Why are politically minded evangelicals not supporting Tim Scott over Donald Trump?

[RoBo1988]

Nothing says "we support the working class" better than by giving corporate America and the rich tax cuts.

I recall getting a tax break as well, and I'm not wealthy.
I have yet to work for a poor man. One of my employers started out like me, in the machine trade. He started his own side business in his garage. Some 30 years later he sold it and it continues today.
My current employer bought, and grew the company into a $300 million industry. Before his death, he turned into an Esop- employee stock ownership, so that a larger corporation couldn't swallow it up so easy.
Not exactly "Rich Men North of Richmond", huh?

 

[JustOneWay]

I recall getting a tax break as well, and I'm not wealthy.

Your tax break expires. The corporate tax break does not. Enjoy paying more in 2026, working man....

Rich Men North of Richmond is about the dumbest song ever written.

 

[RoBo1988]

Your tax break expires. The corporate tax break does not. Enjoy paying more in 2026, working man....

Rich Men North of Richmond is about the dumbest song ever written.

Funny that you mock the "working man (or woman)" I don't have any more to say to you

 

[JustOneWay]

Funny that you mock the "working man (or woman)" I don't have any more to say to you

Actually, I called you a working man. Are you not a working man?

It is amazing to me how working people support tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations when it is the working people who either have to make up the difference or lose benefits meant to be shared by all.

 

[eleos1954]

Looking at it objectively, from what I was in the past told by many of my fellow evangelicals and read from evangelical leaders in the media, it should be a very easy decision to place their support behind Tim Scott instead of Trump for 2024. Yet that isn't happening. Why?

Tim Scott, a Christian 'above all other things': How a Ten Commandments fight shaped him

Here's how a 1997 county council fight over the Ten Commandments shaped Tim Scott's political career.

www.usatoday.com

Things that the evangelical voters who supported Trump should find very attractive.

1) Tim Scott is an evangelical like they are, not somebody who has only promised to support them "I see myself first as a biblical leader and not as a Republican or conservative leader," Scott said during a 2020 video conference with students at Bob Jones University, which is known for its conservative cultural and religious positions. "I am first a Christian," he added. "And it is the thing I have chosen to be above all other things."

2) Tim Scott supports many of the policies (religious freedom, pro-life) that Trump supporters claimed drove their Trump support (over the supposed dislike of Trump's immorality and narcissism) to the point that "Democrats have signaled that their plan is to cast Scott, who at times was critical of Trump, as a disciple of his policy pursuits. They called attention to his social views, calling him a "MAGA Republican"."

3) His whole theme of personal responsibility and that we need "more victors and not victims" aligns with the worldview of that group.

4) Tim Scott's demeanor shows love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

4) Scott consistently beats Biden in hypothetical general election polls and doesn't have strong negatives in polling, which is a solid foundation to grow his lead over an unpopular incumbent as he gets more exposure.

My current conclusion is that evangelicals have gone tribal and now identify as Trump supporters first and Christ followers second. Sticking it to the Democrats for the way they treated Trump is more important to that group than anything else. They could support a man in Scott who has a long history that shows he looks to our God and Savior; instead they are so far sticking with Trump who Dobson had to try and defend as a "baby Christian" and who years later was unable to answer Sean Hannity's question about how his faith had grown.

God allows us humans to choose our leaders ... no leader is perfect and many far from perfect. There are many christians that don't vote at all. Ultimately God is in control .... therefore .... does it really matter how we vote? Nope.

 

[ViaCrucis]

God allows us humans to choose our leaders

Only sometimes, in democratic systems where people play an active role in choosing leadership.

Theologically, yes, we read in Romans 13 that there is no governing authority except what God allows. We must recall, however, that St. Paul wrote this during the reign of Nero. And thus Romans 13 is never a fiat sanction of any governing authority; but is rather a mitigation against any idea of Christians seeking to to take the direct reigns of temporal power. In other words, it was not the Church's task to take Caesar off his throne and replace him with a Christian government.

Further

no leader is perfect and many far from perfect.

Is a great thing to say in order to deflect meaningful criticism against a leader. "Nobody is perfect" is not a meaningful defense against valid criticism.

There are many christians that don't vote at all. Ultimately God is in control .... therefore .... does it really matter how we vote? Nope.

This statement can be taken in different ways.

Either it is a total 180 of your first statement about us choosing our leaders because you're saying we don't actually choose our leaders, God does. Or it's that we shouldn't care about what the social and political conditions of where we live--and the effects of this on our neighbors--because "God is in control"--which seems to be turning Divine Sovereignty into an excuse for apathy.

Alternative hypothesis: The condition of living in a democratic society, in which we play a role in government through democratic processes affords us with a unique opportunity to exercise Christian virtue: Namely to regard the needs of my neighbor as equally as important as my own; that I should love my neighbor and therefore seek my neighbor's optimum good. That my neighbor might prosper, thrive, and enjoy a full belly, a restful shelter, clean water, necessary medical care, and enjoy a just, fair, and equitable society in which to live their lives and conduct themselves.

Therefore, the will of God, insofar as our relationship to government is concerned, in the context of a democratic condition, is to involve ourselves in such a way that we exercise our Christian vocation as neighbors and citizens exhibiting Christian virtue in relation to others.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[KCfromNC]

Nothing says "we support the working class" better than by giving corporate America and the rich tax cuts.

