Politics
The Smoking Gun of the Most Important Election of our Lifetime?
Today is primary day in the state of Washington and our family sat down and dutifully filled out our ballots last night in keeping with the responsibilities of citizenship.
As we talked over who to vote for, we discussed the various principles involved in making wise voting decisions. This is especially important in 2012 as I believe the November 6 national elections in the United States are the most important of our lifetime. America is at a tipping point. We are desperate for renewal and ripe for collapse without a change of leadership and direction.
We should start with humbling ourselves and praying. This is first of all a spiritual battle. After that, what should we consider when we vote?
And in the 2012 presidential election, has a true smoking gun emerged that could lead to the election of Mitt Romney?
First of all, a few principles I use in choosing good candidates:
1. The character of the person running for office. Are they a person of faith, morality, a Judeo-Christian view of life, and strong personal integrity?
2. If these qualities are true among a number of candidates, then who is the most elect able of the group?
3. If I don’t know the candidates (such as in some lower-level or non-partisan races), then who are the people and groups that endorse them? This tells you a lot about the principles and views of the world-be office holder. Republicans generally have a more faith, family, and freedom oriented worldview. Democrats tend to be more supportive of big government.
In this particular primary, I supported mostly Republicans, but I also voted for three Democrats. Don’t be beholden to parties–but to principles.
4. What is the experience and competency of the individual running for office. Do they have executive or legislative experience? Have they successfully run a business? Does their resume indicate they would bring real life experience and competency to the office they seek?
5. Is there any corruption, deception, questionable character or outright evil in their lives? This should disqualify a person from being a “servant of the people.”
It is this area that fascinates me as I read today a bombshell of an article about possible deception in the life of President Obama.
As you probably know, Barack Obama has consistently refused to release his college records. Apparently, he has spent millions of dollars to do so. At the same time, he and his surrogates have been voraciously asking Mitt Romney to produce more tax returns.
The following article by businessman and fellow Columbia University classmate Allyn Root enourages Mitt Romney to release his tax returns when Obama unseals his transcripts.
Would be a good step of transparency for both. And if President Obama fails to do so, then Mr. Root builds an interesting case that this could be a true smoking gun in the 2012 election.
Here’s the article. Judge for yourself. And let’s all continue to pray for the most important election in our lifetime.
The Obama Scandal is at Columbia
By Wayne Allyn Root, former Libertarian vice presidential nominee. Root now serves as Chairman of the Libertarian National Campaign Committee.
“I am President Obama’s classmate at Columbia University, Class of ’83. I am also one of the most accurate Las Vegas oddsmakers and prognosticators. Accurate enough that I was awarded my own star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. And I smell something rotten in Denmark. Obama has a big skeleton in his closet. It’s his college records. Call it “gut instinct” but my gut is almost always right. Obama has a secret hidden at Columbia–and it’s a bad one that threatens to bring down his presidency. Gut instinct is how I’ve made my living for 29 years since graduating Columbia.”
“Obama and his infamous strategist David Axelrod understand how to play political hardball, the best it’s ever been played. Team Obama has decided to distract America’s voters by condemning Mitt Romney for not releasing enough years of his tax returns. It’s the perfect cover. Obama knows the best defense is a bold offense. Just keep attacking Mitt and blaming him for secrecy and evasion, while accusing him of having a scandal that doesn’t exist. Then ask followers like Senator Harry Reid to chase the lead. The U.S. Senate Majority Leader appears to now be making up stories out of thin air, about tax returns he knows nothing about. It’s a cynical, brilliant, and vicious strategy. Make Romney defend, so he can’t attack the real Obama scandal.”
“This is classic Axelrod. Obama has won several elections in his career by slandering his opponents and leaking sealed documents. Not only do these insinuations and leaks ruin the credibility and reputation of Obama’s opponents, they keep them on the defensive and off Obama’s trail of sealed documents.”
“By attacking Romney’s tax records, Obama’s socialist cabal creates a problem that doesn’t exist. Is the U.S. Senate Majority Leader making up stories out of thin air? You decide. But the reason for this baseless attack is clear- make Romney defend, so not only is he “off message” but it helps the media ignore the real Obama scandal.”
“My answer for Romney? Call Obama’s bluff.”
“Romney should call a press conference and issue a challenge in front of the nation. He should agree to release more of his tax returns, only if Obama unseals his college records. Simple and straight-forward. Mitt should ask “What could possibly be so embarrassing in your college records from 29 years ago that you are afraid to let America’s voters see? If it’s THAT bad, maybe it’s something the voters ought to see.” Suddenly the tables are turned. Now Obama is on the defensive.”
