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To the editor:
It was Oct 8, 1984, at the first Reagan-Mondale debate when moderator Fred Barnes asked a rather odd question for a presidential debate and got even odder answers. The following was taken from a transcript of that debate.
Q. Mr. President, would you describe your religious beliefs, noting particularly whether you consider yourself a born-again Christian and explain how these beliefs affect your Presidential decisions?
REAGAN: Well, I was raised to have a faith and a belief and have been a member of a church since I was a small boy. In our particular church we didn't use that term born again so I don't know whether I would fit that -- that particular term.
Reagan continued for some time explaining that it was good to pray and why it wasn't, how he went to church but why he didn't.
Mondale was then asked the same question and he, like Reagan, gave a brief opening statement that might lead you to believe he was answering the question, but continued in his longer response to explain why it was and why it wasn't a good idea to answer the question.
MONDALE: I am a son of a Methodist minister, my wife is the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, and I don't know if I've been born again, but I know I was born into a Christian family, and I believe I've sung at more weddings and more funerals than anybody ever to seek the Presidency.
Each candidate was then given the opportunity to rebut the other's answer and to explain why they were the true Christian in the race; when in point of fact neither man actually answered the question. Both men's answers gave enough reason for their prospective voters to feel good about the candidate's Christian bona fides, while doubting the others, which was more the point.
It was here when the meanings of the verses "No man can serve two masters" and "Your ways are not my ways" should have become clear but alas did not. From that moment on in politics, blatant hypocrisy, lying, in the service of God, became acceptable to the right wing of the Republican party or abhorrent when claimed by the other side.
Republican candidates, along with evangelical hucksters, made more use of this tactic over the years than did Democrats and as a result many rank and file voters automatically view Republicans as being the party of God, they are therefore afforded a greater latitude in trivial matters like truth and character by their supporters.
How has it affected both politics and Christianity? Well start with this example 1984, Reagan was deemed to be a Christian by his televangelist supporters. A better example of Orwellian double-speak could not have been found. Later on in 2008 Pat Robertson, founder of Christian Broadcasting Network, claimed on national television that God told him who was going to win that year's presidential election. Robertson, himself was supporting Rudy Giuliani in that election which should have been a wake-up call to any of his viewers.
Which brings us to the most immediate former president. Donald John Trump, supported whole heartedly by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist the late Billy Graham. In a recasting of the crucifixion story, Graham said Trump was like Jesus, innocently persecuted by those in power as Jesus was before he was put to death. It's been said the Satan can quote scripture for his own purposes, well I'd say that proves it.
Which brings us to where we are now, in an election season where over half of the Republican candidates claim that the 2020 election was stolen and that Trump actually won. Why are they saying it? Because it's the lie their voters want to hear.
Are you on the side of truth or Trump? A man cannot serve two masters, our ways are not his ways.
Clark Wagner
Milroy