting
until Donald Trump takes office to take their power
back? It just shows you where the anger is coming from
for our Congress.
I have many conservative friends that feel very
strongly that they cannot vote for Trump. You must stay
true to your conscience, but before you really go there,
ask yourself one question. “Am I ready for the
consequence of a decision that offers no moral
victory?”
![unlearn-720x350[1]](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/unlearn-720x3501.jpg)
VOTING FOR TRUMP IS THE MORALLY RIGHT THING TO DO
(An appeal by Jeff Kieffer)
First of all, the emphasis of this appeal is not to try to
convince you to not vote for Hillary. A vote for Hillary
requires at least one of the following: a liberal,
un-American view of history and our founding, an ignorance
of the Constitution and the inseparable relationship
between the rule of law and liberty, an ignorance of
Biblical principles as they apply to government,
economics, civic responsibility, the sanctity of life, the
institution of marriage, and the nature of man, or an
ignorance of the Democrat party platform as it relates to
Biblical principles.
Neither is the emphasis of this appeal to try to convince
you that Donald Trump is a good man, or even that he would
make a particularly good President. In fact, I believe he
is a man with more than minor character flaws. I am not
convinced he will do a good job as President, although I
do think there is a chance he could do a tremendous job.
Many have described this election as choosing between the
“lesser of two evils.” While I agree, I submit all
elections are a choice between the lesser of two evils.
Every election ever has been between two sinners. While
there have certainly been candidates with more admirable
traits than Trump and Hillary, there has never been a
sinless candidate. It is always a choice between the
lesser of two evils. Yes, I think Cruz and Carson were
“better” choices than Trump, but both are still a long way
from Christ and he’s not running.
Therefore, choosing not to vote because neither candidate
is good is not a valid reason and is no excuse for failing
to do your civic and moral duty. Voting is the most basic,
foundational right that we have. It is irresponsible to
not vote, even if it is (and it always is) a choice
between the lesser of two evils. If the person you cast a
vote for makes bad decisions in their position of
leadership and if people needlessly suffer because of
those decisions, that is not your responsibility. There’s
a reason the 10 Commandments don’t cover voting
– God does not hold us accountable for the actions
of others, but He does hold us accountable for our own
actions.
Which leads me to the purpose of this appeal. I believe
voting for Trump is the right and moral thing to do. Not
voting or voting third party or write in is, in effect, a
vote for Hillary. Any action that helps her become
President is morally unacceptable. It is our moral duty to
back the best candidate that also has a chance of winning.
And since no one you may like better has a chance, no
matter how disappointed you may be, no matter how
unfortunate it is, no matter how in the world we got here,
that candidate is Donald Trump.
There is nothing morally wrong with voting for a flawed
candidate if you think he will do more good for the
country than his opponent. In fact, it is the morally
right thing to do.
Trump has flaws and some are obvious and bothersome. He is
egotistical and vulgar. He insults people and is
vindictive when attacked. But he is not racist,
islamaphobic, anti-semitic, misogynistic, or anti legal
immigrant. To believe otherwise is falling for the spin by
a hostile, liberal media that purposely exaggerates and
twists careless statements he has made. You need not
personally admire Trump in order to consider him the best
option for President.
This will likely be a close election. Florida, with it’s
29 electoral votes, is a vital state for both candidates.
It will certainly be close. You have a right to not vote,
just sit this one out, and believe you are somehow morally
justified in neglecting your duty. You have a right to
write in your vote for Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Mike Pence or
Jeff Kieffer. But no matter how you cut it, the math adds
up to one less vote Hillary needs to win. Ask yourself,
can I, in good conscience, act in a way that helps Hillary
win? Remember, you are not going to be held accountable
for the actions of President Trump, but you are
responsible for your actions that helped lead to a
President Clinton. Inaction is action, and for that you
are accountable. Obadiah
1:11, “On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off
his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots
for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.”
Consider what a President Clinton would mean for our
country. The number one issue, and we could end any debate
here, is the Supreme Court. Hillary has said repeatedly
she would replace Justice Scalia with liberals like
Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, which would give liberals
(judicial activists) a majority. Besides Scalia’s
replacement there are three justices age 78 or higher.
The next President will almost certainly get to appoint 3
or more judges. Hillary would be sure to make it a far
left court for the next 30 plus years. Remember, the
SCOTUS decisions have far reaching effects that far
outlast the President’s term in office, the President’s
life, and even the lives of the current court.
The Supreme Court will hear cases involving abortion,
religious liberty, free speech, gun rights, and
immigration in the next 4 to 8 years. Think about just a
few of the issues a liberal court would “settle.”
They would find the partial birth abortion ban
unconstitutional, allowing the horrific, barbaric
slaughter. Just as we have seen with the marriage issue,
no one would even campaign for laws to limit abortions
because any laws to do so would be struck down as
unconstitutional. If you are pro-life consider these
quotes of Hillary Clinton: “Deep seated cultural
codes, religious beliefs, and structural biases have to be
changed.” “The only people I would ever
appoint to the Supreme Court are people who believe that
Roe v. Wade is settled law.”
A liberal court would be a threat to religious liberty. We
have already seen case after case of Christian florists,
bakers, photographers, sports casters, entertainers,
corporate CEOs, etc. lose their businesses and jobs for
the free exercise of their faith. Not to mention the
cramming of gender identity and bathrooms down our
throats. The late Justice Scalia, in a dissent on a
religious liberty case from June, 2016, wrote, “Those who
value religious freedom have cause for great concern.” And
that was with him on the court!
A liberal court would be a threat to Christian education.
Some Christian colleges standing for Biblical standards
are already being challenged. It’s illogical to think it
would’t be worse with a hostile Supreme Court and
that elementary and high schools, even churches, would be
next.
