Letter: Why We Are Voting For Mitt Romney

The reading is over. The debates are done. In these last twenty four hours, many of us in the voting public are simply weary of caricatures, tired of insinuation, exhausted with political promises that are too uncertain. But we have a wonderful system set up by our Founding Fathers, to select a national leader. He or she will not walk on water, and no person really can fulfill the increasing expectations of a populace that makes or strives to make an all knowing President.

In fact, if you venture a visit to both Jamestown, Virginia, or Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, you will see abundant evidence that our country indeed, was founded on Christian visions. In our pluralistic and sometimes agnostic world, we fail to grasp this truth, but our political system can be a blessing if the President recognizes that a new day should be initiated with a prayer on her or his knees. And again in the evening, another prayer, to ask for forgiveness for mistakes in politics. This would be integrated well in our First Amendment clause about separation of church and state, and above all, would instill a great confidence within the body politic.

The Presidency is really a kind of "Bully Pulpit." This means important as the executive, judicial, and legislative functions of government are, it is the moral influence that comes or does not come from that Oval Office that is important.  With instant command of all the networks and opinion posts at the virtual call of the President, and with a legion of office and media help, the decider, indeed, must be the President who really understands that the buck stops at that Oval Office and that the influence should have a moral basis. The great lessons of our American history is that George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, our two greatest Presidents, had an innate sense that there was a higher power who brought this blessed land into existence, but mistakes have been made by the occupants of that office, and that is why the statement about prayer is so vital to any President.

Having been blessed as a professor of American history and world civilizations in colleges and universities in the United States and abroad, it is my conviction that too many of us in this land of America are somewhat illiterate of our unique history, which means we can be manipulated by public opinion and Presidential politics. As alert citizens, we must understand that public opinion can even change the law. We need to challenge policies that flirt with trespassing our basic First Amendment and l4th Amendment rights. Abortion, indeed is a difficult area, and an African American Pastor in Raleigh, N.C., recently challenged President Obama on his understanding of the abortion issue as well as on same gender marriage, so do I.

Christian compassion can be difficult in certain issues but there should be Christian backbone on such issues as where the Health and Human services mandates that such as the Missouri Lutheran institutions should pay out of tax dollars for abortion services. These Lutherans are correct in their challenge of this governmental intrusion on the First Amendment. Having served our blessed nation as a soldier, researcher, and missionary to many lands, I am absolutely convinced that in this nuclear age, and 24-7 bad news world, that we must go back and reflect on the Christian roots of our existence.

Finally, as I stop before the voting booth tomorrow, in this small S.C. community, I hope and pray that after a career marching in the streets, writing thousands of journalistic pieces, and privileged to have taught thousands of students, that my vote for Mitt Romney serves the best short and long term interests of this blessed land - in what some would call the most important election in American history.

Now, please go and vote.

Dr. Albert Jabs

Lexington,SC