'Tis the Season When Candidates 'Get Religion'

Saluda, NC (TLS). The first World War provided the backdrop for a new phrase to be added to the modern vernacular: 'There are no atheists in foxholes.' The reference, of course, was to the innovative development in waging war that utilized the digging of trenches in the ground to provide soldiers with extra protection from enemy fire.

While 'trench warfare,' as it was called, represented a major step forward in waging war, the fact was that troops by the millions died just as effectively while embedded in a foxhole as they did in an open field. The scene was frightening as scores of young men watched as their fellow soldiers died all around them from bullets, mortar, grenades, and the like--all of which was made even more poignant by the close proximity of soldiers huddled together like sardines in a can within the trenches.

It was said that many a prayer went up to heaven from those foxholes as soldiers petitioned the Almighty for a safe passage back to America. Even the hardened of the non-religious were said to begin a very active, devoted prayer life the first time they heard bullets whizz passed their heads while embedded in a trench.

This year in the life of our nation we see the political candidates for national office already beginning their long, uphill climb toward the primaries in early 2008. The brave souls who dare to announce their bid for the Presidential nomination are in many ways like those soldiers down in the trenches. The first shots have already been fired from the media, opponents, and the voters themselves out on the stump.

Thus, most candidates 'get religion' in a hurry.

Of course, I use this term as a metaphor for the tendency of most candidates to begin to truly listen to the voters and make some concessions that belie their record.

We need look no further than John McCain to see an example of this phenomenon. In Iowa over the weekend McCain, when dogged by questions concerning his indefensible position on opting for a program of open borders in response to the problem of illegal aliens, stated that he 'may be forced to rethink his position on the issue.'

The question is, is McCain truly beginning to 'get religion' or is he merely engaging in the suspicious practice of 'deathbed repentance?'

It is not that McCain is unique in this regard. Politicians have long been known to suddenly see the light on issues when they are forced to face the voters in an election. The problem, historically, has been that once they get elected they forget all about their promises to the electorate, thus making their claim of seeing the light on certain issues nothing more than an excercise in pandering to voters and betraying their own true thoughts and feelings.

The perfect illustration of this phenomenon is the story of two men who were stranded on the open seas in a small row-boat. Without water or food, the two were near death. The weakest of the two knelt down in the bottom of the boat to pray while the other looked through binoculars to see if he could spot land.

He said, 'I am not a praying man, but if it works in getting us out of here, I'll do it.'

About a 5 seconds later the other said, 'Wait a minute. Wait a minute! You don't need to do something stupid like praying now. I think I see land!'

'Seeing the light' and 'getting religion' is a convenient, opportunistic ploy of seasoned politicians who have amassed a record of votes on issues that do not resonate with the public. Such a politician can face the voters and claim a 'change of heart,' or a 'sudden recognition that they had been wrong' in the past, or even better, my favorite excuse--'I have grown and matured since those misguided days of my youth.'

The gullible fall for this balderdash and re-elect the repentant, only to be fooled again when the politician in question resumes his or her old tricks, securely ensconced in office and insulated from the public for at least 2 years, sometimes 4 or 6.

Thus, Hillary Clinton can claim, 'If I knew then what I know now, I would have never voted in favor of the Iraq War.' Barack Hussein Obama can embrace an evangelical Christian group, talk about Jesus and such, while conveniently hiding the fact that his voting record is the most Leftwing of all of the candidates. Rudy Giuliani can claim that the only reason his record on gun rights is so dreadful is that NYC needed extreme measures to reign in the crime spree. Mitt Romney can talk about how he has progressed from one who supported abortion rights to one who is solidly pro-life.

This is not to say that some candidates are not being honest when they claim a progression in thought and feeling through the years. We all change with time in certain ways. However, as my old Baptist preacher used to say in my youth, 'The ONLY instance of genuine deathbed repentance in the Bible is the thief hanging beside Jesus on the Cross.'

The message in this, of course, is that genuine deathbed conversions are possible but rare.

So, who do you trust?

The proof is in the pudding, as they say. Many of those running for President have been around a very long time. It should be clear to most who have eyes to see and ears to hear that most of these simply cannot be trusted. They will say anything to get elected, and then, once in office they unleash a steady stream of legislative initiatives and policy statements that make everything they said during the campaign a lie.

One need look no further than so-called 'Blue Dog Democrats' who ran as conservatives but once elected proceeded to march in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi's extremist, Leftwing agenda.

But after all, it's all about nothing more than getting elected, isn't it?