By: Dennis Prager
When you differ from people you admire, you have to question yourself. After all, what is the purpose of admiring people if they aren’t capable of influencing you?
So, I have had to challenge my position — stated since the outset of the Republican presidential debates — that if Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination, I will vote for him over Hillary Clinton, or any Democrat for that matter.
I devoted many hours of radio and many columns to criticizing Trump. His virtually assured nomination has therefore caused me grief as an American, a Republican and a conservative. That his character defects, gaps in knowledge on some important issues, and lack of identifiably conservative principles came to mean little to so many Republican voters is quite troubling. (Though, I might add, it is even more troubling that virtually all Democrats ignore the even worse character of Hillary Clinton, as well as the idiotic socialist ideas of Sen. Bernie Sanders.)
#NeverTrump conservatives, such as (in alphabetical order) Jonah Goldberg, Bill Kristol, Ben Shapiro, Bret Stephens and George Will are not merely people I admire — they are friends and colleagues. Goldberg, Stephens and Will have made multiple videos for Prager University, which receive millions of views. Shapiro and I have spent Shabbat together. I have had the privilege of writing for Kristol’s The Weekly Standard and having him on my show many times. And I have enthusiastically promoted their books. These individuals are special to me not only as thinkers, but as people.
However, in the final analysis, I do not find their arguments compelling.
Take the “conscience” argument that one can sleep with a clear conscience by not voting for Trump. I don’t find it compelling because it means that your conscience is clear after making it possible for Clinton or any other Democrat to win.
In fact, the “conscience” argument is so weak that Goldberg — to his credit — published a column two days ago titled “Sorry, I Still Won’t Ever Vote for Trump.” He wrote, “If the election were a perfect tie, and the vote fell to me and me alone, I’d probably vote for none other than Donald Trump.”
Shouldn’t all Americans vote as if their vote were the deciding vote? Including those whose votes “don’t count” because they live in states that are so left-wing they would still vote Democrat if Vladimir Lenin headed the Democratic ticket?
The choice this November is tragic. As it often happens in life, this choice is between bad and worse, not bad and good.
But America has made that choice before. When forced to choose between bad and worse, we supported Joseph Stalin against Adolf Hitler, and we supported right-wing authoritarians against Communist totalitarians.
It seems to me that the #NeverTrump conservatives want to remain morally pure. I understand that temptation. I am tempted, too. But if you wish to vanquish the bad, it is not possible — at least not on this side of the afterlife — to remain pure.
The most moving interview of my 33 years in radio was with Irene Opdyke, a Polish Catholic woman. Opdyke became the mistress of a married Nazi officer in order to save the lives of 12 Jews. She hid them in the cellar of the officer’s house in Warsaw. There were some Christians who called my show to say that Opdyke’s actions were wrong, that she had in fact sinned because she knowingly committed a mortal sin. In their view, she compromised Catholic/Christian doctrine.
In my view — and, I believe, the view of most Catholics and other Christians — she brought glory to her God and her faith. Why? CIRCUMSTANCES ALMOST ALWAYS DETERMINE WHAT IS MORAL. Even for religious people like myself who believe in moral absolutes. That’s why the act of dropping atom bombs on Japan was moral. The circumstances (ending a war that would otherwise continue taking millions of lives) made moral what under other circumstances would be immoral.
In the 2016 presidential race, I am not interested in moral purity. I am interested in defeating the left and its party, the Democratic Party. The notion (expressed by virtually every #NeverTrump advocate) that we can live with another four years of a Democratic president is, forgive me, mind-boggling. To that end, with at least one, and probably multiple, additional leftists on the Supreme Court, a Republican presidential victory in 2020 would mean little. All the left needs is the judicial branch, especially the Supreme Court. Left-wing judges pass so many left-wing laws that they render those who control Congress, and even the White House, almost irrelevant.
Here, then, are nine reasons (there are more) why a conservative should prefer a Trump presidency to a Democrat presidency:
- Prevent a left-wing Supreme Court.
- Increase the defense budget.
- Repeal, or at least modify, the Dodd-Frank act.
- Prevent Washington, D.C. from becoming a state and giving the Democrats another two permanent senators.
- Repeal Obamacare.
- Curtail illegal immigration, a goal that doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with xenophobia or nativism (just look at Western Europe).
- Reduce job-killing regulations on large and small businesses.
- Lower the corporate income tax and bring back hundreds of billions of offshore dollars to the United States.
- Continue fracking, which the left, in its science-rejecting hysteria, opposes.
For these reasons, I, unlike my friends, could not live with my conscience if I voted to help the America-destroying left win the presidency in any way.
I just don’t understand how anyone who understands the threat the left and the Democrats pose on America will refuse to vote for the only person who can stop them.
Dennis Prager is one of America’s most respected radio talk show hosts. He has been broadcasting on radio in Los Angeles since 1982. His popular show became nationally syndicated in 1999 and airs live, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to Noon (Pacific Time) from his home station, KRLA. Widely sought after by television shows for his opinions, he’s appeared on Fox and Friends, Red Eye, Hardball, Hannity, CBS Evening News, The Today Show and many others.
Another Republican (you could also interject Democrat) who votes not for the people or a platform or common sense but for a Party, regardless of how that would effect the country. It is a sad state of affairs when one votes for a political party, irrespective of how it does or doesn’t impact the people. Maybe it is time to have a third choice, i.e. the Libertarian Party. Nothing good will ever come from the current situation where you make no real choice other than to support a fractured, uncaring (Republican or Democrat) political system.
lestat68,
Does this mean that libertarians may leave the Republican Party and return to their natural home – the Libertarian Party? If so, I say it is a good thing. Why register in a party that you disagree with unless they run economic libertarian Republicans candidates. This development gives more voters clear choices (Left Right and Libertarian). Good luck with your choice.
Here is a thought for you. There has been 91 years of the president being a Democrat. It is hard to believe that four more years of a Democratic president would doom the country. It is rhetoric like this, from both sides, that has put us all in this unfortunate situation. For some reason compromise has become a term that is looked upon with disgust.
Gary,
I too regret the gridlock of today. Compromise in Congress is required for our Republic to function as the founders intended. However, we all need to select the leadership that conforms to our beliefs. Even with compromise, leadership is vital to determine the direction in which the nations moves. Today, it seems to me, we are almost leaderless.
I hope we can get back to compromise that works but I want the nation to move in a center-right direction.
Thanks for commenting
A two party system! We were warned. Does not matter who you think your voting for. The two choices are really just one. Most americans vote everyday for apathy, sitting on there couch. voting against the other guy. Watching the progams! on the box! Why are they called progams anyway? It is more revealing what Trump doesn’t talk about that should make the critical think? Like ending the FED! As Andrew Jackson
once did.
CHOOSE TO FIND THE ANSWERS. Its not so Complicated. How can you protect against the unkown? most dont even kow what it is that needs protecting (Apathitec) As for me it too will choose the lesser of two Evils also. Waiting for left and right to cast there vote to WATERING THE TREE OF LIBERTY!
Wayne Allyn Root
I am a Jew turned evangelical Christian. I am also a passionate supporter of Donald Trump.
I have a message for Christians who don’t like Donald Trump: “YOU’RE MISSING THE BOAT.”
Christians have Trump all wrong. God sends messages in many forms. You’re just not
listening. God is talking, but your eyes and ears are closed.
Here’s a famous joke about God and how he talks to us.
“A deeply faithful Christian man is stuck on roof of home with massive flooding up
to 2nd floor.
A rowboat comes. He says “No, I’m waiting for God.
I’ve prayed and I know he’s coming.”
2ndrowboat. “No, I’m waiting for God.”
3rd rowboat. “No, I’m waiting for God.”
The water rises. The man drowns. N ow he’s meeting God in heaven. The religious man says “Where were you God? I prayed. I was faithful. I asked you to save me. Why would you abandon me?” God says, “Hey dummy, I sent you 3 rowboats. Are you blind?”
Did you ever consider Trump is our rowboat?
Maybe God is trying to tell us something important- that now is not the time for a “nice Christian guy” or a “gentleman” or a typical Republican powder puff. Maybe now is the time for a natural born killer, a ruthless fighter, a warrior. Because right about now we need a miracle, or America is finished. Maybe the rules of gentleman don’t apply here. Maybe a gentleman and “all-around nice Christian” would lead us to slaughter.
Or do you want another Mitt Romney, Bob Dole, John McCain, Gerald Ford or Paul Ryan? Did any of them win? Did they lead the GOP to “the promised land?” Did they change the direction of America? No, because if you don’t win, you have no say.
Paul Ryan couldn’t even deliver his own state Wisconsin!
And as leader of the House, Paul Ryan rolls over to Obama like my dog rolls over for a scrap of food, or a steak bone. He’s a useful idiot. Nice, but obedient. I mean Paul Ryan…not my dog. My dog is actually a pretty good defender and loyal.
Maybe God is knocking on your door so loud, but you’re not listening. Maybe God understands we need a “war leader” at this moment in time. Maybe God understands if we don’t win this election, America is dead. It’s over. The greatest nation in world history will be gone. Finished. Kaput. Adios. And with one last breath, maybe what we need to save us at the last second, is someone different. Someone you haven’t ever experienced before- because you weren’t raised in rough and tumble New York where nothing good
gets accomplished unless you’re combative, aggressive, outrageous, on offense at all times, and maybe just a tad arrogant too.
Someone with a personality you’ve never seen on stage at your church.
Maybe, just maybe, being a nice gentlemanly Christian would not beat Hillary, and her billion dollars, and her best friends in the media who will unleash the dogs of hell upon the GOP nominee.
I guess you think God is only nice and gentlemanly. Really? Then you’ve missed
the whole point of the Bible. When necessary God is a pretty tough guy.
When necessary, God strikes with pain, death and destruction. When necessary, God inflicts vengeance.
Maybe you think God couldn’t possibly be associated with someone like Trump. Trump is too vicious, rude and crude.
When we won WWII, was God “nice?” Were we gentlemanly when defeating Hitler? Were we gentlemanly when firebombing Germany? Were we gentlemanly when dropping atomic bombs on Japan? Is God ever “nice” on the battlefield? Or does he send us vicious SOB’s like General George S. Patton, so the good guys can defeat evil? It’s pretty clear to me God sends unique people to be “war leaders.” That’s a different role than a pastor or church leader. God understands that.
Maybe God purposely sent Trump instead of the nice Republican powder puffs like Paul
Ryan, or Mitt Romney, or John Kasich because he wants us to win.
And maybe it’s time to re-define “nice.” Maybe Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan aren’t nice at all- because they led us to defeat. And losing again would mean the end of America. And God can’t allow that.
Maybe Romney and Ryan mean well, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Or maybe they’re just jealous they had their chance and blew it. Maybe they’d rather help elect Hillary than allow a Trump victory that would make them look weak, feckless and incompetent.
I was reading the Bible this morning and I found the perfect verse that explains the success of Donald Trump…
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isiah 40:30-31)
It’s almost like God created this verse for Donald Trump and this moment in history.
Trump is our energy. More energy than any candidate EVER. He took on the 16 best candidates in GOP history…all younger than him…all with better political credentials…and destroyed them with his energy. You mean that kind of energy in a 70-year old isn’t inspired by God?
Trump renews our strength. Or does the all-time record turnout and all-time record votes for a GOP presidential primary candidate not define “strength?”
With Trump we mount up with wings like eagles. With Trump as our leader there is nothing we can’t do. Any man that can build skyscrapers in Manhattan and vanquish 16 presidential opponents, while spending almost nothing…can lead us to the heights of eagles.
With Trump we run, we are not weary. Just when we get tired of the fight against Obama, Hillary, big government, big business, big media, big unions…just when it all seems impossible to overcome the powerful forces of evil… along comes Trump to re-energize us.
Trump inspires us. Trump gives us hope. Trump gives us confidence in victory. Trump gives us just a touch of arrogance. Maybe God understands that’s exactly what we need right at this late stage to save America.
God is about miracles. We don’t need a “nice guy” or a “gentleman” right now. It’s the
4th quarter and we’re losing 14-0. We need a miracle.
So let me repeat my message to Christians: “YOU’RE MISSING THE BOAT.” I believe Trump is our miracle. I believe Trump is our rowboat. Except he’s more like a battleship!
No one is saying Trump is perfect. No one is saying Trump is a perfect conservative. But he is a patriot. He is a warrior. He is a capitalist. He is the right man, at the right time.
Yes, he’s a bit rude and crude and offensive. But that may make him the perfect warrior to save America, American exceptionalism, capitalism and Judeo-Christian values.
The choice should be easy for Christians. It’s Trump…or it’s the end of the United States of America.