“My bet is that Obama will never unseal his records because they contain information that could destroy his chances for re-election. Once this challenge is made public, my prediction is you’ll never hear about Mitt’s tax returns ever again.”
“Why are the college records, of a 51-year-old President of the United States, so important to keep secret? I think I know the answer.”
“If anyone should have questions about Obama’s record at Columbia University, it’s me. We both graduated (according to Obama) Columbia University, Class of ’83. We were both (according to Obama) Pre-Law and Political Science majors. And I thought I knew most everyone at Columbia. I certainly thought I’d heard of all of my fellow Political Science majors. But not Obama (or as he was known then- Barry Soetoro). I never met him. Never saw him. Never even heard of him. And none of the classmates that I knew at Columbia have ever met him, saw him, or heard of him.”
“But don’t take my word for it. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2008 that Fox News randomly called 400 of our Columbia classmates and never found one who had ever met Obama.”
“Now all of this mystery could be easily and instantly dismissed if Obama released his Columbia transcripts to the media. But even after serving as President for 3 1/2 years he refuses to unseal his college records. Shouldn’t the media be as relentless in pursuit of Obama’s records as Romney’s? Shouldn’t they be digging into Obama’s past–beyond what he has written about himself–with the same boundless enthusiasm as Mitt’s?”
“The first question I’d ask is, if you had great grades, why would you seal your records? So let’s assume Obama got poor grades. Why not release the records? He’s president of the free world, for gosh sakes. He’s commander-in-chief of the U.S. military. Who’d care about some poor grades from three decades ago, right? So then what’s the problem? Doesn’t that make the media suspicious? Something doesn’t add up.”
“Secondly, if he had poor grades at Occidental, how did he get admitted to an Ivy League university in the first place? And if his grades at Columbia were awful, how’d he ever get into Harvard Law School? So again those grades must have been great, right? So why spend millions to keep them sealed?”
“Third, how did Obama pay for all these fancy schools without coming from a wealthy background? If he had student loans or scholarships, would he not have to maintain good grades?”
“I can only think of one answer that would explain this mystery.”
“Here’s my gut belief: Obama got a leg up by being admitted to both Occidental and Columbia as a foreign exchange student. He was raised as a young boy in Indonesia. But did his mother ever change him back to a U.S. citizen? When he returned to live with his grandparents in Hawaii or as he neared college-age preparing to apply to schools, did he ever change his citizenship back? I’m betting not.”
“If you could unseal Obama’s Columbia University records I believe you’d find that:
A) He rarely ever attended class.
B) His grades were not those typical of what we understand it takes to get into Harvard Law School.
C) He attended Columbia as a foreign exchange student.
D) He paid little for either undergraduate college or Harvard Law School because of foreign aid and scholarships given to a poor foreign students like this kid Barry Soetoro from Indonesia.”
“If you think I’m ‘fishing’ then prove me wrong. Open up your records Mr. President. What are you afraid of?”
“If it’s okay for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to go on a fishing expedition about Romney’s taxes (even though he knows absolutely nothing about them nor will release his own), then I think I can do the same thing. But as Obama’s Columbia Class of ’83 classmate, at least I have more standing to make educated guesses.”
“It’s time for Mitt to go on the attack and call Obama’s bluff.”
President Obama and the Spirit of Lawlessness
President Barack’s Obama stunning political pandering for the Hispanic vote this week–granting amnesty to the children of illegal aliens by executive fiat–gives us another window into the soul of the world’s most powerful leader.
The picture is not pretty–and is actually quite scary.
The primary role of any chief executive, the ultimate position being the president of the United States, is to enforce the rule of law. That’s what he or she swears an oath of office to do.
But this president now seems to be making it a habit to choose which laws he desires to enforce. He is acting like a king or dictator, not the servant of law, freedom, and order.
The Bible calls this a “spirit of lawlessness,” and there are grave consequences associated with it.
I’d like to share a lengthy Scripture passage that talks about this spirit in detail. A “spirit” is either a heavenly being such as a demon that possesses a rebellious mind-set toward God, or a human attitude that mirrors the same. Let’s discuss the human side today.
Before we look at the Scripture, I want to make one thing clear: I am not in any way equating our president with the biblical Anti-Christ who is mentioned in this passage. Yes, there will be an anti-Christ global leader one day, but it’s also true that there are many anti-Christ attitudes and people in the world (1 John 2:18). It’s a mind-set–an attitude toward authority.
