Know Your Candidates

As I said last week, I believe it is the responsibility of Christians to be involved in the political process. As Christians we are citizens of heaven, but we are also citizens of the state and government in which we live. As the Bible says in Romans 13:1, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (NIV). Or as the Message paraphrase translation puts it, "Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen."

One of our responsibilities as a good citizen is to take part in the political process of choosing our leaders. When we opt out of participating in the selection process, or even running for politicaloffice ourselves, we leave the whole political process to unbelievers. That is going completely against biblical instruction that says we should be making a positive impact on the culture in which we live.

So with that being said, I feel we should get to know, first of all, our candidates running for President. Voting should not be about just casting a vote for my political party, or who's the best looking are smoothest talker. We need to know what our candidates believe, what they are saying about the issues that concern us, and how they have voted in the past, which tells a lot about where they stand on the issues. With the knowledge we acquire, we should weigh a candidates position against the teachings of scripture, and then pray about who we should vote for, asking God for wisdom in the process.

We also need to keep in mind, as President of the United States, we are not seeking to elect a person to be the pastor of our church, yet, on the other hand, we should seek to elect a person who comes closest to honoring a biblical worldview (that is seeing the world through the lens of God's word).

Last week I wrote about Barack Obama (see the posting below for June 19th). This week I would like to take a closer look at John McCain. So let's look at his position and statements on the same list of issues I addressed in the article on Obama.

Abortion:
In a 2008 speech John McCain described himself as decidedly pro-life:

I am pro-life and an advocate for the Rights of Man everywhere in the world, because to be denied liberty is an offense to nature and nature's Creator. I will never waver in that conviction. Our liberty will not be seized in a political revolution or by a totalitarian government. But, rather, as Burke warned, it can be "nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts." I am alert to that risk and will defend against it, and I will be encouraged in that defense by my fellow conservatives.¹

McCain gets a 0% rating by the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), indicating a pro-life voting record.² However he gets only a 75% rating from the National Right To Life Committee, which the group says indicates a “mixed record on abortion issues.”³ They’re no doubt referring to McCain’s previous statements about abortion, including a 1999 declaration that he didn’t support repealing the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision:

“I’d love to see a point where Roe vs. Wade is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support (the) repeal of Roe vs. Wade, which would then force women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.”⁴

Since then, a McCain spokesman has said that the Senator “has a 17-year voting record of supporting efforts to overturn Roe vs. Wade. He does that currently, and will continue to do that as president.” McCain has also supported the following statements:

1. Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.

2. Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as “partial-birth” abortion.

3. Prohibit public funding of abortions and public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.⁵

McCain has also voted “Yes” on a bill requiring parental notification in the case of minors who get out-of-state abortions, and requiring that parents be involved in abortion decisions involving their minor children.⁶

Gay Rights:
McCain has advocated leaving the issue of gay marriage up to the individual states, and voted against a constitutional ban of same-sex marriage when it came up in the U.S. Senate. The Arizona Senator also voted "Yes" on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996.⁷ That vote prohibited marriage between members of the same sex in federal law, and provided that no state be required to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. It also defined marriage as “between one man and one woman.”

On a related issue, the Arizona Senator also voted "No" on extending the definition of hate crimes to include sexual orientation, and also voted against prohibiting job discrimination based upon sexual orientation.⁸

John McCain gets a 33% rating from the Human Rights Campaign, which the organization says indicates a “mixed record” on gay rights.⁹ The HRC describes itself as the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization with more than 700,000 members.

During the June 3, 2007 GOP debate at Saint Anselm College, McCain said he supports the military’s “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy regarding gays in the armed forces:

We have the best-trained, most professional, best-equipped, most efficient, most wonderful military in the history of this country, and I'm proud of every one of them. So I think it would be a terrific mistake to even reopen the issue. The policy is working. And I am convinced that that's the way we can maintain this great military. Let's not tamper with them.¹⁰

Budget, Jobs & the Economy:
Addressing the question of the recession, McCain says the government must stop out-of-control spending:

Out-of-control spending is what caused the interest rates to rise. It causes people to be less able to afford to own their own homes. We need to stop the spending. And the way we can get our budget under control is to have strong, fundamental fiscal underpinnings.¹¹

McCain also promises to veto all pork-barrel bills and publicly call out big spenders. The Arizona Republican also voted in 2005 to increase the minimum wage to $7.25 over a two-year period¹² and voted "No" on restricting employer interference in union-organizing.¹³ McCain supports making the Bush tax cuts permanent, but admits that financially these are tough times.
McCain has been criticized for not being well-versed on economic issues and has made contradictory statements regarding his grasp of economic issues. During a 2008 GOP debate, McCain said he was “well-versed” in economics and was a part of the Reagan Revolution:

I was there just after we enacted the first tax cuts and the restraints on spending. I was chairman of the Commerce Committee in the Senate, which addresses virtually every major economic issue that affects the US. I'm very well versed on economics. That's why I have a strong team around me that respect my views and my vision. And I have been a consistent fighter to restrain spending and to cut taxes. And my credentials and my experience and my knowledge of these economic issues, I think, are extensive. And I would match them against anybody who's running.¹⁴

Despite McCain’s assertions, he admitted in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on November 26, 2005, “I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated." He apparently repeated those comments in a December, 2007 interview with the Chicago Tribune which quoted McCain as saying, “The issue of economics is something that I've really never understood as well as I should. I understand the basics, the fundamentals, the vision, all that kind of stuff."¹⁵

Universal Health Care:
John McCain opposes a mandated universal health care system and says he thinks affordable health care can be made available to all Americans without such a system. McCain rejects government-run systems such as those in Canada and in Europe and says he doubts they would succeed in the US. McCain says the U.S. has the highest quality of health care in the world and he wants to preserve the quality of that care and at the same time stop the skyrocketing costs. Unlike the Democratic proposals that have been floated by both Hillary Clinton and BarackObama, McCain says his system depends on the individual and the marketplace. Among his ideas:

• making recipients of health insurance much more responsible in health-care costs.

