Pander, Pander

Conservatives, and especially Christian conservatives, are torn among prospective Republican presidential candidates in the 2008 election. None of the major candidates have been able to move sufficiently right enough to excite a good chunk of the party base. Each of the major announced candidates have some negatives that turn off the base, but have some positives that can attract independent voters.

Lurking in the background for some time has been former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Newt engineered the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives, and has been a champion for conservative principles. Mr. Newt (as Rush Limbaugh used to call him) has also had some personal moral failures in his past, which helped to destroy his political career.

This week, Newt attempted to shore up the Republican base, by addressing questions of his moral character. He appeared on Dr. James Dobson's radio show, and admitted to an adulterous affair, at the same time that the House was pursuing the impeachment of President Clinton. Gingrich expressed an admission of guilt in this environment, and revealed himself as a sinner in need of grace.

Apparently, Newt did ok with Dr. Dobson, as Jerry Falwell invited him to give the commencement address at Liberty University in May. Falwell last year invited John McCain (no friend of conservatives) to speak at Liberty's graduation. Dr. Falwell still fashions himself as some sort of Republican power broker.

I am so torn on this. I strongly believe in the grace of God, and that God will forgive the sins of anyone who asks with a repentant heart. I believe God can be at work in the hearts of men, including Newt Gingrich. I hope this is the case. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt.

However, the cynic in me sees this as pandering. Newt sees a large group of uncommitted Republican voters up for grabs, primarily conservative Christians who comprise up to 40 percent of GOP primary voters. He also knows that Dr. Dobson and Dr. Falwell are respected figures among social conservatives. Gingrich has always pushed social conservative values as part of his agenda, and his credentials there are not questioned. However, the timing of the Dobson interview and the Falwell invitation smack of pandering and some coordination. I don't think Christians are all a bunch of Southern redneck rubes. Christians are not just merely a monolithic voting bloc. Our votes have to be earned.

One of my concerns is that we have someone with admitted moral failures positioning himself as the social conservative candidate. Once again, I believe that God can and will forgive him of his sin. However, will the electorate be so forgiving? And, will the liberal mainstream media be so forgiving? I don't think so.

Americans vote for likable people, based on the information they have. The press has so demonized Newt that I don't think he has a chance of being elected president. I think he would make a great Vice President under a President Giuliani (this is not an endorsement of Rudy-I don't see myself going down that road).

Newt has some appeal. However, don't look for church parking lots full of "Gingrich for President" bumper stickers next year.