“What Does It Profit A Man To Gain The Whole World, Yet Forfeit His Soul?”
Matthew 16:26
by C.D. Muir copyright 2016
The Republican Party prides itself on its idealism and morality, of being the party for God and Country and thus many religious people are drawn to it.
America is crying out for strong, fair, moral leadership, so it is depressing to see a major Christian candidate go behind the scenes to steal delegates he could not win honestly in the public voting process. Ever heard of Exodus 20:15 “Thou shalt not steal” Mr Cruz?
It is even more disheartening that Mr Cruz, using Christianity as his own “brand” to attract votes, is prepared to corrupt his own loyal followers, in order to “win”.
Ted Cruz places his supporters in moral danger. They are encouraged to lie in portraying themselves as Mr Trump supporters, while secretly planning to vote for Mr Cruz. Ted, and supporters, have you ever heard of Exodus 20:16: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour”?
What effect is living a lie, plotting and scheming, having on their souls?
If he is prepared to lead astray his own followers, how can he expect anyone to take him seriously in the moral leadership of the rest of America? How can we expect him to defend the Constitutional rights of Americans, when he undermines the rights of Mr Trump’s voters in order to take office for himself? Is he another “Tricky Dicky” in the making?
Jesus said a leader should look after his followers. John 10:11 “… The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”. Isaiah 40:11, “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
I have heard the excuses. That it is “legal” to do it. The Nuremberg trials sixty years ago settled once and for all that morality trumps legality in civilised society. Neither following the “rules”, nor following “orders”, was held to be an excuse for bad behaviour.
Then there is the vital question of who exactly do these delegates, or more correctly, their votes, “belong” to?
I would argue that the delegates are exercising the “proxy” votes of the people who voted. The votes do not belong to the candidates themselves, or the delegates, but to the voters who voted for their chosen candidate, in this case, Mr Trump.
Mr Cruz is stealing from the very people he would want to vote for him in the general election, should he win the Republican candidacy!
Hundreds of thousands of sincere committed people went to the polls in good faith, often in lousy weather, standing in queues for hours at great inconvenience, expecting eventually that delegates would vote representing them, at the Republican National Convention in July, as they themselves would. The delegates are not there for themselves.
What are the standard accepted rules and treatment of proxy voting?
There two types of proxies. One is a general proxy. A general proxy is written in such a way that it gives the proxy holder the right to vote as he or she sees fit on any business that may come up at a meeting. A limited proxy includes on the proxy the business that is to be voted on and a place for the member to tell the proxy holder the way to vote on the business. The proxy holder is legally required to cast the vote the way he has been designated by the member.
Did those people who voted, give delegates their general proxy or a limited one? I would argue that the voting paper is in effect, an authorisation for a limited proxy only, as voters ticked the box for their preferred candidate, but no other. There was no request on the ballot paper for a general proxy to be given after the first voting round.
The usual rule in organisations, is for proxy voters to be released from their obligation, only after the nominated (by the voter) candidate is eliminated, whether this takes one round or five rounds or more.
What about the varied rules that have been put in place in the Republican Party over the years, usurping the normal treatment of proxies?
I suggest that a new rule be proposed at the Republican Convention…
“that all delegates with proxies representing voters’ choice of a particular candidate, exercise the proxy for the voters’ chosen candidate through all rounds until their candidate is eliminated, where upon they then vote for the next candidate the voter supported, and in absence of such indication, to then be freed to vote for the candidate of their own (the delegate’s) choice”.
This would have the effect of showing voters, inside and outside the Republican Party, that it respects them and takes them and their choices, seriously. It would draw more people to the party. It would eliminate the pressure on supporters of particular candidates, to betray their own morals in lying and cheating to gain advantage in order to win.
I can understand Ted Cruz being tempted to go outside of his Christian upbringing. The light from the gleaming prize of the Presidency of the United States of America is shining brightly into his eyes, blinding him to the ethical course he has been brought up by his Pastor father to take. Ted Cruz, avowed follower of Jesus Christ, should follow the example of Jesus, when he was similarly tempted. Luke 4: 5-8 . 5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
