I remember, as a child, hearing about the “Yella Dog Democrats” who would vote for a yellow dog as long as it was running as a Democrat. Many of those YDDs were Baptists living in the South.
Occasionally, I still run into a YDD, but more often I talk with Baptists who have so identified with the Republican Party that they would vote for … well, the Gray Elephant, as long as it was a Republican. Many of these GERs have reduced the entire political spectrum to a single issue.
I have always been skeptical of the all or nothing thinking exhibited by the YDDs and the GERs. If we have learned anything from politics it is that wearing a party label doesn't make a difference when it comes to withstanding temptation. Bill Clinton's moral lapses were reported globally, but Mark Foley and Randy Cunningham are Republicans whose avarice has come to light worldwide. It wasn't party affiliation that caused them to do what they did.
All of this leads me to conclude that it takes more than a party label to make one a true public servant.
Perhaps it is our system that is flawed. Could it be that some people who would serve with exceptional ability and commitment never have a chance to get noticed because they don't have a war chest of cash? We all know the answer to that.
Maybe the problem is with the electorate. Perhaps with voters like us we shouldn't expect to have politicians who understand and speak to the issues facing us. Have our attention spans atrophied to the point that issues must be presented in 60-second bursts between segments of CSI? Political pundits seem to think so.
Perhaps if politicians talked about their hopes and dreams for the country their messages would fall on deaf ears. They apparently are convinced of this. Somewhere in the YDD and GER handbooks it must say that to get elected one must accuse the other candidate of being such an idiot that only a fellow idiot would vote for him/her. The unfortunate result is that voters go to the polls still trying to make up their minds about who the lesser idiot is. Regardless of who is elected, voters are bound to be ashamed of the person representing themÑhaving been told for three months by the opposition that the person is unworthy of consideration. Even many of those who voted for the wining candidate are critical of the result!
(As a disclaimer, I do not mean to disparage idiots by likening politicians to them. No letters, please!)
In truth, most politicians serve with distinction and are worthy of gratitude and respect. In the heat of an election, however, even some of the good ones seem to lose their civility and take on the personality of a piranha.
Speaking as one voter, I am so weary of slop-slinging that I have given thought to not voting at all. I know, I know. That isn't the answer, but it does give voice to frustration I have heard from many others as well.
As Christ-followers, what should we be looking for in political candidates? And, as voters what responsibilities to God and Caesar do Christians have?
Naturally, a candidate with a strong commitment to Christ is, in my judgment, more apt to share my point of view on meaningful matters, and would therefore be a wise choice. But, like political parties, I have witnessed that it takes more than a moniker to affect character. I would rather elect an unbeliever who understands that convictions emerge from character and who lives a moral life than a philandering Baptist.
Aside from moral character, the ability to consider multi-faceted issues from all sides and the courage to vote their conclusions are important. I want to elect someone with demonstrated integrity. I want an elected official who doesn't need to consult opinion polls before knowing what his or her convictions should be.
I want my elected representative to be able to look across the aisle and see (and voice) what is right and good in the opposite party's position. For that matter, once he or she is elected, I want the person representing me to be less concerned with parties and more concerned with the work of doing what is right for Virginia and America.
If a candidate believes that any acceptable legislation has to come from the ranks of his/her own party, I don't want to see that person elected. As an outgrowth of my Christian commitment, I believe people should be respectful even toward people with whom they disagree on substantive issues. This applies to preachers and politicians alike.
Because I believe we are all created in God's image, my representative must possess a firm commitment that every human being is equal to every other human being.
For my part, I fail in my own responsibility as a citizen if I do not take time to gather information on and consider opposing candidates' positions. I cannot allow yella dogs or gray elephants to do my thinking for me.