• Addressing wellness & fitness.

• Giving every American family a $5,000 refundable tax credit so they can go anyplace in America to acquire the health insurance policy that best suits their needs.

• Letting Americans keep any money they’ve got left over and letting them invest it in a health savings account.¹⁶

McCain also supports tax-free medical savings accounts and tax credits, and has come out in favor of a Patient's Bill of Rights, including appeal mechanisms when claims are denied, and the right to sue when claims are denied. He also wants to see expanded eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts, limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits, expanded prescription drug coverage under Medicare and tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.¹⁷

Homeland Security and Immigration: John McCain touts the strength of his record and experience in the area of the military and homeland security as his main strength for becoming the next Commander-In-Chief:

I've spent my life in national security issues. I've taken unpopular stances because I knew what was right. Back in 2003, amid criticism from my fellow Republicans, I spoke strongly against the Rumsfeld strategy, which I knew was doomed to failure and caused so much needless sacrifice. I advocated very strongly the new strategy that some Democrats have called the McCain strategy--which it is not. And I believe that this strategy is winning. I know the conflict. I know war. I have seen war. I know how the military works. I know how the government works. I understand national security.¹⁸

McCain also voted "Yes" on reauthorizing the Patriot Act and extending the FBI’s authority to conduct roving wiretaps and access business records through at least December 2009.¹⁹

On immigration, McCain would deport the 2 million illegal immigrants who committed crimes. He says despite humanitarian concerns, he’s committed to carrying out the mandate of the American people, which includes securing the borders as a national security issue.²⁰ The Arizona Senator has done an about-face on a 2006 immigration proposal he sponsored, now saying he no longer supports the measure that included a pathway to citizenship for illegals already in the U.S.:

We will secure the borders first when I am president. I know how to do that. I come from a border state, where we know about building walls, and vehicle barriers, and sensors, and all of the things necessary. I will have the border state governors certify the borders are secured. Then we will move onto the other aspects of this issue, including prosecuting employers who hire illegals to the fullest extent of the law.²¹

Summary:
John McCain is an enigma. Conservative on national security and immigration issues, he raises eyebrows from members of his own party over some of his views and votes on social and economic issues. Columnist Robert Novak may have said it best:

There is probably less enthusiasm for McCain at the grass roots of the Republican Party than we have seen for a Republican since Bob Dole in 1996. McCain definitely has not made his peace with all the conservative elements of the Republican coalition.²²

Consider the positions of John McCain, then the positions of Barak Obama, pray about it, seek God's face, and then vote for the one you feel supports a Christian worldview the best. We can't always find the perfect Christian person for the final candidacy of President, but we can, as a Christian people, vote for those who adhere the best to the principles, values, and moral standards of God.

References:
1 Speeches to 2008 Conservative Political Action Conference Feb 7, 2008
2 NARAL website 03n-NARAL on Dec 31, 2003
3 NRLC website 06n-NRLC on Dec 31, 2006
4 Ron Fournier, Associated Press Aug 24, 1999
5 Project Vote Smart, 1998, www.vote-smart.org Jul 2, 1998
6 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act; Bill S.403 ; vote number 2006-216 on Jul 25, 2006
7 Bill HR 3396 ; vote number 1996-280 on Sep 10, 1996
8 RSLevinson.com "All Things Queer", review of 2008 gay issues Jan 1, 2007
9 HRC website 06n-HRC on Dec 31, 2006
10 2007 GOP debate at Saint Anselm College Jun 3, 2007
11 2008 GOP debate in S.C. sponsored by Fox News Jan 10, 2008
12 Fair Minimum Wage Act; Bill H.R.2 ; vote number 2007-042 on Feb 1, 2007
13 Employee Free Choice Act; Bill H R 800 ; vote number 2007-227 on Jun 26, 2007
14 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida Jan 24, 2008
15 FactCheck.org on 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida Jan 24, 2008
16 2007 Republican primary debate on Univision Dec 9, 2007
17 National Political Awareness Test (NPAT) Nov 7, 2004
18 2007 GOP debate at UNH, sponsored by Fox News Sep 5, 2007
19 Motion for Cloture of PATRIOT Act; Bill HR 3199 ; vote number 2005-358 on Dec 16, 2005 20 2008 Republican debate at Reagan Library in Simi Valley Jan 30, 2008
21 2008 Republican debate at Reagan Library in Simi Valley Jan 30, 2008
22 Evans-Novak Political Report, June 3, 2008

This article was adapted from an article by Dave Ficere on Christ's Church of the Valley website. It can be found at www.ccvonline.com.