With a Whimper

It has been a week since Obama came out as openly in favor of gay marriage.  Everyone keeps saying that the economy is still the main topic of interest for this election cycle.  For me having gay marriage on the table is much more significant than the economy.  Here's why.

Given two candidates, both of which are saying they want the economy to improve, how do you decide which one to support?  It's possible you tell the guy who has already been working on the economy for four years that he has had his chance, and you bring in someone new to take a crack at it.  However, even if you don't like the current state of the economy you might just support the incumbent, based on an affinity for his race or the way he so readily supports the socialist lifestyle you're longing to live.

But what if those two candidates come squarely down on two different sides of a moral issue.  Can a Bible-loving American Christian honestly support the candidate who is promoting gay marriage?  In my mind that fact ought to clearly trump any other connection a voter may feel for Obama.  I am already visualizing election night, as returns come in from across the south in favor of Romney.  A clear message to Obama, and all the other outspoken supporters of gay marriage, letting them know that the choice they've made is wrong and this great country is not going to stand for it no matter how progressive they try to make it sound.

Jesse Jackson recently got in line behind Obama, announcing that the fight for gay marriage is akin to the fight against slavery.  He's so wrong I can hardly stand it.  Choosing to engage in a certain behavior does not qualify someone to receive special civil rights!  As soon as we make that leap we open the door to nonsense like they now have in the Netherlands, where pedophiles have banded together to form a political party and fight for their rights.  Their right to be pedophiles?!?  That is nobody's right!  And yet, once the homosexual agenda manages to break this ground it's only a matter of time before we follow the Dutch down their ridiculous path.

What's left to do, but wait for the foundations of society to slowly crumble beneath our feet.  Fortunately, I still hold out hope that the tide has not turned quite yet.  As long as the voice of the people unites in support of morality I can continue to hold out hope for this great country.  If, to my great disappointment, the tables are turned in November, and Obama emerges victorious, then his win will signal a major loss for all of us.  As Mosiah, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, put it:

[If] the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land. (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 29:27)

I really hope we're not to that point yet.  I think we'll have a definitive answer, come November.

Rush to the Middle!

I really like the way Rick Santorum's campaign doesn't let a silly thing like logic get in the way of running for office.  I am getting a little sick of his argument that he should be the Republican nominee because he's the most conservative.  Then in the same breath he declares how important it is to get Obama out of office.  In all the primary exit polling the Republican voters have agreed with him: whoever the Republican nominee is will get their vote because they want Obama out.

So how does it make sense to pick the most conservative nominee?  Santorum says that Romney won't be able to differentiate himself from Obama, and will therefore lose the general election.  On the contrary, Senator, Romney's moderate placement makes him an ideal challenger to put up against Obama in November.  Consider how these two possible scenarios will play out:

1. Santorum somehow gets the nomination.  He steps up as Obama's challenger.  Republicans side with Santorum.  Democrats side with Obama.  The swing vote is up for grabs.  People who swung towards Obama four years ago may be a bit dissatisfied with him, but they picked him four years ago and they'll probably be inclined to give him a bit more time (four more years' worth).  After all, he convinced them to vote for him four years ago, so he'll probably do it again.  Obama for the win.
2. Romney gets the nomination, as everyone is already expecting.  He continues his well organized, well funded campaign on into the general election.  Republicans rally behind Romney, as planned.  Democrats side with Obama.  Suddenly the swing voters have a real choice to make.  No longer do they have to worry that a vote for Santorum is a vote for a crazy conservative that they can't identify with.  Now they've got moderate Romney to consider.  The swing vote now gets split, and with an alternative to Obama who swing voters can actually see from where they stand on the political spectrum (unlike Santorum, off in the right wing) they give Romney a chance and Obama finishes as a one-term president.

Q.E.D.

Give It Up!

I've been waiting for the return of Mitt Romney since he dropped out of the 2008 primaries. I hoped he would be back, and he hasn't disappointed this time around. Last time it was no fun watching him lose at the polls. What a difference four years has made.

And yet, I find myself very frustrated even with all of Mitt's success. In the background are these noisy detractors who just won't go away. I'm looking at you, Gingrich and Santorum! I patiently waited while Perry, Bachmann, and Cain got the hint. (Seriously, Herman, you're thinking you should run for president with that chequered past of yours?) I breathed a sigh of relief when Palin announced she wouldn't be running. (The Republican name can only stand so much embarrassment. The country is not laughing with you, Sarah!) And I don't mind Ron Paul so much. Watching him pick up delegates is like watching two kids play "who can hit the softest". Good job Ron - you're going to be the only person in history to stay in the race to the end with so few delegates.

But, seriously, what is up with Gingrich and Santorum? Frankly, Gingrich is a bit of a joke too. And in a way I appreciate him splitting the vote and bringing Santorum down. But at the same time I get so annoyed to hear their campaigns talking about the importance of sticking out this race. Sticking out the race clear to the convention EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE KNOWS THEY CAN'T WIN! The foundation has been laid. The delegate tide is not possibly going to turn at this point, no matter how much support you guys can muster. Enough already!

I once observed that a trip to Las Vegas is essentially a tailor-made vacation for people who are really bad at math. So hey, Newt and Rick, if you need a break from the campaign trail I know just the place for you two to take some time off.