In thinking, researching, and debating on how to vote this election day, I've come to a conclusion - I've become a one issue voter. Yes, it ends up being the same issue that many Christians vote for, but let me explain my reasoning because it actually has very little to do with religion. This one issue is why I voted for McCain, not because I really think he'll be the best president ever, but because I don't want Obama as my president.
Let me explain:
I am very much pro-life, for one basic reason - if no one is sure when life actually begins, I would really prefer to err on the side of safety when it comes to what we do with human life. I look at it in much the same way as our court system looks at a person's life before declaring them guilty of a crime - it must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. When it comes to a baby's life, if it is so hard to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they aren't alive yet, so I will always say we play it safe and allow that life to continue. (But is it really that difficult to know the answer?)
Here's my issue with politics in this area. I know that it really doesn't matter what the President actually wants as far as laws for and against abortion go, but to me it provides a moral compass in two ways: First, it demonstrates a value of human life, and secondly, it provides a basis of consistency.
For length's sake, I'm going to leave the first one alone even though I know Obama supporters would claim that he holds human life just as dear as anyone else - even though I would say his voting record shows otherwise.
I think the bigger issue is that Obama's stance shows a tremendously illogical philosophy that is designed to get votes, not to actually stand on values and morality. It doesn't matter what religion you believe in, or what God you follow, or any of that - the philosophical imbalance demonstrated shows Obama's character very clearly. The person revealed is not someone I desire as president.
Let me demonstrate my issues with Obama's words:
Issue one - when does life begin?
Q: Do you personally believe that life begins at conception?
A: This is something that I have not come to a firm resolution on. I think it's very hard to know what that means, when life begins. Is it when a cell separates? Is it when the soul stirs? So I don't presume to know the answer to that question. What I know is that there is something extraordinarily powerful about potential life and that that has a moral weight to it that we take into consideration when we're having these debates.
Source: 2008 Democratic Compassion Forum at Messiah College Apr 13, 2008
Ok, I can understand that to some degree - I'm not sure when life begins, but the potential of life is very powerful. Personally, if I were going to take a stab at it, I'd say that potential life becomes pretty definite once the heartbeat starts...it's easy to point at that and say, "That's a living organism".
However, for someone who is completely unsure of when life begins, Obama seems pretty quick to be willing to snuff out that potential life. He talks a lot about reducing the need for abortions by increasing the awareness of contraceptives (That's right kids, have all the sex you want because it's safe...most of the time!) but when it comes to actually reducing the legality of abortions he consistently votes like someone who believes that life starts when the baby is actually born. Partial birth abortions are ok (although I would bet he would argue he voted against banning it to protect the health of mothers) and we really shouldn't require minors to have parental consent when they decide (in all of their pre-adult wisdom) that they need an abortion. He also talks a lot about leaving the moral decision in the hands of the woman involved, that they feel the full force of that weight and it should be up to them. I can see that point of view, I really can - but it's funny how we don't leave other serious moral issues like theft, murder or rape in the hands of people in general without having serious consequences. I really don't see where this issue is different when you talk about a human life - especially one in late term.
I would expect someone who is "unsure" of the beginning point of life to be a lot more careful in protecting it - the last thing I would expect is for that person to be one of the people who has been one of politics's biggest proponents for abortion. "Nobody is pro-abortion?" Then why does it seem that way?
That, my friends, is why I voted for McCain. I can't trust someone who doesn't stand on what be believes on such a foundational moral issue as the lives of our children...and I really can't trust someone who tries to fudge over the philosophical issues of what he believes to be right just so he can get the votes he wants. I also can't trust someone who doesn't value human life enough to firm up his convictions and beliefs about it - being unsure really doesn't cut it when you're running for President of the United States.
So even though it may seem like one issue voting, it really isn't - it's just that I can't trust where that candidate's moral compass is pointing.
This post could have been much, much longer - but here are posts from people much smarter than I who make very good points about this issue. What I read from these authors helped me realize that my gut reaction was absolutely correct when it comes to this presidential election.
Obama's voting record on abortion issues
A post from Randy Alcorn (a very respected Christian author - if you've never read his books I'd encourage you to check out Deadline)
The Illogic of Obama on Abortion
Abortion is About God (has good points even if you disagree with the premise...I really disliked the video style though)
Obama's Abortion Extremism
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