Constitution Party Candidate

[tgrshooter]

It's unfortunate that Ron Paul will not get the Republican nomination (unless McCain dies in an unfortunate fire truck related accident) so that leaves me looking for another candidate. I'm definately not choosing the evil of three lessers. I noticed the post on here about checking out Bob Barr. I'll admit I haven't researched him much so I can't really form an opinion of him. However I have followed this fellow who just got the nomination for the Constitution party and is a strong supporter of Ron Paul. I encourage you guys to check him out, read some of his articles on his website. This is a very intelligent, well-spoken and capable man. Let me know what you think!

He's definately my candidate.

http://www.constitutionparty.com/
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/
http://baldwin2008.com/

 

[CavalryJim]

Looking at his website, I don't think Baldwin is the right candidate for me. I have a problem with his use of 'honorary titles' & being referred to Dr. Baldwin. Plus, he was a leader in the Moral Majority - an ultra conservative, religious, political group. Ultra Conservatives are just as capable of destroying our freedom as the Ultra Liberals.

 

[tgrshooter]

True. However I believe he can make the distinction of not using government as a tool to promote religious ideals. The Constitution party is about strictly following the Constitution. Though he may be a Baptist preacher and very religious and moral man, I don't see him imposing these values on people through government. I'm pretty sure he has a good understanding on how our system is supposed to work. Just take the time to research the man more and not take it at face value.

If you take the time to research Ron Paul thorougly, you will find he is a VERY christian man with high morals. However he doesn't impose this on people through his role in the government and even shy's away from bragging about it (like huckabee).

Both these men understand that moral responsibility starts at the family level and in your personal life. This is the role of the Church in each community to help guide individuals in their life. Government is supposed to protect the people and church's, not to put restrictions on them in the guise of protecting "free speech."

 

[penguin]

From what I've read on him, Baldwin thinks Bush is too liberal (uhh..wha?), that women should not serve in the military (does he think this is 1920?) and will force more religion into government. The difference between a good Christian and Christian who thinks they are good lies in the fact that the good Christian won't try to jam his morals up my free ass. From what I've read about this firebrand, it's his way or the highway. And I've had about enough of that for 8 years.

 

[SKYWLKR]

As much as I would love to Vote Libertarian I can not in good conscience do it...

Yet...

I cannot allow a dem in, in anyway and vote for a third party now would be a vote for the dem...

Now next cycle, I think we may have a viable 3rd party candidate option.

 

[tgrshooter]

A constitutionalist is an individual who pledges to adhere strictly to the constitution. If this is rightly carried out, noones freedoms should be trampled in any way, by anybody regardless of religious or political views.
However, personally I think there is some importance in wanting a leader who is a moral man and a strong christian. He will be guided by the will of God in making decisions and not led astray.
Take this from George Washington's farewell address...something to think about:

"Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity.
Let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government."

 

[penguin]

Let us not get into the debate of if the country needs to be a country run only by the hand of a man with devout religous convictions who will rule with the word of God as well. If you'd like to quote people, I'll quote an official U.S. document on that subject:

TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE BEY AND SUBJECTS OF TRIPOLI OF BARBARY

Treaty signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796, and at Algiers January 3, 1797
Senate advice and consent to ratification June 7, 1797
Ratified by the President of the United States June 10, 1797
Entered into force June 10, 1797
Proclaimed by the President of the United States June 10, 1797
Superseded April 17, 1806, by treaty of June, 4, 18051
8 Stat. 154; Treaty Series 3582

Article 11:

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, - as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen, - and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.



I would rather have a man who believes in the benefit of the country as a whole without regard for religion, than a man that believes the country can only benefit as a whole if it is based upon his religion.

 

[tgrshooter]

Let us not get into the debate...

Even though you went on to debate....

So then I congratulate you on your ability to google an obscure document that supports your point of view. A treaty with Pirates, ARGGHH Matey!

A few interesting things to note about this document which is your standard bearer...this Barlow fellow who was in charge of this deal was originally a Christian who became disenchanted and became moreso of a Deist. Perhaps a little animosity towards the Christian religion could have played a factor? Plus this was a treaty with Pirates. I'm sure at this time, the main focus was to end these pirate attacks and establish peaceful relations. The religion of Islam was somewhat foreign to Americans at this time, and this line could have been interjected to appease the other party so as to avoid further conflict. Also interesting if you do some research is the fact that the only remaining Arabic version of this document (and it was originally written up in Arabic) has no clear translation of the alleged "article 11." There are many people who doubt and question the authenticity of Barlows translation of the treaty.

 

[tgrshooter]

The overwhelming number of America's founders understood the connection between the Christian faith and the rise of these United States. John Quincy Adams said, "The highest glory of the American revolution was this: it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity."

Adams also said, "From the day of the Declaration . . .they [the American people] were bound by the laws of God, which they all, and by the laws of the Gospel, which they nearly all, acknowledge as the rules of their conduct."

Then, on July 4, 1837, Adams said these words, "Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day? . . . Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the corner stone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity, and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies, announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the Savior and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets six hundred years before?"

Daniel Webster also acknowledged the relationship between our founders' Christian faith and America's creation. He said, "Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, or literary."

Noah Webster, the man who is called the Father of American Education, said, "Education is useless without the Bible." He also said, "The Bible was America's basic textbook in all fields."

Noah Webster went on to say, "In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed. . . . No truth is more evident to my mind, than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people."

One more quotation from Noah Webster is necessary at this point. He said, "The religion which has introduced civil liberty, is the religion of Christ and his apostles, which enjoins humility, piety, and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free constitutions of government."

These sentiments were the sentiments of America from the inception of our great country. Remember, the voyagers of the Mayflower made a covenant between themselves and Almighty God. It is called the Mayflower Compact, and in it they said the reason they had made the voyage and determined to plant a colony in the new world was "for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith."

What many people do not understand is that when America abandons its dependence upon the God of the Bible, it will--at the same time--surrender the very foundation of our liberty and independence. As Thomas Jefferson said, "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?"

Patrick Henry agreed with Jefferson. He said, "It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains."