The Trump Conundrum

We’ve now had a week to consider the fact that Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who Rush Limbaugh said was the closet thing we’ve had to a Ronald Reagan in a generation, dropped out of the Republican presidential primary race. What are we to do?

The opinions are divided between the “never Trump” camp vs. the “never Hillary” camp. With Justice Scalia’s death accentuating the importance of the Supreme Court, this branch of government has become the battle cry of the “never Hillary” camp. With the Senate and the possibly the House and the Presidency all at stake, the “never Trump” camp sees Trump at the top of the ticket as a political suicide pact.

Trump is a flawed candidate, no one seems to disagree, but is he so flawed that we ought to oppose him?

IT’S NOT OVER?

Lots of things can happen, and many things can come to light in the weeks leading up to the nominating conventions. Some have postulated that the Republican Convention is going to be full of fireworks.

Curly Haugland of North Dakota, a long time member of the Republican National Committee Standing Rules Committee, argues all Republican delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention are unbound on each ballot round, including the first.

Delegates have only been bound once in the history of the Republican Party — in 1976. “This historic event was the first convention… where the delegates were denied the freedom to vote as they wished in the nomination vote for President,” Haugland said.

That convention was also the final one in which delegates were bound to cast their votes according to the results of binding state primaries. The rule was rescinded in 1980. Another important rule is the Unit Rule, or Rule 38. It was made so that an individual delegate could vote their conscience. State party rules that bind delegates to a particular candidate are not necessarily binding on the National Party according to the Supreme Court.

So, it appears any delegate may get to vote his conscience even on the first round.

A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE?

What could change the game? Perhaps new facts delegates did not know prior to the convention. For example, did you know Trump has recently been accused of raping a 13 year girl! You can see the complaint she filed without an attorney below.

Obviously, Trump has denied it. His lawyers have even declared the accuser is not real. I can assure you that she is and she’s not going away. You can bet the Democrats will use it in the General Election.

SO WHAT NOW?

This election already has been an unprecedented one that will long be remembered for its vitriol. People of faith and good will are shaking their heads at this process and lamenting their choices.

Maybe there is an alternative that will emerge. Hillary may be indicted and Trump dumped at the convention.

So what are we to do? Fight for your convictions for ten more weeks, declare the truth and pray until the conventions are over. Then decide what to do.

For more on the Republican Convention rules, read more here.

For the rape complaint filed against Trump, read more here.