American Tragedy: The Donald Trump Phenomenon

American Tragedy: The Donald Trump Phenomenon September 17, 2015

I must say that I am equal parts shocked and disgusted with the inexplicable surge of popularity that Donald Trump has been enjoying among alleged conservatives. And not only conservatives, but Christian conservatives no less. A recent NPR story had a photo of an Alabama rally that drew 30,000 fans, some of whom held a banner saying, “Thank You, Lord Jesus, for President Trump.” You think I’m making this up? Click here. The letters were hand-drawn in red and blue marker on a white background. If you look at the faces of the people in that photo, you can see they’re ecstatic, overwhelmed, overjoyed.

Why? Conservative America, Christian America, why? I can’t hope to write more eloquently on this topic than Matt Walsh already has in several articles for The Blaze, but I must still add my voice to the chorus of “Whys.”
People say, “Well, he tells it like it is!” Or “He won’t take junk from Iran!” Or “He’s not afraid to criticize other Republicans?” Okay, who else can we think of in the current Republican field who might fit that bill? Bonus points if he’s been married to the same woman and didn’t bribe Hillary Clinton to come to the wedding. Extra bonus points if he actually understands the gospel. This, by the way, is not the gospel, just so we’re all clear: “I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture. I don’t.” Oh, one more thing, if he can take criticism without whining like a 3-year-old and lobbing crude insults at women like a 13-year-old, that would be really terrific.
What’s that you say? There are several candidates who make the cut? Well then what in the red, white and blue blazes are people thinking?
But “He says his favorite book is the Bible”! And one guy “heard” he was going to make America a Christian country again! “Thank you Lord Jesus,” for men who tickle the ears of gullible people with just the words they want to hear.
The saddest part about all of this is that even if Donald Trump doesn’t manage to win the nomination, there is no way he will not keep riding that attention train on a third party ticket. And he will know full well that he is essentially handing the keys to the Democratic party once again by doing so. But then, beating the Democrats has never been his real goal. Being the center of attention is. And if he can’t be the absolute center of attention, he’ll be as distracting a sideshow as possible. This is a man who can compare himself to Ronald Reagan and Billy Graham while keeping a straight face.
Christian conservatives ought to be ashamed of themselves. This whole farce is nothing less than a national tragedy.
America, please, get behind a real man. I’m not even going to dictate which man you should get behind instead. You have options. You have one of the best Republican fields we’ve seen in years, and you have nearly a whole half-year to get to know them before the primary. You have half a year to straighten out your priorities.
If you still don’t have it together come election season, the only advice I have left for you is to be careful what you wish for.


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