And all people, including myself, can participate in a lawless mind-set that is at war with the purposes of God. None of us are above it. We can all take on an anti-Christ attitude–if we choose to do so.
In this case, we’re analyzing the mind-set of the president of the United States. Remember that as you reflect on Paul’s words:
“For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed–the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy every god there is and tear down every object of adoration and worship. He will position himself in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. Don’t you remember that I told you this when I was with you? And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.”
“For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus Christ will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. This evil man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on the way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them. So God will send great deception upon them, and they will believe all these lies. Then they will be condemned for not believing the truth and for enjoying the evil they do.”
“As for us, we always thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are thankful that God chose you be among the first to experience salvation, a salvation that came through the Spirit and by your belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-13 – New Living Translation).
This is a long passage with many insights. Notice a number of pertinent facts:
- Lawlessness grows like a weed when people have rebellious hearts (verse 3).
- There is a pride thing involved in lawlessness where we make ourselves “God” by the arrogant things we do (verse 4).
- Satan himself is behind the spirit of lawlessness (verse 9).
- People who share in the lawless mind-set are deceived because they are rejecting the truth (verses 10, 11).
- Lawlessness and its poison will be directly destroyed by Jesus one day (verse 9).
Now let’s return to our American president for whom all of us are praying.
Over the past three and a half years., President Obama, as an executive leader, has increasingly participated in a spirit of lawlessness related to his responsibilities.
An early instance related to immigration when his Administration sued the state of Arizona over its newly passed immigration law. Arizona wanted its borders protected and defended. The federal government wasn’t doing it, so Governor Jan Brewer and the legislature took matters in their own hands and passed a necessary law. The Obama Administration cried “foul,” and tied up the state in court. At the same time, the president made it known through Attorney General Eric Holder that the feds would not perform their duties. They didn’t like the law–they needed Latino votes–and wouldn’t enforce it.
A spirit of lawlessness.
Next up was the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which protects the five thousand year institution of marriage in all fifty states. In brazen defiance of this law passed by President Clinton, the Obama White House told Congress that it would no longer prosecute violations of DOMA. In the beginning, this refusal was bad enough. But when the president recently came out of the closet endorsing homosexual marriage, it was finally understood that he wanted to change the definition of marriage–and to heck with the laws of the land!
A spirit of lawlessness.
The president also made a priority in his first term to try and pass Cap & Trade–a draconian strangulation of the environment and energy use under the guise of curbing global warming. Congress refused the legislation, so the Obama Administration ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do the same thing via a drip-feed method of agency policy. This move was a blatant end-around to circumvent the laws of Congress.
A spirit of lawlessness.
The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), but I am expecting that either the entire law will be struck down or, at least, the individual mandate which forces them to buy health care against their will. The entire bill was pushed through Congress in a lawless fashion with bribes, back room deals, and deliberate confusion (Nancy Pelosi famously said they’d have to approve the bill so we could then find out what was in it).
The Obama Administration knew from the beginning that it was lawless–against the Constitution of the United States. But they wasted a year of our time–not helping the flagging economy–because the goal of lawlessness is dominating other people’s lives (tyranny). The end was worth the means to an Administration that wanted to grab control of one-sixth of the world’s largest economy.
A spirit of lawlessness.
This week the President of the United States stood in the White House Rose Garden and announced to the nation that children of illegal aliens, sixteen and under, would be granted special rights to work and live in America. Actually, it’s a good policy. I’m a supporter of the DREAM Act which would not have penalized children for the sins of their parents. That’s fair, a no-brainer and very biblical (Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:20).
But again–the end doesn’t not justify the means. Congress makes the laws in this nation. Not the president. Yes, he can release executive orders in various categories, but not change the standing of American law. His job is to convince Congress of the right direction to go, and their enforce the laws they enact.
Anything less is haughty, rebellious, and dereliction of duty. It is an anti-God spirit that promotes its own will over that or others. It is the opposite of the spirit of the Kingdom of God which includes humility, selflessness, submission, and obedience to loving authority (Romans 14:17).
Family Research Council had it right when they described the president’s spirit of lawlessness:
“When Americans elected Barack Obama, they believed they were voting for a chief executive. What they got is a chief legislator and chief justice. If the administration doesn’t like a law, they call it unconstitutional and ignore it. If they can’t pass a policy democratically, they enact it anyway…The pattern of abuses is so out of hand that even media outlets like Politico are suggesting that the President’s ‘policy strategy’ is ‘ignore laws.”‘
“In the end, today’s debate isn’t about immigration. It’s a debate about the limits of executive authority — a conversation that goes back some 237 years. Our founding fathers shed a lot of blood to avoid what this White House increasingly resembles — a monarchy with absolute power. While the President can try to bypass the law, one thing he cannot bypass is voters. And ultimately, his interpretation of the separation of powers will be subject to the ultimate checks and balances: November 6 ballots.”
