Rachel Lu has written an important essay for National Review on the plight of religious traditionalists. Donald Trump, she observes, has no interest in religious liberty issues or “fake culture war” causes that traditionalists care about. And Republicans planning a post-Trump party are going the way of “fiscally conservative but socially liberal.” And progressives, of course, can’t stand conservative religion. So both political parties want to disassociate themselves from religious traditionalists.
And yet, she says, despite the efforts to marginalize religious conservatives, they have some cards to play.
From Rachel Lu, Donald Trump — Religious Freedom Is Not a Priority for Him | National Review:
It’s always been hard to say what Donald Trump thinks about Jesus. His stance on religious conservatives is, unfortunately, much clearer. He doesn’t care about us. He has no interest in religious freedom or in any of our other “fake culture wars.”
When there’s a choice to be made between the pious and the progressive, Trump reflexively looks left. All the overtones of his convention reinforced what we already basically knew: He isn’t planning to stick up for religious conservatives. He’ll accept our votes, but in the cultural arena, we’re on our own.
We need to digest this hard truth right now. If a President Trump were to approve every invasive request the LGBT community laid at his door (veto power over sermons? sanctions for pastors who refuse to marry same-sex couples?), we wouldn’t even be able to complain that he had betrayed us. He’s made no pretense of being on our side.
Even as we try to climb out of this frying pan, we should note that the fire is crackling right beneath us. As Trump’s coronation ensued, another brand of Republican strategists were already exploring the contours of their own post-Trump dream party. Socially liberal fiscal conservatives are hoping that the wrenching events of 2016 might offer a silver lining: an opportunity to offload some of their least-favored fellow travelers. Who do you suppose is on that list?
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/438431/donald-trump-religious-freedom
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