Georgia’s primaries have concluded, and the United States is even closer to selecting the presidential nominees for the election in November 2016.
Social media feeds have been blowing up with many posts about the various presidential candidates, and even news outlets like The Washington Post have published an articles on how to vote strategically so that Donald Trump gets less delegates.
Many of my Facebook friends seem to be afraid for our nation’s future. I can’t even open Facebook and not see an “I’ll move to Canada if Trump gets elected” post.
This election has certainly surprised many, including myself, but I don’t think it’s any kind of new controversy that we as a nation haven’t dealt with before.
Every four years, it’s republicans versus democrats, expanding social welfare versus a cutting more social programs, big government versus small government, and heated debates on immigration reform. In President Barack Obama’s last run for the White House in 2012, for example, there was a lot of name-calling and “I’ll move to Canada if Obama gets re-elected” declarations.
During the 2012 presidential debates between President Obama and the republican nominee, Mitt Romney, Romney continually interrupted the president and boldly (and foolishly) spoke as if he was certain he was going to win the election.
“As president, I will sit on day one — actually, the day after I get elected — I’ll sit down with leaders,” Romney said during one of his debates with Obama.
I didn’t think that was not a good move, and he certainly made a statement about his true character. To be fair, Obama was also taking jabs at Romney’s character as well.
Unfortunately, that’s how voters are swayed — by name-calling and fear-mongering. And that’s become the nature of our current presidential race.
Romney has been in the news again recently, March 3, and he called the candidate Trump a fraud, a phony and a bad business man — the same business man who endorsed him while he was running for president in 2012.
Romney’s speech to the republican party may have been necessary, as many are fearful of Trump becoming the party’s nominee because of the things he has said and done. Rightfully so, people are concerned. However, you should be careful not to be caught up in the name-calling and character-attacking game.
Most of the republican candidates in this election are claiming to be Christians, but some of them have resorted to name-calling. I think they need to heed the Bible’s warning in Proverbs 3:31 (New King James Version): “Do not envy the oppressor and choose none of his ways.”
Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who is a self-proclaimed Christian in this election, has ridiculed Trump and already stooped to his level, I believe. Unfortunately, these two candidates are dragging their voters down with them.
I admire the presidential candidate who has not been receiving a lot of attention in the media, Ohio gov. John Kasich. When he came to Kennesaw State University February 24, he admitted that he has a big challenge in this election.
“My challenge in this election is that you didn’t have clue who I was a month ago,” he said.
He’s still a politician and not at all a perfect human being, but I admire his humility and perseverance. When Romney spoke out against Trump March 3, which caused Trump to fire back at him, the news channels reported that Kasich had no comment and wanted to stay out of this controversy. He had a chance to make a speech that would be televised and earn him more media attention, but he said nothing.
Proverbs 19:10 says, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”
