Well said, David, well said. I'm so tired of being told I somehow dishonored God by trying to determine which of the two candidates would be less wicked in office and then voting accordingly. I think your point that unless we wrote in Christ Jesus we will always be voting for some sort of evil is an excellent one, and one that people can lose sight of easily.

I voted 3rd party for the first time this year. First and foremost because I thought that both candidates thought that government is the answer. Secondly because in my state (MI) a vote for McCain wouldn't have helped. So I won't pontificate pseudo-piously about your decision to do so. Yet I don't think what I did was a 'token gesture' or that it was not potentially effective and merely symbolic- any more than a vote for McCain would have been.

I will be praying that God will remove his heart of stone and give him a heart of flesh and grant him repentance."

Thanks for that reminder. We should all be doing that.

Reading this post was very cathartic. These are the thoughts that have been rolling around in my head since Tuesday night. Yesterday it seemed everywhere I turned people were trying to put a "happy" spin on things and pretend Obama is something he is not. I feel like Alice in Wonderland.
Christians don't seem to realize that God can and does ordain events that chasten. I guess this is the fruit of all the bad doctrine being taught in America's churches.

You made some excellent points. I had been tempted to vote 3rd party, and felt a bit guilty that I went ahead and voted for McCain. I won't judge those who voted 3rd party, but it's good to see this perspective on the choice that I did make.

David,

I assume mine was one name on your mind in the "lesser of two evils" portion of this post. While it is true that any vote not for Jesus is the lesser of two evils (Luke 11:13), there is also the matter of a voting record that not only endorses the deaths of children in their embryonic state, but also seeks to make concerned Christians such as you and I pay for it.

That is a big reason why I did not vote for McCain. Steve Deace did not talk me out of voting McCain. He pointed out aspects of my political views that were, and are, inconsistent. Once I took a step back and realized that our choice was an man who would seek to do the evil he promised and another man who would try to explain how his own evil isn't as bad as the alternative.

I voted Chuck Baldwin on the Constitution Party, in case that helps.

Finally, if you would care to read some NON-Deace words about the church and politics, Alan Keyes has some interesting words to consider.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=79979

Doug, you were on my mind, but only among the countless voices I’ve heard present that argument over the last thirty or so years, so I was definitely not singling you out. If I wanted to do that, I’d just send you a nasty private email. After all, I am a gentleman.

I like Alan Keyes, in general. I even voted for him in a primary once. I still think his argument is lame. Not because there is no truth in it, but because it represents a mindset that is not only not of the world, but is blind to the realities of being in the world. I understand the feelings and motives behind it, as I’ve been on the edge of voting that way myself several times. But it’s just not grounded in reality.

The reality is that after the primaries, there are only two men in the race. If I believe there is any difference at all between them, I have an obligation to choose the lesser evil.

Understood. I can't say that I agree, but I may very well agree in 4 years.

Remember the 4 years of Carter? The nation will be ready for another Reagan. But I am not convinced that there is a Reagan to be found in the Republican party. And if they can be found, the Republican party will likely do all they can to bury that person as quickly as possible.

Three very conservative candidates in Iowa were buried in Iowa this election season, being uninvited to campaign stops by both McCain and Palin. Uninvited by the Republican party that claims that they want to oust Tom Harkin and Leonard Boswell.

They did not get their candidates names out there or assist them financially, though they won the primaries comfortably. Is it because the Republican doesn't think they can win against Tom Harkin? Or is it because the current Republican party is too drunk with the money that Harkin brings into the state to oppose him?

Dude, I know Iowa politics isn't your thing, but if you have an hour to spare, you gotta see this debate between Harkin and the guy who opposed him (Christopher Reed). Reed had never run for office before, but you wouldn't know it with the way he held Harkin's toes to the fire. The best thing is that Harkin didn't take him seriously... at first.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9g4ge1oT74

Hmm... Maybe we do have a future Reagan...

Boy do I remember Carter. I scream his name every time a certain local talk radio idiot starts ranting about how “Bush is the worst President we’ve ever had!” and “McCain is the worst Presidential candidate ever!” Seriously, he says exactly that.

I’ll check out that debate when I get a chance. Our state politics are frustrating. Normally, my vote makes no difference. ND always votes for the Republican President (although it was close this time) but elects Democrats to Congress by a landslide. Why? Because we’re generally against abortion and sodomy and want a strong foreign policy and military, but we’re also a state of elderly farmers, addicted to handouts.

It's not over yet. Obama still has to prove he is a citizen of the US. He has phoney birth certificates-remember his mysterious trip to Hawaii (supposedly to visit his sick grandmother, yet he hasn't been back there to go to her funeral). Just my opinion, but I think he went there to get another phoney birth certificate. But, there is a lawyer who has a case against him saying he was born in Kenya. Let's pray the Supreme Court holds up to their job and sticks with the Constitution which says that unles you are a natural-born citizen, you cannot be president of the US. Go to www.colony14.net and read the things about him there. And you can also go to www.obamacrimes.com to read about the case. I believe they are having it November 12-I might be mistaken.

Wow. This country is on its knees because people like you have shot us in the foot every election voting for the "lesser evil".