In regard to free speech, with a far left court it’s not
too much of a leap to see a time where the government
could get away with criminalizing dissent. We’ve already
seen a foretaste with the IRS targeting conservative
groups.
A liberal court could mean the end of our natural, God
given right to protect ourselves and our families from
those in society who would harm us. Or of greater concern
to me (and our founders) is the right and ability to
protect ourselves from a tyrannical government. Remember,
as with any part of the Constitution, the 2nd Amendment
doesn’t say what you or I think it says. It doesn’t even
mean what the founders intended it to mean. It means what
the Supreme Court says it means. Every time the issue of
the Supreme Court comes up, Hillary brings up the 2nd
Amendment. Despite what she says about respecting the 2nd
Amendment she intends to by pass it and then be backed up
by a liberal Supreme Court. <See me in person for a
more in depth discussion of this issue>
Trump has released a list of 11 judges he would choose
from for Supreme Court appointments. All 11 are
outstanding judges that uphold the original meaning of the
Constitution. If Trump is President and replaces Scalia
and 1 to 3 more judges, that could mean a 5-4 or 6-3
majority of originalists that interpret the Constitution
instead of twisting it to meet a liberal, politically
correct agenda. The results for our nation would be
overwhelmingly good on issues of abortion, religious
liberty, the right to bear arms, etc. Voting for Trump is
the moral thing to do when it comes to the Supreme Court.
As mentioned earlier, the Supreme Court is the number one
issue and should be the end of the argument for any clear
thinking voter, but let’s consider other important issues.
On taxes, Trump would lower them; Hillary would raise
them. Trump would lower the corporate tax from the current
35% to 15%. This alone would create jobs. Remember,
corporations don’t really pay taxes. They pass on that
expense to us consumers in the form of higher prices to
maintain their profit margins. If they can’t make a profit
they go out of business and that means fewer jobs. Cutting
taxes will create jobs. It has in the past and it will
again. On individual taxes, Trump wants a top rate of 25%,
Hillary 45%. Since small businesses file under this tax
rate, higher taxes stunt economic growth, lower taxes
create jobs which is economic growth. Besides, who do you
think will do a better job of spending your hard earned
money, you or a wasteful, irresponsible, bloated
government? The Bible supports the idea of private
property rights. Voting for Trump is the moral thing to do
when it comes to the issue of taxes.
Minorities in our inner cities are often hit the hardest
by joblessness, poor education, and crime. Hillary is in
favor of continuing the status quo. Trump is voicing
support for policies that would create jobs, give parents
school choice and restore law and order to our cities.
These policies would provide more freedom and opportunity
for the majority of law abiding black and Hispanic
Americans in inner cities. Voting for Trump is the moral
thing to do when it comes to helping all Americans.
America faces many challenges abroad from Russia, China,
Iran, and most imminent, ISIS. Hillary is supporting the
failed policies of the last eight years that have worsened
these threats. She wants to continue strategies that, in
case you haven’t noticed, have not worked in defeating
ISIS. Trump is projecting strength and pledging to rebuild
our severely depleted military to give us leverage when
dealing with these threats. Voting for Trump is the moral
thing to do when it comes to protecting us and our way of
life from godless regimes and ideologies.
Our immigration system is a mess. Laws are not being
followed because they are not being enforced! As a result,
we are allowing violent criminals and drug smugglers into
our country and then they are often allowed to stay
without fear of immigration laws being enforced. This is
fact, not bigoted viewpoints. Don’t forget the obvious
folly of this. With every crime there is a victim! This
has to stop!
Radical Islamic terrorists desire to destroy us. Despite
this, President Obama has allowed thousands of refugees
from Syria, a predominantly Islamic country, into our
country. With the very real threat of ISIS, this is
foolish. Hillary is in favor of a 550% increase in the
number of Syrian refugees despite the fact that there is
no way of vetting them. She is also in favor of open
borders and citizenship for those in our country illegally
within the first 100 days of her Presidency. Trump has
promised to build a wall (a really nice wall) and do what
it takes to secure our border and to halt immigration from
predominantly Islamic countries until such time as we
figure out a way to determine who they are and whether or
not they mean us harm. The government’s number one
job is to protect we the people from enemies. Voting for
Trump is the moral thing to do when it comes to protecting
America.
Israel is one of our closest allies in the world and the
only ally in the region. For reasons we won’t get into,
that is how it needs to stay. Hillary, like President
Obama, marginalizes that relationship. Trump will support
Israel. Voting for Trump is the moral thing to do when it
comes to supporting Israel.
There are other issues important to our country and the
future of the Republican party, but these are the ones I
consider to be of most importance.
I have considered the possibility that once in office,
Trump may change his mind on some of these issues and
fail to do the right thing. But when one considers the
probability that Hillary will not change her mind and will
do much of what she is campaigning on, voting for Trump is
the logical, patriotic, smart and MORAL thing to do!
Again, I’m not arguing Trump is a man of great character
or that he will be an effective President. My conclusion
is really quite simple. Trump’s best attribute is …. he
ain’t Hillary! She must not become President.
Much is at stake. It is not conspiracy theory to say that
a Clinton presidency, at this time in history, could mean
the end of America as we know it or the end of the
republic as it was founded. I fear we could be the
generation Ronald Reagan warned us about when he said if
Americans do not fight to maintain our freedom that, “one
day we will spend our sunset years telling our children
and our children’s children what it was like in the United
States when men were free.”
Defend freedom! Stop tyranny! Stop Hillary! The only way
to do that right now is to
VOTE TRUMP!
rem – “I’ve
never let my
schooling
interfere with
my
education.”
(Mark
Twain)
Question &
Thought &
ANDs.
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