Conversations: The Politics of Patience

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Conversations: The Politics of Patience
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How do you respond to attacks from other Christians as well as from political opponents?

On occasion, I've had some sharp exchanges in the Senate with some of my colleagues. There is a temptation to label someone a personal, not just a political, enemy. My goal is to maintain my position, to state my convictions without personalizing my criticisms, to have a relation-ship with my opponent based on respect. Christ's teaching and his conduct set the example.

Sometimes it makes people uncomfortable when you raise the moral side of the issue. But I think we're not here just to always avoid the difficult issues.

How have you used moral arguments to advance legislation?
Scripture—God's Word—is the source of all truth. But approaching public policy from an explicitly Christian perspective is counterproductive. It is wiser to approach it from the standpoint of the moral foundation that undergirds our society—the moral framework found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The principles in these documents show how to relate moral truth to the issues at hand.

Not every issue has a moral foundation. But foreign policy, issues of war and peace, life and health—all have profound moral implications. On many issues there is less clarity. Consider Most Favored Nation [MFN] trade status for China. Persecution of Christians in China is real, and it is wrong. But I've received letters from Christians within China saying that if MFN is rescinded, they'll experience repression. If we stay engaged with China, we can promote democratization.