The Anti-Christian Christian Republicans

Murray Sabrin

During the GOP presidential debates stark differences between the gang of nine—-pro-war, pro-spending, pro-regulation—-and Ron Paul, the proponent of limited government and a noninterventionist foreign policy, has become more and more evident, so much so that even the obtuse members of the mainstream media (MSM) should realize that only the Texas congressman carries the Reagan mantle…“getting government off our backs.”

At the June 5th GOP debate, Ron Paul achieved another glorious moment in the history of presidential debates. The moment came after a philosophy professor asked the following question: “My question is a simple one: In your opinion, what is the most pressing moral issue facing this country today? And, if you're elected president, how would you address that issue.”

Contrast Ron Paul’s response with two other second tier “conservative” candidates.
PAUL: "I think it is the acceptance just recently that we now promote preemptive war. I do not believe that's part of the American tradition.

We, in the past, have always declared war in defense of our liberties or go to aid somebody. But now we have accepted the principle of preemptive war. We have rejected the just war theory of Christianity. (Emphasis added)

"And now, tonight, we hear that we're not even willing to remove from the table a preemptive nuclear strike against a country (Iran) that has done no harm to us directly and is no threat to our national security." "I mean, we have to come to our senses about this issue of war and preemption and go back to traditions and our Constitution and defend our liberties and defend our rights, but not to think that we can change the world by force of arms and to start wars."

Former Governor Huckabee responded with the following: “I really believe that, if you define it a moral issue, it is our respect, our sanctity and our understanding of the value of every single human life. Because that is what makes America a unique place on this planet: We value every life of an individual as if it represents the life of us all. Many of us who are pro-life, quite frankly, I think, have made the mistake of giving people the impression that pro-life means we care intensely about people as long as that child is in the womb. But beyond the gestation period, we've not demonstrated as demonstrably as we should that we respect life at all levels, not just during pregnancy."

“We shouldn't allow a child to live under a bridge or in the backseat of a car. We shouldn't be satisfied that elderly people are being abused and neglected in nursing homes. It should never be acceptable to us that people are treated as expendable -- any people. But the unique part of our country is that we elevate and we celebrate human life. And if you look at us with a contrast to the Islamic jihadists, who would strap a bomb to the belly of their own child, march him into a crowded room, set the detonator and kill innocent people, they celebrate death; we celebrate life." “It's the fundamental thing that makes us unique, and it keeps us free. I pray we never, ever abandon that basic principle.”

Senator Brownback continued with the same mantra: “I think it's the life issue clearly, and I'm pro-life and I'm whole life. And one of the things I'm the most -- the proudest about our party about is that we've stood for life. We've been a party that has stood for a culture of life. And it was in our platform in 1980, and it continues today. And with that respect -- and I have respect for my other colleagues -- that's why I don't think we can nominate somebody that's not pro-life in this party, because it is at our core. We believe that every life is beautiful, is sacred, and is a child of a loving God from natural -- from conception to natural death. And that applies not only here and in the womb, it applies to somebody that's in poverty, it applies to the child in Darfur. And that philosophy, being pro-life and whole life, is something I think can really help move us forward as a country and as a party.”

Pro-life also means the U.S. government should not be taking the lives of innocents overseas. Yet both Huckabee and Brownback, in shamelessly appealing to social conservative voters, expressed their pro-life credentials, except when it comes to the sanctity of life in Iraq. Moreover, they imply that being pro-life also means supporting a comprehensive welfare state here at home. In addition, the “pro-life” Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, and, according to some estimates, about 70,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in the sectarian violence that has been unleashed in the past four years. Bush’s immoral legacy will not be altered by the DC spinmeisters of both parties and GOP candidates like Rudy Giuliani who think the invasion of Iraq was a good and necessary act.

But September 11th changed that, we have been repeatedly told by the propagandists in Washington and in the media. Now, we have to “fight them over there, so we don’t have to fight them here.” This cartoonist slogan is more pap for the great unwashed in our country who think preemptive war is a glorious adventure.

As Ron Paul has pointed out in the GOP presidential debaters, the U.S. government’s Middle East policy has lead to blowback for decades, and the bombings against American targets are the consequences of America’s bipartisanship interventionist foreign policy. Slowly, the American people are beginning to embrace Ron Paul’s message. By early 2008, if enough anti-war GOP voters and independents go to the polls, Ron Paul will be the GOP presidential candidate.

In the meantime, the nine GOP candidates who have been wrapping themselves in the cloth of their faiths, are being exposed by Ron Paul for their anti-Christianity, at least when it comes the most important moral issue of our time, war and peace. If most Christian GOP primary voters are true to their faith, they will vote enthusiastically for Ron Paul. If they reject Ron’s candidacy, they will demonstrate once again that hypocrisy has no bounds.

Murray Sabrin, Ph.D., is professor of finance in the Anisfield School of Business at Ramapo College, where he is executive director of the Center for Business and Public Policy.