I want to be an informed voter but it is increasingly difficult for me to stomach the derisive, hostile and often mocking tone of many recent political speeches (never mind the all mudslinging ads or insane punditry out there these days). Reading the transcripts afterward helps a little bit, but it can be difficult to sort out truth from fiction, innuendo from issues.
If there’s a silver lining to all of this, I suppose today’s political climate reminds those of us who follow Christ that our ultimate hope is not in a particular politician or the political process. Tony Campolo says this in the latest issue of Relevant:
My contention is that if anybody asks if you’re a Democrat or a Republican, the answer should be, “Please name the issue.” On certain issues, I’m going to come across as someone who likes what the Republicans say, and on other issues I will come across as saying what the Democrats say.
Jesus might not be on the ballot for president, but maybe He could at least run for mayor of Detroit? Lord knows, Detroit needs the help.
Perhaps because the stakes are so high, or maybe because we just like to fight, this November’s historic election cycle has elicited some very strong, emotional responses among Christians of various political persuasions.
The New Yorker recently ran a cover featuring a cartoon of Senator Barack Obama and his wife Michelle that portrays them as anti-American terrorists. The New Yorker claims that it was drawn satirically, to make light of the ridiculous rumors surrounding Obama (e.g., he’s a Muslim, he’s a terrorist-sympathizer, etc.). 
I have been hesitant to weigh in here on Senator Barack Obama’s potential presidential candidacy because of the way we tend to talk at or past each other when it comes to dealing with race, among other reasons. However, given the historical nature of Obama’s campaign, the increasing rancor and racial divisiveness coming from the Clinton camp recently and 
headsparks* 