And, since everyone except Jesus Christ is a lesser evil, you, then, as a Christian are bound to write-in Jesus Christ everytime. Man cannot serve two masters, and willingly requesting an evil master is very anti-Christ.

It's all well and good to be anti-abortion, but why don't you try being pro-life?

Lucy,

1. Please explain the damage I have done by voting for the best candidate in the race — which is exactly what I have done, because, let’s face it, after the primaries there are only two real candidates outside of Neverland. Or is this a joke, like when Ralph Nader said Al Gore cost him the election?

2. Did you write in “Jesus Christ”? Do you do that in every election? If not, what’s your point?

3. Exactly what do you mean by implying that I am not pro-life? No empty rhetoric, now; I want specifics.

Great post. I had been thinking the same thing about the argument of voting for the lesser of two evils that you brought out. I just happened to see a link to your blog on a friend's facebook and I'm glad I did. Thanks for your 'post election lamentations', you hit the nail on the head.

Bingo! Excellent points, just excellent. I feel like you've been looking inside my head. I was committed to voting third party but suffered a change of heart on election eve - after praying until my knees were numb - and arriving at the same conclusions you so very articulately stated in your post. Thank you! I will be sharing a link to this with others.

You disgrace the entire meaning of showing proper respect to those in authority. The greek word "honor" that you find in Romans 13 and elsewhere in the NT is the same word used in "honor your parents." Disagree with O's policies, vigorously, but you must show honor. And frankly, if evil were to accurately describe him, your degrees of evil are way off. Nero was king when Paul and Peter both wrote to submit to authorities. So, do one of two things: 1) Remove the word "Theologian" from your moniker, or 2) Start obeying Scripture and get it right.

Had I been a U.S. citizen and voted, I would not have voted for Obama. Still, calling Obama an extraordinarily evil man is not going to help matters. We need to pray for him - and remind ourselves of just how evil we all are, in God’s eyes.

Dianne,

1. If you can show me where I have encouraged anyone to not submit to authority, I will gladly recant.

2. The President is not a king. He has no authority in himself, but only the duty to administer the law. I do not submit to a President but to the Constitution, to which he and all other public officials are bound to administer and submit. This is a lesson you and a great number of Americans need to learn.

3. While the Apostles commanded submission to authority, they were willing to die obeying God rather than men. And calling Obama evil is in no way a violation of any biblical command. He is evil. I wonder, how do you feel about John the Baptist’s treatment of Herod, which cost him his head?

rixon,

I believe identifying the facts accurately helps a great deal. This country is where it is because we have refused to call evil, “evil.” Observing that we have elected an extraordinarily evil man ought to be one of the things that reminds us of how evil we are. And that is not in opposition to praying for him.

David: Amen.
Especially part II about racism...

I agree that racism is alive and well, but I still think it can be seen as positive step that it's even possible someone of another race can be president. This would not have been possible 100 years ago.

A step of progress does not have to mean all is healed.

Great, great post! I could not agree more with point #2. In my mind, this confirms that we are still a country fixated on race. I said almost the same thing to my husband on Wednesday morning. It saddens me that people would vote for someone just because of the color of their skin.
Thanks for getting these points out there!
Toni

The Republican Party is becoming more irrelevant all the time (witness the dearth of conservatives, the lack of political savvy, the unwillingness to defend their own in the same way that the Democrats do). So my question now is: Should conservatives try to reclaim the Republican Party, or champion some other party and turn the Republicans into a "third party"?

Heidi, that’s not an easy question. The Republican Party ceased being a conservative party long ago. I think conservatives should get behind conservative candidates whether they be Republicans, independents, etc. It may be that the Republican party will become entirely useless.

My only point here is that in this election, it came down to only two real candidates, one being utterly unacceptable in every way, an enemy of all that is right, and the other being far less than ideal, but in all ways preferable to his opponent. Those being the only real-world choices, the choice was obvious.

My state (WA) is solidly democrats, and we suffer for it. Thus, a vote for either of the two main party candidates would have been a mute vote. I had intended voting for McCain anyway until he stood and voted FOR the insanity of the $700B bailout of foolish and dishonest businesses at OUR expense. So, Baldwin got mine. First time since I wrote in Mickey Mouse years ago. I have to agree with your assessment we remain a race-oriented people. How many millions voted O simply because of the colour of his skin? And how does this differ from voting against him for the same reason? How is it racist to vote against, but fine to vote for, both for the same reason? You are spot on, when we totally disregard race as an issue, to the point it is not even mentioned, we will be free of racism.

I have been hoping, against hope, that the issue of Obama's questionable birth status will be thoroughly examined and found wanting. Of course, you do realise that if this happens, we post racist Americans well see the biggest race riots and related terrorism imaginable. But I somehow think even this will be a good thing. Perhaps it will pop the bubble in which we live, proving beyond any doubt we've not yet dealt with the "race" card. Personally, though, I seriously doubt enough people in the appropriate places will have sufficient spine to be unmoved by popular opinion to thoroughly investigate the natural birth issue and act unwaveringly upon the findings. SUch spine is sadly lacking in this culture. Far too many years of effeminisation have passed for that level of courage to exist within government. Though one can yet hope......

I just stumbled across this today, but it's great (I am no lover of soft, gentle words).