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Pro-family leader calls for some GOP presidential hopefuls to drop out

A former Republican presidential candidate is urging second-tier candidates in the 2008 GOP field to withdraw from the race.



American Values president Gary Bauer predicts former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will win the Republican presidential nomination if all his GOP challengers remain in the contest. Bauer says Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, and John McCain are all "credible candidates" with support in the double digits and are not likely to drop out.

"Then we've got a bunch of other candidates who can't get above five percent -- and some of them are very good [and] are saying things we like. But the longer they stay in the race, the more likely [it] is we are going to wake up next year with nobody we can vote for," he says.

Bauer says that disaster looms for America "if we see MoveOn.org, and Hillary Clinton and that crew running this country." A Rasmussen poll released Monday showed former Senator Fred Thompson leading Giuliani 27-22 percent. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) was third with 13 percent, and Governor Romney came in fourth with 12 percent.

The American Values president is also calling on Christian voters not to rule out GOP presidential candidates who do not speak about their faith on the campaign trail. He has expressed disappointment over an email distributed by Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson that questioned Fred Thompson's conservative credentials and religious faith. Bauer says that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich may face similar criticism if he enters the race.

"But I wonder if some of the critics in the Christian community would also attack him, because as we all know, and as Newt Gingrich has publicly said, he has had a number of personal failings, and he's had some failed marriages," says Bauer. "I keep hoping, that as a movement, we will bring some Christian charity to this decision-making. I remind my friends that Ronald Reagan was a divorced man -- and Ronald Reagan did not publicly talk about Jesus."

Bauer says that Christians need to remember that "Jesus is not running in the Republican primaries."

This shows how little people remember, especially when it is the name of Jesus being proclaimed.

At the 1984 annual convention of the National Religious Broadcasters, Reagan not only spoke about religion, but about Jesus Christ: "He promised there will never be a dark night that does not end," Reagan said. "And by dying for us, Jesus showed how far our love should be ready to go: all the way."

At Kansas State University in 1982, Reagan spoke of the "admonition of the Man from Galilee to do unto others as you would have them do unto you," a line Reagan himself personally inserted into the speech.

On one speech draft by Elliott and speechwriter Peggy Noonan, they called Christmas "the day that marks the birth on Earth of the Son of God." Reagan added a line: "the birthday of the promised Messiah, the Son of God.

Reagan then spoke of the country's Judeo-Christian traditions, and attacked government "attempts to water down traditional values and even abrogate the original terms of American democracy. Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged."

About the "evil empire," Reagan proposed that his administration would "negotiate real and verifiable reductions in the world's nuclear arsenals, and one day, with God's help, their total elimination."

Finally, Reagan closed his speech with a quote from Isaiah: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increased strength ... But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary ..."

Ronald Reagan loved Jesus Christ and did not hesitate to proclaim His name. Being that he is my cousin, my family and I have followed him since he was a broadcaster on Radio. He has never failed to give God credit in all things. No he wasn't a perfect man, after all he was a man but He did recognize the sovereignty of Jesus over all and was not afraid to say so.

Amen Pastor Roger!

We might have a long wait if we're looking for another Ronald Reagan. I fully realize that he wasn't perfect, and all Christians should know that about any candidate. I'd love to see someone with Ronald Reagan's qualities run, but I doubt this is going to happen.

I think that all Christians should VOTE, and I also think that Christians have a responsibility to look heavily at Christian morals, values, and ethics as a major determination in deciding who to vote for. How we vote should also be a matter of prayer. Speaking of prayer, all Christians should pray for those who hold public office whether they were our choice or not.

Our freedom to vote and speak does impact our overall culture and society, so this freedom should not be taken for granted or lightly. Our families will have to live with the decisions made by our elected officials, so it should be obvious that voting and speaking is an important Christian duty. Silence and not voting is what the powers of darkness want, so I refuse to remain silent and I WILL VOTE! I will gather information about the candidates, and I will ask GOD to guide me in the decision about who I will vote for.

SILENCE many times amounts to calling evil GOOD! Christians should know this, but many apparently don't. Some Christians give all kinds of excuses in not exercising the freedom to vote, but excuses are all they are. Even GOD didn't put perfect people in positions of authority, mainly because there are no perfect people. King David is a perfect example. King David was a man after GOD'S Own Heart, but King David committed adultery. Would we elect a King David?

Love In Christ,
Tom

Personally I would like to see some of those "second tier" candidates come out stronger. There are at least two of them that I think would make an excellent President.

I am the same way.  None of the top 4 have it for me...I could pick one but would much rather see someone like Huckabee or Tancredo.

That is the two that I had in mind. Although I agree with Tancredo on immigration I don't think that he has much of chance because of a number of statements he has made on that issue that come out actually sounding prejudicial.

It's still very early, so I'm trying to keep my ears open. Right now, I'm trying to find out more about Huckabee. He doesn't have much money, and he doesn't appear to be the stereotypical "full of hot air" politician. So, we'll see what develops. 

I myself am leaning towards Huckabee.