Morality Check

Why is everyone so shocked that G-Dub won re-election based on the "morality vote"? I have been telling people for months that the people who are voting for Bush are people who have embraced Bush's perceived good morality. If the Kerry people are shocked, then that's just another major oversight that his horrendous campaign had. But I think I'm through ripping on Kerry's sad campaign. Now it's on to Bush's amazing manipulations.

Again, congrats to a campaign well run. Karl Rove, you are a beast, and Mr. President, the only smart thing you have done is listen to Mr. Rove.

Bush ran on morality. Morality, for the record, isn't going to protect us from terror or create new jobs, but that's what won him re-election. I must say that I am incredibly saddened that people are so stupid as to elect someone as our President in this country based on an issue that has virtually nothing to do with the way he governs. But let me clear a few things up before I expand on this stupidity.

People weren't voting their morals when they voted for Bush. Moral values doesn't mean moral values, it means religious values. Religious values doesn't mean religious values, it means Conservative (Christian) religious values. And Conservative religious values doesn't mean conservative religious values, it means no gay marriage and no abortion. That's what people were voting on.

So the President has adamantly opposed abortion and gay marriage and for some reason that has won him the title of "moralist of the year." He not only won over the Conservative Christians, but Conservatives from many other religions as well (including Amish, Mormans, Muslims and others). Now, I would just like to know, what is so great about these TWO moral stances that they trump multitudes of other moral issues that Bush clearly violated.

Now, I can't speak with as much authority about other religions (though I know some of them well enough to know they agree with Christianity on numerous points), but I know what the Bible teaches. Certainly, gay marriage and abortion are frowned upon across the board with respect to religion, but since when did these TWO values trump all of the others. What ever happened to honesty, taking care of the working man, providing for the poor, not shedding innocent blood? Are these not also moralistic virtues?

As I understand the definition of a lie, it is the intent to deceive and to presumptuously do so. Well even if you argue that Bush didn't lie about his reasons for the Iraq War (which is an argument you'd certainly lose with me), you'd only have to look at his political campaign to see his deception. He deliberately took comments made by Senator Kerry out of context, in order to deceive the people he was addressing, repeatedly. To outright deceive people is not a moralistic virtue that I'm aware of.

Bush never seems to want to admit fault or wrong doing, even when it is clear that he is wrong. He shows no sign of humility; you know, another moralistic virtue that people seem to have forgotten about. It takes a lot of integrity and humility to admit when you're wrong. Bush doesn't seem to possess alot of either.

And then there's the shedding of innocent blood. The Bible never says that we are to create wars. In fact, the Bible says "Blessed is the peacemaker." And to enter into a War of one's own volition is certainly not a value that the Bible teaches. But that is what Bush has done. As a result, over 20,000 Iraqis have been killed (and we all know that they weren't all insurgents-thousands were innocent bystanders). And this is beside the fact that Bush was Governor over a state (Texas) that leads the nation in executions (though the people are guilty, the executions aren't necessary and some of the people are actually innocent). So if G-Dub is so moralistic, why is there so much blood on his hands.

I could go on and on. My point is this, if you're going to give someone a passing grade on your moralistic meter, they better at least be moral on a majority (if not all) of the issues. This country came down incredibly hard on Clinton for his marital indiscretion, but that didn't affect how he ran the country. Clinton's immorality caused only him and his family grief. People aren't suffering today because Clinton had fellatio performed on him by someone that wasn't his wife. Bush's immorality has cost thousands their lives, and his dishonesty (it could be argued) has cost many their jobs.

Bush is no more moral than any other Presidential candidate, and I realize that "gay marriage" and abortion stances aren't going to affect my everyday life. Those economically disenfranchised moralists and conservatives that voted for Bush based on morals will still be poor tomorrow because of Bush's policies.

People fail to realize that this is not a "moral-ocracy," it certainly isn't a theocracy, but it is a democracy. We should vote with conscious and moral in mind, but recognize that you can maintain strict morality and still vote for a guy who might not have your level of moral magnanimousness.

Since when did we become so moral in this country anyway. We have become increasingly more decadent in every aspect of daily life in this country each year. I think it is hypocrisy for these pious people to go to the polls and vote on morals when most people in this country live a moralistically shabby life.

Who do we think we are???

However, it is worth noting, that in this calendar year-2004- we have raised morality in a number of areas of life. It all began with the Superbowl halftime show where we severely over-reacted to seeing a split second of Janet Jackson's right breast. It then moved to Howard Stern and numerous other media outlets. I think it is interesting that these media outlets are mostly run by Bush supporters, and that the Federal Communications Commission (which governs the media) is headed by Bush's Secretary of State's son, Michael Powell. If you wanna talk conspiracy, maybe this was an ongoing plot to make morality a major issue during this election year. It certainly played right into his hands.

The same idiots that were drinking beer and partying in front of their kids during the Superbowl, but were upset about the Justin and Janet incident, are probably the same hypocritical losers that voted for Bush's perceived morality. I'd love to see a poll on that indictment!

Just some food for thought!
-Maelstrom