	Bob Hostetler > Writing

Six Good Reasons to Vote

by Bob Hostetler

David Kuo was once the Number Two man in the Bush administration's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives (he left in 2003, at which time he wrote the president a letter expressing thanks for “your unwavering support for this initiative”). Since then, however, Kuo (a conservative Christian) has written a book, Tempting Faith, in which he tells the story of his involvement in politics (he worked for Bill Bennett and John Ashcroft before working in the White House).

In the book, Kuo prescribes a “fast” from political involvement for Christian conservatives. He told CBS’s Leslie Stahl, “I think that Christians, particularly evangelical Christians need to take a step back. To have a fast from politics. People are being manipulated.”

The irony seemed utterly lost on Kuo: He writes a book urging people of conviction, people of faith, to refrain from voting. The book is released a mere three weeks before the 2006 elections. Kuo is enthusiastically interviewed by 60 Minutes, Chris Matthews, and Keith Olbermann (among others), and the message is clear: Christians stay home.

Either Kuo is still being manipulated—albeit this time by an agenda-driven media—or he is a willing participant in the manipulation, seeking to suppress the votes of evangelical Christians. I prefer to think it’s the former, but it doesn’t matter. The result would be the same, if anyone actually follows his advice.

I think Kuo is wrong. Not because I believe the Bush administration is free of cynical politics, and not because I think people of faith—of various political persuasions—are not victims of (and often participants in) manipulation. But to fast from voting is ludicrous, to my mind. I would no sooner fast from voting than I would fast from paying my bills, picking up litter from my yard, or obeying traffic lights. One should not fast from responsible behavior.

There are far too many good reasons to vote in the upcoming election (or any election) for any of us—of any spiritual or political persuasion—to refrain. Among these:

1. WAR. Like it or not, we are at war in Iraq. Whatever you think about how we got there and how we ought to prosecute the war from this point forward, voting honors those who have died and those who are currently risking their lives on our behalf. It may also send a message to terrorists or allies (or future allies) about American resolve. And it may prevent policy changes you dread …or contribute to changes you hope for.

2. NATIONAL SECURITY. Whether you believe our intelligence forces should be able to listen to calls placed to this country by foreign terrorists or not, promoting your belief is a good reason to vote. Whether you think terrorists in U.S. custody should be subjected to coercive interrogation techniques to extract information about potential activities and attacks or not, your position on that matter is a good reason to vote. Whether you trust Democrats or Republicans with the task of punishing terrorists and preventing future attacks, promoting our nation’s security is a good reason to vote.

3. TAXES. By and large, Republicans vow to make President Bush’s tax cuts permanent, while Democrats plan to repeal them. Effecting your future tax burden is always a great reason to vote.

4. THE SUPREME COURT. Justice John Paul Stevens is 86. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 73, and Justice Anthony Kennedy is 70. The next Congress may well vote on a successor for one or more of these justices, and the result of that decision will have far-reaching implications for years to come. Another good reason to vote.

5. THE ECONOMY. You wouldn’t know it if you get your news from the once-mainstream media, but our nation’s economy is robust. Growth is up. Taxes are down. The stock market is up. Unemployment is down. You may like the Bush administration’s economic policies, or you may prefer to see more Democrats in Congress to put the brakes on their policies. Either way, it’s a good reason to vote.

6. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP. Your vote for a congressperson is, in effect, not only a vote for that person, but for the ultimate leadership of Congress and its committees. The results of the November 7 election will determine whether people like Dennis Hastert, John Boehner, Bill Frist, and Mitch McConnell lead Congress and appoint the powerful committee chairpersons, or whether the likely leadership will swing to people like Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Harry Reid, and Dick Durbin. More good reasons to vote.

Perhaps David Kuo and those who are most enthusiastically promoting his book would like to see people of conviction observe a “fast” from the political process this year. But for these reasons—and many more—I believe that would be both irresponsible and reprehensible, whether you’re Christian, or conservative, or neither.

This article appeared in the November 1, 2006, edition of the Hamilton Journal-News.

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