One could say the same about campaigning on taking away their health insurance.
But that's the nice thing with GOP talking points - the people they're directed at tend not to care that they don't line up with reality.

 

[RoBo1988]

One could say the same about campaigning on taking away their health insurance.
But that's the nice thing with GOP talking points - the people they're directed at tend not to care that they don't line up with reality.

I get health insurance from my employer. The more the government gets involved, the fewer my options are, and my benefits are worse.
In other words; do me a favor, and don't do me any more favors.

 

[Aaron112]

One could say the same about campaigning on taking away their health insurance.
But that's the nice thing with GOP talking points - the people they're directed at tend not to care that they don't line up with reality.

"line up with reality"?!
Line up with reality !?

What about so-called "health care" alone, itself, lines up with reality ?
As it is , people are made sick, made sicker, die, with the leading cause of death being what ? Health insurance? No. ... Health care ? Yes and No. Preventable Problems? YES! YES! YES!

Yet no campaigning, no politician is able to even speak the truth about preventing problems - too much money is involved. Too many bribes high and low (from upper politicians to grass roots poor) ...

God allows us humans to choose our leaders ... no leader is perfect and many far from perfect. There are many christians that don't vote at all. Ultimately God is in control .... therefore .... does it really matter how we vote? Nope.

Choose our leaders? Not exactly.
Choose TODAY who you will serve ? (God or man) Yes, as God's Word Says.

He appoints leaders, He sets up kings, governors , princes, presidents, sheriffs,
and He brings down kings, governors, princes, presidents, sheriffs.
Yes, He Does as He Says,
and we get to choose whether to follow the Creator, to be redeemed in Jesus,
or to follow man/mankind/ along with society and perish.

 

[Aaron112]

I get health insurance from my employer. The more the government gets involved, the fewer my options are, and my benefits are worse.
In other words; do me a favor, and don't do me any more favors.

Right... or right?
Remember when you could see a licensed doctor in the usa for $25. ? Or before that, for a dozen eggs or a chicken or a goat / bartering.. and the doctor made housecalls even out in the country ?

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

I get health insurance from my employer. The more the government gets involved, the fewer my options are, and my benefits are worse.
In other words; do me a favor, and don't do me any more favors.

And what happens if you are laid off? You have to pick up COBRA. If I get laid off, I have a choice: mortgage, food or COBRA.

 

[Aaron112]

Looking at it objectively, from what I was in the past told by many of my fellow evangelicals and read from evangelical leaders in the media, it should be a very easy decision to place their support behind Tim Scott instead of Trump for 2024. Yet that isn't happening. Why?

He's not popular enough, doesn't have enough votes to win, can't get enough votes to win,
doesn't have enough money to win .....
pick one... there may be many other reasons also....

 

[Aaron112]

And what happens if you are laid off? You have to pick up COBRA. If I get laid off, I have a choice: mortgage, food or COBRA.

Off topic here, tangent : Too bad it is not as it was in the book of Acts, the first 3000 saved in Jesus - they called nothing their own, and shared all things as needed in common, and no one, not one, had a need not met.

Only rarely is this seen throughout the world, although (apparently, possibly) more often in very poor countries than in the untied states.

 

[Aaron112]

Let's not forget the part astrology played regarding Reagan!

Already forgotten. Thanks though.

 

[WolfGate]

He's not popular enough, doesn't have enough votes to win, can't get enough votes to win,
doesn't have enough money to win .....
pick one... there may be many other reasons also....

I assume you are talking about the primary only since he leads Biden in polling. Even for the primary, I believe if this group switched from Trump to Scott, then that would change and he would have a realistic shot at the nomination.

 

[RoBo1988]

And what happens if you are laid off? You have to pick up COBRA. If I get laid off, I have a choice: mortgage, food or COBRA.

Proverbs 22:29. But it's off topic. I'll repeat my original answer; if Tim Scott is the nominee, I will vote for him.

 

[RoBo1988]

I assume you are talking about the primary only since he leads Biden in polling. Even for the primary, I believe if this group switched from Trump to Scott, then that would change and he would have a realistic shot at the nomination.

Senator Scott will have to do it the old fashioned way -figure out how to get on television every chance he gets, and then get the 24 hour news, and all of the other candidates to talk about him, when he's not on television

 

[d taylor]

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Christians (evangelical) are not in many ways guided by The Bible and faith. They are so entwined in the world that obvious areas they should not believe or support. They are blind to, this touches on political areas, creations areas (globe, etc...), the people who claim death to heaven experiences, the giving of money to sham preachers (prosperity gospel, etc..).

They seem to be so lacking in confidence in The Bible and faith in God, they desperately seek out the famous or celebrity alliances or endorsments. I guess to say, hey as successful as these people are and they believe as i do, i must not be wrong in my faith in God.

 

[Hank77]

Looking at it objectively, from what I was in the past told by many of my fellow evangelicals and read from evangelical leaders in the media, it should be a very easy decision to place their support behind Tim Scott instead of Trump for 2024. Yet that isn't happening. Why?

I think it's because too many leaders such as Mike Huckabee are still supporting Trump. Scott is too kind for their blood.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I get health insurance from my employer. The more the government gets involved, the fewer my options are, and my benefits are worse.
In other words; do me a favor, and don't do me any more favors.

I get my health insurance through my state, and so far it's been nothing but a boon. Frankly I think we should abolish the for-profit healthcare system entirely, it's ungodly and immoral.

-CryptoLutheran