Say it ain't so, Joe

I'm sorry to deviate from my carefully planned sequence of blog entries as I prepare to shut down on November 15, but a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll about the Presidential election jumped out at me tonight. It stated that evangelicals support McCain/Palin over Obama/Biden by a 76 to 20 percent margin. I could debate those numbers and honestly say that I know there is a shift to the center among many evangelicals, but the numbers are bloated beyond any sane explanation.

A young baseball fan encountered Shoeless Joe Jackson after the Black Sox betting scandal of 1919 and reportedly said "say it ain't so, Joe" to the accused, soon-to-be banned for life Chicago slugger.

Evangelical Christians please, say these numbers ain't so.

Nothing against John McCain, a courageous man, an American hero - a person it will be difficult to vote against. McCain is at heart a Goldwater libertarian, whose perception is that Federal Government exists to promote and protect the political, economic and military interests of the United States. His belief always has been that less government is better government, and because of this he has never pursued the very conservative agenda present in the strident voices of the Right - Limbaugh, O'Reilly and Robertson. Those three support McCain now because they hate Obama, not because they agree with McCain on the issues. McCain has always had a libertarian view on two issues that still strike to the heart of Evangelicals: Roe v. Wade and Gay Marriage. Goldwater wanted nothing to do with the Religious Right or the sort of fanaticism it brought to the Party. This year, McCain attempted to quell the revolt against a perceived lack of fervor regarding these two "stains on the soul of America" by nominating Sarah Palin as his running mate.

What an awful decision that was. I don't care if she's pretty, energetic, charismatic, doctrinally pure, dead right on the issues, she is still ill-equipped to be President; probably the least qualified running mate in my lifetime. Dan Quayle was pretty bad (1988&1992 with George Bush the elder), but Quayle was a US Senator at the time of his nomination.

Palin's ignorance of domestic and foreign policy, clearly seen at critical points in interviews with the media and in taped gaffes on the campaign trail, leave little doubt that she hasn't a clue about the job she will get if McCain wins in November or, god forbid, if she inherits the Presidency due to a recurrence of McCain's melanoma.

I don't know how reasonable, intelligent people (and I believe most Evangelicals are both) can ignore the consequences of Palin's election and continue to support her. As for her evangelical politics, it is folly to think that legislation will end abortion in America. Ever. It is wishful thinking that gay marriage will be derailed by any legislation. I fully expect that it will be legal in at least 45 states by 2025.

Evangelicals are looking to the wrong institution to change the world. Politics and Government both like whitewash and bullshit. They approach problems on the macro-level, and spiritual concerns, emotional hurts and mental problems are best addressed on the micro level. It's so easy to get duped by politicians who promise things that can never be, and to get consumed with solving things by changing law and electing candidates.

If you honestly think 4 decades of political action by evangelicals has accomplished earth shattering things, think again. The Jesus Movement (1968-1973) concentrated on conversion and clean living, not politics, and it had a tremendous influence on tens of millions of people. Micro change happens in discussions in your living room, through your character at work, by serving the poor on the streets and in rescue missions, by listening and responding to the needs of your neighbors. If you want to stop abortion, work to prevent pregnancy and provide an option to someone facing unexpected, and unwanted, motherhood. If you have problems with homosexuality, engage homosexuals, especially those in long term relationships, the very people evangelicals want to deny marriage to.

Politics is ineffective, but it's easier. You can hide behind bills and attempted legislation. But you don't change anything most of the time, because change happens when people change, and people change when they catch the vision, joy, commitment, passion and zeal of other people. All of this occurs "off the radar," where change is a process not a law.

I admit, I don't believe that living in a democracy makes any difference to Jesus' command to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. Civil authority, however it is arrived at, should never be expected to trumpet the Kingdom of God, and if it does, look out the window, we're in Tehran pushing Islam's Sharia Law. Or on the set of the 700 Club, where Pat Robertson is pushing for Theocracy in Washington.

In spite of my belief in micro versus macro models, I haven't shaken my addiction to casting my ballot. I will vote for a Democratic Presidential candidate this year. I have voted for Republican and third party candidates in the past, but never for a Democrat.

I really like John McCain, but if you have followed Sarah Palin during this campaign and have decided that you are confident in her ability to run the Country in case something happens to 72 year old cancer survivor, all I can comment is:

"Say it ain't so, Joe."