Iowans have spoken about their preferences for the nominees of the Democrat and Republican parties, but the rest of the country has yet to have its say. Not all of the candidates received a ticket out of Iowa, so the field has been winnowed slightly. Following the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries, the herd will have been thinned even more. As Americans increasingly turn their attention to the primaries, here are some thoughts and questions that may be useful in informing their judgment about who to support for the office of President of the United States.
Ability to cast a vision. Americans are sharply divided about the direction in which the country should move. The country is divided over polarizing issues like abortion, immigration and Iraq. Many of the candidates foster existing divisions by demonizing their opponents and engaging in personal attacks. These attacks are calculated to anger their supporters and animate them to turn out and vote. Anger is certainly a good motivator, but it is not a conciliator. And it is not likely to produce a consensus about the direction in which the country should move. Is there a candidate who is capable of healing divisions, articulating first principles and uniting the country? It was said of Winston Churchill that he "mobilized the English language" in support of the war effort against the Axis powers. Do we have a candidate capable of mobilizing the English language in such a way as to unite the American people in pursuit of the common good?
Making the case for life. The right to life is the foundation of all other rights. It is that right without which no other right can exist. Unless one's right to life is preserved, all other "rights" are meaningless. One's net worth is not a function of their age, size, location or stage of development. Human beings have dignity because they are created in the image of God. Is there a candidate with a demonstrated record of protecting the rights of human beings at all stages of development? Is there a candidate who can credibly make an appeal for a consistent life ethic which includes protection of the embryo and the elderly? Does the candidate understand the basis for human dignity? How has that understanding affected their decision making in the past? Can they defend the innate sanctity of human life against the biotech industry's utilitarian appeals for embryonic stem cell research and human cloning?
Defending marriage. Marriage has historically been the union of one man and one woman. It is the foundation of society and th