A faith perspective on current events. By: Fr. Steven Foppiano
Alone in the Political Wilderness
As a conservative I usually look to the Republican Party for political leadership in the causes I care most about. These are moral issues such as being pro-life, preserving marriage for heterosexual couples as a means to strengthen families, not funding infant embryo research, and keeping government out of our private lives. Unfortunately, I now seem to find myself adrift and without a party to represent me.
What has the California Republican Party supported lately? Was it a conservative candidate? Was it conservative moral ideals or less intrusive government? Was it less taxation and more individual freedom? No, the Republican Party contacted me not to support any of these causes. Instead the party asked me to support those referendums to support Indian casinos in return for more tax revenue. When did a political party care more about filling the coffers of government than getting its members elected? Why should I support a party which now declares the most important thing to be allowing casinos to fleece the poor and elderly of their money so the government can have more to spend?
It seems we are headed for the same scenario on a national level as John McCain, one who has stood in interference of conservative causes for years, seems about ready to win the party’s nomination. Where does a conservative turn to? Who supports my causes? Part of my Christian responsibility lends itself to the political leadership of this country. Who do I vote for that will best represent my causes? McCain, Obama, and Clinton seem to be unlikely candidates to represent me, especially since pro-choice Republicans have recently endorsed McCain.
I believe that, if given the choice, I will vote for Obama over McCain. I expect the same lack of representation from the three of them but do fear Clinton’s mean spirit enough to vote against her. If Obama makes it though, I see little difference between him and McCain and in support of my causes but at least he would be a breath of fresh air in our political system, would overcome long standing racial barriers, and would perhaps bring some healing to our society. I would also avoid rewarding McCain for the damage he has done over the years.
As for my causes, I can best help myself by looking beyond the presidency and looking to support those in the House of Representatives and the Senate that support my causes. This will keep whoever is President from running wild with our rights or wildly expanding the government. I may not have a representative in the Presidency but on a lower level maybe conservatives can put in a block and wait this bad time out. I lived through the Carter years so I can make it through this time as well. It is not a good place to be in the political world but it is the reality of the situation.
In the end I take solace in being able to place the whole mess in God’s hands. I do what I can, little as it may be. I have to believe that God is in charge and will somehow, as He has done so often in the past, make good on the poor choices made by His people.
Father Steven Foppiano
Okay, I bow to the popular opinion and admit to being temporarily deranged for considering a vote for Obama. When it comes down to it I will probably hold my nose and vote for McCain, as much as I dislike his self serving stances against conservative legislation in the past. But I have to admit that for a person who promises everything without really saying anything about how he would accomplish it, Obama does inspire. His age, his manner of speaking, and his minority status make him seem like a good choice to many who would love to see the power structure shook up a bit. Unfortunately what ideals he does espouse make him a very dangerous man, especially if these ideals are overlooked in favor of his charisma. I would love to see a black president, but I will wait for Conda Lisa Rice to run. Now there is an intelligent conservative, probably better qualified than any who ran for the nomination, who will have my vote if she ever runs for an office. Maybe McCain will choose her as a running mate. That would certianly get me excited about the Republican ticket and would turn my vote from one of reluctance to one of enthusiasm.
Comments
As a Liberal Democrat and a Obama supporter, we'll take a vote from where ever we can get it, but for Fr. Foppiano to prefer Sen. Obama over Sen. McCain because McCain is too liberal boggles the mind. Obama is pro-choice, pro stem cell research, and is arguably somewhat to the left of Clinton. McCain has an 83% conservative voting record while Obama's is near zero. I suggest that the good Father see some Jesuits and retake the course he failed to pass in Logic. He always has the option to write in Huckabee with his position that the Earth is 6,000 years old and the fossil record derives from the great flood!
Posted by: John Cecil | February 14, 2008 01:15 PM