Is Donald Trump Righteous Enough To Be A Great President?

Donald Trump recently threw his hat in the ring to run as the Republican nominee for President.[1]  “The Donald” is a hotel and apartment building magnate who also owns 17 golf courses and claims a personal wealth of $8.77 billion. Yes, that’s right: billion.

He advances his candidacy with the slogan “Let’s Make America Great Again.”  It certainly is encouraging to hear these words.  Implied by this phrase is that the veneer of greatness of our country has, at the very least, become tarnished.  Politically-correct thinking and speaking, one of the effects of cultural Marxism, has distorted our thinking.  Moral values are rejected or twisted to become, supposedly, “more flexible.”  The belief in an omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God who controls or oversees the affairs of men has become diluted, and in some areas of the country has all but disappeared.   

The corruption of traditional (Biblical) morality of course began many decades ago.  Even in the late sixties and early seventies, this writer briefly attended a seminary that taught “situation ethics.”  Fornication before marriage was o.k. as long the couple “really loved” each other.  The dorm at the seminary had couples shacking up in the dorm rooms. Today, we have reached even further levels of moral degradation.   God seems to be marginalized in the mouths and communications of our leaders.  “Traditional family values” is considered a put-down of “right wing extremists” [sic] by many people.

But Mr. Trump’s emphasis on our country’s greatness seems more rooted in economics rather than morality.  He sees himself as the “greatest jobs President God has ever created.” He stresses the lack of competence of our leadership.  He uses the word “stupid” to describe our trade deals with other countries, especially the Peoples’ Republic of China. He reflects upon our dilapidated infrastructure, our out-of-sight $18 trillion national debt, and the loss of corporate dollars to outsourcing of plants and decisions by foreign manufacturers not to place their plants in the U.S. 

Additionally, he came out vigorously against our weak immigration policies and loss of control over our borders.  If nothing else, this puts a tremendous strain on the taxpayer to provide services for these millions of people flooding in, with too many having criminal intentions. He claimed he will be tougher on ISIS than any other candidates, and certainly tougher than our weak President Obama, whom this writer perceives as pro-Islamist as well as “weak.”

Trump castigated Obama for failing to be a cheerleader for America noting “He’s been a negative force. He wasn’t a cheerleader; he was the opposite.” He notes especially the neglect in support by the present administration for the veterans who have served our country under fire.

Through all his speech, there was offensive boasting about his wealth.  There was none of the humility of the servant-leader that we value so much in Christian leaders.  And, although he claims that he cannot be unduly influenced by power brokers and lobbyists because, owing to his great wealth, he cannot be bought, one wonders if he has already been bought by the world of mammon in which he is so clearly comfortable.

He failed to castigate the Administration sufficiently for the abundance of lies and unconstitutional actions taken during the past 6-1/2 years.  We need an Executive Branch characterized by speaking the truth to the public.  The lies surrounding Benghazi told by Hillary Clinton and others, the Internal Revenue Service lies told by Lois Lerner, and the President himself lying about the Affordable Care Act call into question the integrity of our government.  Also, the ugly, unconstitutional exchange of Bowie Bergdahl for five Taliban terrorist leaders should alone be enough to outrage even minimally informed voters.  Mr. Trump failed to note any of these incidents or others that involved lying and malfeasance.  Is it not important to criticize the opposition when these values are severely lacking or even rejected by them?  

Donald Trump’s enthusiasm and positive, nationalistic message is certainly uplifting.  Conservatives like this writer feel somewhat beaten up after these past 6-1/2 years of Obama’s presidency, and it is refreshing to hear someone glowing with pride about being an American.  He has the knowledge of business and economics to revive many sectors of the economy.  But the big question remains: does he have the moral fiber and righteousness that are essential for restoring America’s greatness?

[1] http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/transcript-donald-trump-2016-presidential-announcement-article-1.2260117