Trump: no Gods before me
In
the 2008 primary campaign candidate Barack Obama scorched himself with
the comment that some frustrated voters “cling to guns and religion” in
making their political choices. Outrage poured
from evangelicals, the GOP messaging machine, and even from Hillary
Clinton. Criticizing people’s faith, regardless of context, was a third
rail.
After
his impeachment acquittal, Donald Trump lashed out at Mitt Romney,
accusing him of using his “religion as a crutch” to defend his vote to
convict the president for abuse of power. In his
senate speech Romney, a devout Mormon who served as a bishop for his
church, declared that his oath before God and the nation, and his own
conscience, could lead him to no other verdict.
Apparently
evangelicals, silent about Trump’s criticism, are insulted when
religion is called a teddy bear but OK if it’s pegged as a crutch.
Clearly,
Trump doesn’t think “religion” is a good enough reason to defy his
ultimatums for loyalty. People of faith can ponder the competing
demands of their eternal God and the Idol who currently
commands the stage.
Publishing history:
NP Times 2/20
Shawangunk Journal 2/20
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