Trump outkicked his coverage

 

By Bob Eschliman
Editor

 

Donald Trump used to be the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination because he was smart enough to keep the national discussion focused on issues where he was strong: immigration, economics, and the Second Amendment. But as grassroots voters demanded to know more about his positions on social issues, particularly his own faith, he painted himself into a corner.

That mistake played itself out last week when he suggested then-presumptive runner-up Ben Carson’s faith wasn’t entirely Christian. Instead of endearing him with Christians, it further exposed his weakness in areas of faith.

Carson is a Seventh Day Adventist. Trump is a Presbyterian. I’m not going to get into the tiniest of nuances here, there are whole websites dedicated to each denomination’s beliefs, and you’re all smart enough to figure them out.

But, there’s one issue of importance (of many) to Christian conservatives that has been in the headlines repeatedly since last June: homosexual “marriage.” This is an issue where the Adventist and Presbyterian churches couldn’t be farther apart, ideologically.

The Adventist Church — Carson’s denomination — still preaches marriage is between one man and one woman. The Presbyterian Church — Trump’s denomination — just this week decided to fully endorse the practice of endorsing sodomy.

I think you can see where that backfired just a little bit for The Donald. So far, it’s only had a marginal impact on Trump’s support. But for Carson, it has provided a big boost, both in terms of poll numbers and in Christian leaders who have defended him.

Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at the questions you won’t see in the CNBC debate. Until then, be sure to keep things straight.

 

Five Things You Need to Know Today

1. Pot, Meet Kettle — Also known as Jeb vs. Marco, the Battle for Florida is getting white hot. Yesterday, Bush suggested Rubio was a “GOP Obama,” meaning he lacked any credentials or experience that warranted consideration as President of the United States. CLICK HERE for the full story.
2. Not a Fan — Presumptive Speaker-select Paul Ryan isn’t saying what he thinks of the budget deal worked out between President Obama and current Speaker of the House John Boehner, at least not yet. But, he’s clearly not a fan of how the deal was worked out. CLICK HERE for the full story.
3. Big Stick Diplomacy — A U.S. Navy vessel has transited within 12 nautical miles of man-made islands in the South China Sea that are claimed as Chinese territory, but are also in territory claimed by the Philippines. China is making a big deal about it. CLICK HERE for the full story.
4. Sick and Twisted — You’ll not find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy than a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. And, if the name a North Carolina Planned Parenthood organization used for a recent fundraiser is any indication, they’re gleefully aware of their evil actions. CLICK HERE for the full story.
5. Climate Justice — Representatives of many UN-member countries are meeting in Paris to hammer out a final global agreement to address “climate change.” Poor countries want to be able to continue polluting as they grow their economies, forcing already-developed nations to cut back and pay for efforts to cut back on carbon emissions. CLICK HERE for the full story.

 

The Story No One is Talking About Today (But Should Be)

The free- and reduced-price lunch programs are often an indicator of a public school district’s academic success. The correlation, according to educrats, is that poor, “underprivileged” students don’t have the opportunities for success that their wealthier counterparts have.

In truth, public school systems in economically depressed areas — which happen to attract low-income families because of lower cost of living — see their limited resources sucked up by government mandates foisted upon them by those very same educrats. It’s a self-recycling issue that will only get worse as time goes on.

Regardless of which view you take as to the reason for the correlation between free lunches and failing schools, the latest news from the USDA should make you shudder. More than 17,000 schools now offer free lunches (federally subsidized) to all of their students, about 8 million in all, which is a 20-percent increase this year.

CLICK HERE for the full story.

 

Quote of the Day

‘Tis folly in one Nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it must pay with a portion of its Independence for whatever it may accept under that character; that by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favours and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate upon real favours from Nation to Nation. ‘Tis an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.

— George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796

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The Daily Bob is posted each weekday at TheIowaStatesman.com. For more Iowa news and politics from a conservative viewpoint, visit our website, “like” us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.