There is a lawless spirit operating in the highest echelons of the current White House. The last time this happened in these hallowed quarters was under the tenure of Richard Nixon, a Republican. He also thought he was above the law and could do what he pleased. His presidency crashed and burned. I voted for Nixon in my first swipe as an adult citizen. I regret my naive vote.
Now we have a Democrat who clearly manifests a spirit of lawlessness. Most of his lawless deeds are rooted in narcissism–a quest for personal power and aggrandizement. It is a scary moment for the American Republic. For when a your leader is lawless then the people are unrestrained.
A nation without the rule of law devolves into chaos. Is that the American future? I hope not.
Exercise your own self-control (and wisdom) by voting correctly on November 6.
Time to Unite Behind Mitt Romney for President
I serve on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals–the largest leadership consortium of churches and Christian leaders in the United States.
Nine months ago the organization sent a questionnaire to its members asking us which person we favored for president of the United States. At that time there were twelve different candidates in the race–plenty of good people to choose from.
This may surprise some of you, but without hesitation I voted for Mitt Romney.
It looks like the people of Florida agree with me. Because of their decisive vote, and what will follow in the month of February, it is time for people that care about America’s future to unite behind Mitt Romney and propel him to the White House. Here’s why.
First of all, let’s mention the qualities that are crucial for a US president or any elected leader. I believe that two areas are paramount:
- Good Character–including experience, competence, elect ability, judgment and associations. A person’s character includes faith, but it is not the defining issue. We are not electing a pastor. We are electing a leader who is proven, trustworthy, and competent in the area of governing.
- Right Policies– on economics, foreign affairs, and moral/social issues. This is the leader’s worldview which flows from their faith and character. These policy principles should be based on the biblical understanding of God-given rights, faith and morality, free enterprise, hard work, personal responsibility, compassion for the needy, and a strong national defense.
Now let’s look at the three major candidates that have risen to the top of the Republican field. I have met one of them personally, have carefully followed the career of another, and have grown to appreciate the candidacy of the third.
Rick Santorum
I met Rick Santorum in the mid-1990s when he was a young senator from Pennsylvania. We worked on some projects together and I enjoyed spending time with him in his office on Capitol Hill. I admire his strong faith (Catholic) and firm commitment to family values. His own personal family is both a model of grace and good example to the nation.
In policy areas, Rick is a steady conservative on most issues–probably the most principled of the three. He has his weaknesses which include a penchant for earmarks, his support of labor unions (Pennsylvania is not a Right to Work state), and tendency to some big government solutions.
His biggest weakness is his lack of executive experience and national stature. He lost his last senatorial election by double digits. And until recently, he was nationally unknown–which is one of the reasons for his lack of a credible organization and fund-raising prowess.
Rick Santorum’s day will come. But he hasn’t paid his dues yet to claim the prize of president of the United States.
Newt Gingrich
I’ve never had the privilege of meeting Newt Gingrich but I have followed his career and love his boldness, big ideas and clarity on issues. But his volatile personality and marriage failures are a major weakness. He was involved in a number of affairs, two failed marriages, and was forced to leave his House leadership due to character issues and poor leadership style. He paid a $300,000 fine for one charge of ethics violations.
Newt is a gunslinger that left some collateral damage from his years as House Speaker. To his credit, he now purports to have experienced salvation through his Catholic faith and I have no reason to doubt him. We Americans believe in redemption.
But forgiveness and trustworthiness are two different things. One is immediate and the other is earned. Newt may have found his way back to national popularity, but his potential violatility is a gamble for all who vote for him. Time will tell whether he has truly matured or is just doing a good job of covering his weaknesses.
His experience in government is vast. The Contract with America, the four budgets he helped balance as Speaker of the House, and his championing conservative principles are laudable. But he has no real executive experience. Well–he has a qualified version as House Speaker, but his record there was mixed at best and destructive at worst. And his judgment should be questioned for things like working with Fannie Mae, supporting global warming, giving lip service to Cap and Trade and a healthcare mandate, and numerous other political indiscretions.
Elect ability is the biggest issue. I believe he could beat Barack Obama under the right circumstances, but his unfavorable rating of 57% is a potential albatross. Even if he made it to the White House, would an unpredictable President Gingrich make some mistakes that would discredit conservatives for decades? It’s a big risk. Don’t forget this fact: He is the ultimate Washington insider. Is that who we need in the White House in 2012?
On the other hand, Newt would probably be the boldest president of all with a consistent conservative agenda. He’d fire the czars, dismantle Obamacare, change the tax code, and go after big government entitlements. He’d be tough on Iran and move the Israeli embassy to Jerusalem. He would also lead the charge against anti-Christiian bigotry in the nation.
He would probably make a great president–if he didn’t make a disastrous one.
Mitt Romney
That brings us to the man I am growing to appreciate and believe is our best choice for president. He is probably not my natural pick, but I believe he is right for America at this crucial time in our history.
First of all, let’s mention the negatives. His Mormon faith is not as “clear” as evangelical faith, but it’s God-fearing and family-centered. Mormonism is outside the Christian mainstream, but it often produces hard-working, moral, and family-oriented people who make good leaders. He should not be rejected for his faith.
Mitt Romney also has past moderate views. But to be fair, that’s also true of Newt Gingrich who began his career as a “Rockefeller Republican.” He changed–and Mitt Romney did too (so did Ronald Reagan). It is no small feat that Governor Romney was elected governor in one of the bluest states in America and led that state in a variety of conservative successes.
Today, Mitt Romney stands squarely behind the Judeo-Chrisian principles of life, liberty, marriage, economic freedom, and national security.
“Romneycare” is a problem. It takes away a big issue from the debate with Obama. But I agree with the governor that state choices are different than national ones. Mitt Romney has promised to give waivers on Obamacare to all fifty states his first day in office and work to repeal it. There are enough differences here with Barack Obama to give Governor Romney an edge–but not a pass.
So what are the main reasons to vote for Mitt Romney?
1. His national stature. Romney has earned the right to represent the Republicans this year. He came in second to John McCain in 2008, and has used his time since then to build a national organization and campaign that is without equal on the Republican side.
The other campaigns can complain about the inequality of money and organization. But that’s the same argument as Barack Obama’s class warfare rhetoric. Mitt Romney has the money and professional team because he earned it--he built it from the ground up and attracted the support. National stature is earned, not inherited. He’s the only R that has it.
2. His business experience and background. This election will ultimately hinge on the dismal economy. Mitt Romney is the only man in the race who is sharp on economics, was immensely successful in the private sphere, and will have the authority to speak and lead on these issues. In the economic debate, he will clean Barack Obama’s clock because our current president has never had a real job nor knows how to generate them. Mitt Romney is a wise and successful businessman who can turn around an Olympics and hopefully do the same for a nation.
3. He is the only Washington outsider in the race. Think about that. Rick Santorum has spent most of his adult life among Washington elites. Newt Gingrich is the poster child of a Washington insider. Barack Obama knows nothing but government service–and community organizing.
Mitt Romney is a business leader and governor who will come to a city he has never lived in to take on the powers that be. Yeah, he may not be a pit-bull like Newt, but despite his wealth, he is one of us. He has never resided within the Beltway.
4. His elect ability. The polls have consistently shown that Mitt Romney has the best chance of beating Barack Obama. And that is the number one goal. I have nothing personally against the president. He seems to be a nice man with a good family and he excels behind the teleprompter and on the stump.
But President Obama lacks executive skills and his quasi-socialist policies are killing this nation. The Democratic Party, in control of the US Senate, has not produced a budget for over 1000 days. The president has no idea what to do about creating jobs, he’s tearing down the Christian fabric of the nation at many turns, and he’s emboldened our enemies around the world.
Barack Obama is a great politician but an incompetent leader. Mitt Romney has the best chance of stopping the damage.
5. And for fun, let’s throw in one more: Romney looks presidential. Hey, in the age of 24-7 media, that ‘s a pretty big deal. Can you imagine Mitt Romney, his family, and his policies representing the United States around the world? I can–and that image will benefit our nation.
Now that Romney has decisively won Florida, it’s possible that he may run the table in the coming month. Key primaries and caususes include Nevada, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado and Arizona. After that, he is the only Republican candidate with the money and organization to compete on Super Tuesday, March 6.
We must get behind him and stop the in-fighting. We also need a Republican (conservative) House and Senate to complete the change in direction. We need to focus like a laser beam on building a movement that can bring some hope to a nation that is running out of time.
There are no perfect candidates. But we have a good one in Washington outsider, successful businessman and governor Mitt Romney.
It’s time to unite behind Mitt Romney for president.