Bryan Fischer
Santorum v. Obama would reveal something profound about America
By Bryan Fischer
Follow me on Twitter: @BryanJFischer, on Facebook at "Focal Point"
For social conservatives, Rick Santorum couldn't have happened at a better time.
One of the most invigorating parts of this campaign for those who believe that moral values are the most important values in any election cycle has been Santorum's unapologetic defense of social conservatism.
No retreat, no surrender, no hesitation. The pro-family community has longed for a full-throated defense of religion and morality in public life, what George Washington called the "indispensable supports of political prosperity," and now they have it.
For social conservatives, the reality is that Newt Gingrich is a morally problematic candidate, Mitt Romney spiritually problematic, and Ron Paul politically problematic. Santorum stands alone as a staunch defender of historic Judeo-Christian values in the public arena who also has a history of personal integrity to back it up.
Santorum has faced withering attacks from secular fundamentalists for his stance on social issues, and is now taking unfriendly fire from members of his own party. Ron Paul (who for some strange reason is buddy-buddy with Mitt Romney) yesterday on CNN tried to get as far away from Santorum and social issues as possible, saying social issues are a "losing" proposition for the GOP. If Paul wanted to reassure skeptical values voters that he can be trusted with the power of the Oval Office, that wasn't the way to go about it.
Here's what Santorum said at Ave Maria University in 2008, in what has now become a widely circulated speech on the web:
"This is not a political war at all. This is not a cultural war at all. This is a spiritual war. And the Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies, Satan, would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country, the United States of America."
The left, of course, stands mouths agape, aghast that any public figure would have the temerity to actually agree with Jesus about the reality of Satan. The phrase "Father of Lies," in fact, was first found on the lips of the Christ (John 8:44). Jesus clearly did believe in the existence of Satan, and either Newt, Mitt and Paul agree with what Santorum said in 2008 or they are not as Christian as they claim. It might just be illuminating for someone to ask them.
Newt would probably squirm a little and agree, Mitt would have to agree since his church teaches not only that Satan exists but that he is the brother of Jesus, and Ron Paul would probably try to change the subject to the Federal Reserve.
Star Parker observes in an excellent column this morning that the left is probably more responsible than anyone for the Santorum surge, since so many pro-family people of faith are alarmed at the recent advances of amoral socialism in America.
She refers specifically to the 9th Circuit's disenfranchising of seven million Californians by overturning Prop 8, the abject reversal of the Susan G. Komen Foundation on Planned Parenthood funding in the face of vitriolic and hateful pressure, and the Obama administration's trampling of religious liberty by forcing conscience-driven employers to provide abortion-inducing pills to all employees at their own expense.
One reason for values voters to hope for a Rick Santorum nomination win is that the choice between him and Barack Obama in November would be as stark as you can get. Santorum would be the pro-marriage, pro-baby, pro-values candidate running against the anti-family, anti-baby, anti-values incumbent.
America would have a clear choice between two alternatives. Election day would reveal something profoundly disturbing or hopeful about the character of America. We would learn on that day whether or not there is enough moral residue in the American people to arrest our headlong plunge into moral decay. It may be time to find that out.
(Unless otherwise noted, the opinions expressed are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Family Association or American Family Radio.)
© Bryan Fischer
February 21, 2012
Follow me on Twitter: @BryanJFischer, on Facebook at "Focal Point"
For social conservatives, Rick Santorum couldn't have happened at a better time.
One of the most invigorating parts of this campaign for those who believe that moral values are the most important values in any election cycle has been Santorum's unapologetic defense of social conservatism.
No retreat, no surrender, no hesitation. The pro-family community has longed for a full-throated defense of religion and morality in public life, what George Washington called the "indispensable supports of political prosperity," and now they have it.
For social conservatives, the reality is that Newt Gingrich is a morally problematic candidate, Mitt Romney spiritually problematic, and Ron Paul politically problematic. Santorum stands alone as a staunch defender of historic Judeo-Christian values in the public arena who also has a history of personal integrity to back it up.
Santorum has faced withering attacks from secular fundamentalists for his stance on social issues, and is now taking unfriendly fire from members of his own party. Ron Paul (who for some strange reason is buddy-buddy with Mitt Romney) yesterday on CNN tried to get as far away from Santorum and social issues as possible, saying social issues are a "losing" proposition for the GOP. If Paul wanted to reassure skeptical values voters that he can be trusted with the power of the Oval Office, that wasn't the way to go about it.
Here's what Santorum said at Ave Maria University in 2008, in what has now become a widely circulated speech on the web:
"This is not a political war at all. This is not a cultural war at all. This is a spiritual war. And the Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies, Satan, would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country, the United States of America."
The left, of course, stands mouths agape, aghast that any public figure would have the temerity to actually agree with Jesus about the reality of Satan. The phrase "Father of Lies," in fact, was first found on the lips of the Christ (John 8:44). Jesus clearly did believe in the existence of Satan, and either Newt, Mitt and Paul agree with what Santorum said in 2008 or they are not as Christian as they claim. It might just be illuminating for someone to ask them.
Newt would probably squirm a little and agree, Mitt would have to agree since his church teaches not only that Satan exists but that he is the brother of Jesus, and Ron Paul would probably try to change the subject to the Federal Reserve.
Star Parker observes in an excellent column this morning that the left is probably more responsible than anyone for the Santorum surge, since so many pro-family people of faith are alarmed at the recent advances of amoral socialism in America.
She refers specifically to the 9th Circuit's disenfranchising of seven million Californians by overturning Prop 8, the abject reversal of the Susan G. Komen Foundation on Planned Parenthood funding in the face of vitriolic and hateful pressure, and the Obama administration's trampling of religious liberty by forcing conscience-driven employers to provide abortion-inducing pills to all employees at their own expense.
One reason for values voters to hope for a Rick Santorum nomination win is that the choice between him and Barack Obama in November would be as stark as you can get. Santorum would be the pro-marriage, pro-baby, pro-values candidate running against the anti-family, anti-baby, anti-values incumbent.
America would have a clear choice between two alternatives. Election day would reveal something profoundly disturbing or hopeful about the character of America. We would learn on that day whether or not there is enough moral residue in the American people to arrest our headlong plunge into moral decay. It may be time to find that out.
(Unless otherwise noted, the opinions expressed are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Family Association or American Family Radio.)
© Bryan Fischer
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
