Where I stand on Donald Trump
I will vote to-re-elect Trump but I am by no means "all in" for every single thing he does. I live in the world as it is, not as I wish it was.
Because there seems to be some confusion, let me clarify where I stand regarding the President of these United States, in no particular order:
Trump's personal character is abominable.
The tendency among some "christians" to excuse Trump's personal sins is a betrayal of the Gospel. It often crosses into heresy, blasphemy and idolatry. Vulnerable souls are crushed by this.
Trump was the least qualified of the Republican field of candidates in 2016. He still is.
Trump's combative style is good and sometimes he implements it well. However, Trump often goes way too far with it. He goes nuclear when a flyswatter would be more appropriate, or simply ignoring an attack would be better.
Trump has a very bad habit of loving anyone who praises him, whether that person deserves support or not.
I would prefer a different Republican be the nominee in 2020.
I voted for Darrell Castle in 2016, and I do not regret or apologize for that.
Trump needs to stop mouthing off on Twitter and fueling the culture war.
Conservatives must pressure Trump and encourage him to be better. Conservatives should continue to call him out when he is wrong.
With that said:
A primary challenge against Trump would be a fool's errand destined to fail.
Trump has been good on policy: Tax cuts, deregulation, restricting funds to Planned Parenthood, defending Israel, supporting religious freedom and solid conservative judges are reasons to vote for him.
Realistically, Trump is the only option for conservatives through the 2020 election to continue his good policy. We are not going to get another Republican as the nominee. A third party candidate has no chance of winning.
Trump's negatives do not disqualify him from being re-elected in 2020.
By supporting Trump we have a seat at the table and can influence policy in a conservative direction. That has been proven over the last two and a half years.
The Democrats running for President are pursing a very radical agenda that needs to be stopped. Realistically, the only way to stop that is to vote for Trump.
Republicans should continue to defend Trump when he is right, especially when the attacks on him are dishonest and are a means to attack all of us.
Trump has been a bulwark against a radical Leftist agenda, and we have been far better off with him than we would have been with Hillary Clinton.
The attacks by some Christians against fellow Christians for voting for a morally flawed man, given the political reality we live in, demonstrate a real lack of humility and grace. This is a sin.
Trump is not a social conservative, but he has been a friend and very strong ally to social conservatives.
So call me a hypocrite, or this or that or whatever. I will vote to-re-elect Trump but I am by no means "all in" for every single thing he does. I live in the world as it is, not as I wish it was. In the 2020 election, I am making a choice between a flawed candidate who has nonetheless delivered good policy and the terrible alternative offered by the Democrats. I do not judge or condemn conservatives who cannot in good conscience vote for Trump.