One of the most disappointing things to watch right now is the majority of pro-life conservatives and Christians accepting as fait accompli that the rabidly pro-abortion, pro-BernieCare, left-wing authoritarian Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will be approved as the next U.S. secretary of health and human services.
Worse, there are those who call themselves pro-life who are championing and actively supporting RFK's appointment.
'There's a very quiet, not spoken, but very real concern about RFK leading HHS,' explained Advancing American Freedom president Tim Champan, 'but what you're seeing is a pro-life movement that feels like it's been losing a lot, and that that movement feels in many ways like they can't afford another loss. So to speak up about their concerns about RFK, but then get completely rolled in the confirmation process would project weakness.'
Weakness in power? Perhaps. Weakness in conviction? No.
And that seems to be what is lacking in increasing measure on the right these days.
In the lead-up to the presidential election last year, I wrote about this dilemma, as pro-life Americans were being asked to support what in any other year would have been considered a pro-abortion Trump/Vance presidential ticket:
Conservatives, and particularly social conservatives for whom the issue of life has always been a non-negotiable, are understandably in the throes of political whiplash as they try to figure out how to proceed. How do you reconcile a fierce opposition to the moral evil that abortion represents - the intentional destruction of a being bearing the image of Almighty God - with support of a presidential ticket that now calls for "access" to the vile abortion pill (which represents 60% of all abortions, and rising), promises to veto a federal ban on the practice, and opposes state heartbeat laws and abortion bans?
You really can't. You either hold the line or you capitulate for the sake of pragmatism and power. But capitulation merely guarantees that you'll be asked to do it again, like with an RFK, Jr. appointment.
One of the dangers inherent in any political movement is the cult of personality. It often undermines the ideological purpose of the party, blurs the important distinctions between pragmatism and principle, and tempts members to abandon their convictions for the sake of power, "winning," and sitting at the cool kid table.
Charismatic leaders usually prove far more effective at rallying their legions and humiliating dissenters than they do at accomplishing anything for "the cause." The Democrats experienced this during the Obama years, and Republicans are staring into that same abyss as the second Trump term dawns.
As evidence, note that merely asserting such a thing will be regarded as near blasphemy among large portions of the Trump electorate. To them, even if they willfully give lip service to the idea that, "Trump isn't always right," or, "Trump has his flaws," or, "I'm willing to call Trump out when he deserves it," to vocally criticize the incoming president or fail to support his decisions, ideas, appointments, or choices is tantamount to treason, the behavior of closet progressives or a dreaded RINO (Republican In Name Only).
Personally, I subscribe to the alternative view that matters of faith, principles of ideology and worldview transcend any political leader, and the former matters a whole heck of a lot more than the latter. Moreover, failing to acknowledge that truth and to live accordingly will ensure that the latter will destroy the former.
It's why Babylon Bee's managing editor, and frequent Not the Bee contributor Joel Berry, made this necessary proclamation on social media:
I couldn't agree more.
RFK, Jr. was a terrible choice to lead the country's Department of Health and Human Services. President-Elect Donald Trump was terribly wrong to appoint him.
