Rhetoric abounds as the two parties gear up in the final days before the presidential election. The fingers are wildly pointing and the polls reflect that the American people are not stupid. The only one with a lower approval rating than President Bush is Congress at less than 7%. This means that 93% of Americans are unhappy with Congress. President George Bush has done a lot wrong in nearly 8 years. I would imagine that being in office for that long would certainly be fraught with many mistakes. He has led the nation through 9-11, the war in Iraq, and now a plunging economy. I watched with great interest, as did many of you, the two parties haggling with each other over the new age socialism, otherwise known as a $750 billion bailout. I also believe it to be very unfair to blame our economic woes on Bush's policies alone. After all, THE PRESIDENT HAS NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THESE ISSUES, ONLY CONGRESS. DOES. AND WHAT HAS CONGRESS DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Someone recently sent me these facts:

George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years. For the first six the economy was fine. A little over one year ago:

1. Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high.
   
2. Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon.
   
3. The unemployment rate was 4.5%.
   
4. The DOW JONES hit a record high - near 14,000.
   
5. Americans were buying new cars, taking cruises, and living large!

1. Consumer confidence has plummeted.
   
2. Gasoline reached $4.50-$5.00 a gallon.
   
3. Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase) and rising.
   
4. Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLION and dropping.
   
5. 3-5% of American homes are in foreclosure.
   
6. THE DOW has lost 6,000 points, the most EVER.
   
7. TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE EVAPORATED FROM PORTFOLIOS!

Both presidential candidates have espoused CHANGE. Both claim they have the middle class in view. Both claim the other will bring our economy to a grinding halt. Well, I got news for you. That has already happened. As I assess the two men here is what I did to determine my vote (which I have already cast).

• Obama is pro-abortion and McCain is pro-life.
  
• Obama is pro-"legislative" judges and McCain is a strict constitutionalist.
  
• Obama is for troop withdrawal from Iraq and reassignment of many of them to Afghanistan.
  
• Obama wants Iraq to carry their share of the financial weight of this war and McCain has yet to weigh in to his great discredit.
  
• Both men supported the new socialism called a bailout to both of their shame.
  
• Both men promise tax relief - keep in mind the president does not cut taxes or raise them, Congress does.
  
• Both men advocate change.
  
• Both men have chosen running mates consistent with their party's platform; Obama, who is the most liberal Senator chose Biden who is the third most liberal Senator. McCain chose Palin who is a staunch conservative.
  
• One man is young with little experience while the other is old with a lot of legislative baggage.
  
• One man is a war hero while the other has questionable ties to anti-American extremists.
  
• Both men are very wealthy.
  
• One man is a great orator and the other could not possibly get any duller as a speaker.
  
• Both men appear presidential.
  
• One man has many of the Hollywood stars kissing all over him while the other man has been treated rudely by the women on "The View."

On and on I could go. I wish I had a better slate to choose from. But I do not. You will notice one thing I did not mention - their race. I did not say one man is black and the other man is white. This is without a doubt a great moment in American history. It is historic and long overdue. But WITHOUT A DOUBT WE SHOULD NOT VOTE FOR A MAN BECAUSE OF HIS RACE. Our vote needs to be cast on the issues. As Christians, we need to examine each man's world-view and position on issues that are critical to us. His race should have no bearing, nada, zippo, nothing. I believe either man would make a great president - FOR HIS OWN CONSTITUENTS. But with either man's election this country will continue to be divided and confused. There is too much hate in Washington. There are too many closet bigots who would never vote for a black man simply because he is black. There are too many socialists who would never vote for a man who is a friend of big business. There are too many pro-abortionists who could never support McCain or especially Palin. There are too many pro-lifers who could never support Obama and especially Biden. There is enough difference between these two men for either man to unite a nation.

So where does this leave us? It leaves us at the foot of the cross where all of us belong. After all, we are told by Solomon...Proverbs 8:15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.

This means that whoever becomes our president we will deserve him.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters