CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY MAY 13, 2024
I’VE BEEN THINKING LATELY ABOUT GOOD CHARACTER. GOOD CHARACTER DOESN’T SEEM TO BE A REQUIREMENT THESE DAYS IN OUR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. WE ARE CONTENT TO SETTLE FOR LESS, LIKE A WOMAN WHO SETTLES FOR LESS IN A MAN BECAUSE SHE DOESN’T THINK SHE WILL EVER GET MARRIED. LISTEN TO DR. LAURA ON SIRIUS TRIUMPH CHANNEL TO HEAR SOME OF THEM.
GOOD CHARACTER IS THE FOUNDATION NOT ONLY OF A LIFE, BUT OF ONE’S THINKING. A PERSON OF GOOD CHARACTER IS AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW. A PERSON OF BAD CHARACTER ALSO ATTRACTS FOLLOWERS, BUT THE WRONG KIND.
THE LATE EVANGELIST BILLY GRAHAM SAID: “WHEN WEALTH IS LOST, NOTHING IS LOST; WHEN HEALTH IS LOST, SOMETHING IS LOST; WHEN CHARACTER IS LOST, ALL IS LOST.” IT APPEARS NOT SO MUCH TODAY. LOOK AT SOME OF OUR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP — FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, TO A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT, TO VARIOUS FAMILY MEMBERS OF POLITICIANS, TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, GOOD CHARACTER SEEMS IN SHORT SUPPLY. WHY DO WE ELECT THEM AND DOES THAT SAY MORE ABOUT US AND WHAT WE SETTLE FOR THEN ABOUT THEM. LEADERSHIP REFLECTS WHO WE FOLLOW. DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THAT. I’M CAL THOMAS.
From time to time you point out Trump’s character flaws and why he is unworthy of the admiration, even idolatry accorded to him by those in the evangelical community. You have even used the word insurrection, and written how he has given prosecutors enough rope to hang him. However, when it comes time for action it seems you always demonize efforts to rein him in. My question is why you are not more supportive of people like Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney, whose voting records were solidly conservative, certainly more than Elise Stefanik. Their only issue was an unwillingness to bow to Trump’s lawlessness. Rumors abound of numerous Republican officials who feel the same way in private but go along in public because they fear his base. Could that be considered cowardice? You wrote about that recently. You may remember Revelation 21:8 identifies cowardice as a sin that will land people in the lake of fire. Also were you not more supportive of Brian Kemp or Nikki Haley, who could have set forth a post-Trump vision for Republicans? Any clarification you could offer on those points would be most helpful.