Interview With A Kamazkaze Republican

GOP: Mr. Kumpe, you have taken a very radical position. How can you threaten not to vote?
Kumpe: Voting is a right. It is not a duty. The American system of government gives us the right to choose our leaders. If the system does not provide a candidate whose leadership I can support, I have every right not to participate and by so doing voice my disapproval of the whole process.
GOP: But, if everyone did that you would assure that they other side won.
Kumpe: If McCain is the candidate, the other side has won already. Political labels and parties don’t impress me. McCain is a Democrat in everything but name. Look at the Ann Coulter column previously posted. I don’t care which party is in power so long as my issues are addressed. Unfortunately, neither side seems willing to do that.
GOP: You obviously support Mike Huckabee. Why?
Kumpe: So far, he has promised to govern from a scriptural perspective on key, make or break, issues. I’m not happy with all of his positions but he is where he needs to be on the key positions. No other candidate is or can be trusted to remain there after the elections.
GOP: What could McCain do to gain your vote?
Kumpe: Nothing. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. McCain has had a lifetime to develop a record and it is a record I cannot support. He wouldn’t change in office.
GOP: What could Huckabee do to lose your support?
Kumpe: Announce that he was McCain’s VP candidate or urge his supporters to vote for McCain if he drops out. If it became obvious that Huckabee was acting as a Judas Goat to shore up McCain’s dismal support in the Evangelical community, I would never vote for him or support him again.
GOP: That’s pretty strong. McCain is an old man. Huckabee might be the presidential candidate in the next election cycle.
Kumpe: Yes, but if Huckabee could loyally serve in a McCain administration he would not deserve my support. The key issues that we Evangelicals base our support upon are not negotiable. They are moral issues that define a man’s character and worldview. You can’t pick them up when they are convenient and then put them aside when it is more convenient.
GOP: You are treating your political participation the same as your religious participation. How can you do that?
Kumpe: There was a time early in the last century when the unconstitutional but nevertheless somewhat practical concept of separation of church and politics was feasible. There was a sufficient underlying base of Judeo Christian norms and values in the American population to allow Christians to leave politics to the politicians. That time is past. The underlying base of common Judeo Christian norms and values is gone and the political parties on both sides have drug the faith community kicking and screaming into the political process. Too many Christians have allowed their faith to become compromised to accommodate their political party. The key principles of the faith do not change. We are in this battle and we have to be just as tough as our opposition. The pro-abortion lobby has never supported a moderately pro-life candidate to win an election and they are still highly influential in the Democratic Party. The gay lobby has never, ever, ever supported a moderately pro-marriage and family candidate to win an election but they are arguably the most influential segment of the Democratic Party. They fight their issues to the death and have the respect of their party. You have to draw the conclusion Christian Conservatives do not take their issues as seriously as the pro-aborts and gays. And given that, the GOP neither respects nor takes seriously the Christian Conservatives. Until we get as least as tough as our opposition we will never gain ground. Christian Conservatives need to learn the old infantry adage, “ You’ll never take a hill you’re not willing to die on.”