Has Judge Roy Moore Unlocked the Winning Gubernatorial Combination?

While back in Alabama a couple of weeks ago, my father told me that my mother had been appointed as a representative from their local church to attend a meeting which she understood to be a grassroots effort to defeat proposed legislation to legalize gay marriage. When she arrived at the church, she was puzzled not to find anything about the stated purpose of the meeting. As she approached a gentleman, she said, "I am supposed to be here for a meeting about gay marriage legislation to be proposed this year. Am I in the right place?" The man replied, "Yes ma'am. You are. You are here because we are developing a grassroots effort to get Judge Roy Moore elected as the next governor." "What?" my mother thought to herself. It was soon thereafter she realized that the meeting did not have anything to do with gay marriage legislation, but a recruiting meeting to gather laborers to man the posts for the Moore Gubernatorial Campaign (side note - has anyone besides me noticed that the root for "gubernatorial" is "guber"?). As you already know, Judge Roy Moore rose to ascendency through his stand on the Ten Commandments, a stand which the majority of Alabamians supported. Now that the Supreme Court fiasco has long subsided, all eyes are set before the race for the highest seat in Alabama. If you can recall the last presidential election, there were several states (18 I think) which had a line proposing a ban on gay marriages in their respective states. Many pundits have concluded that the turnout determined the election - a turnout greatly affected by the legislation against same-sex marriages. So here's the mix as I see it. A judge heralded and honored among conservatives, the Ten Commandments, same-sex legislation, opposition to the lottery, and the grassroots network of local churches and associations. Does this sound like a winning combination or what? Supporters promoting Moore are pushing the promise that if Moore gets elected, then he is going to ban same-sex marriage. What better motivation that to get Alabamians to get out and vote! Looks like someone was taking notes from Karl Rove in the 2004 elections. Personally, I like Judge Roy Moore. As a matter of fact, I campaigned for him while in Mobile and attended dinners with the high-cotton folks around the plantations. As I have conversed with him, I dare say that I have never met a man who is more knowledgeable of our Constitution and government (and the Bible). The dude has memorized just about everything in American history, including journal entries from former presidents. However, I am not aware if he knows what is going on with his campaign. If the Moore campaign leaders think they hold the trump card with open-ended promises of banning same-sex marriage, then I want to encourage them to think again. Also, I have serious issues with any church or Christian organization coming out in support of any one candidate. This is not what we are to be about. Christians and Alabamians will see through the charade just as my mother did two weeks ago, and it will backfire. Regarding myself, I would like to see Moore win the election, but not with the dirty politics of playing on homophobia in the South and piggy-backing off the Church. It is my hope that what my mother experienced in our hometown is an anomaly and not an intentional, strategic plan to woo naive citizens into voting off of fear and antagonism. Furthermore, what concerns me is what some religious folks are going to expect out of Moore. Some will think of him as the Davidic Messiah of Alabama who will seek a theocratic government of sorts. They will think of him as their man to right the wrongs done to them. For example, let me provide you an excerpt from a comment on his campaign's blog. The author's name is Prophetessglynis, and here is some of what she said: We (including our children) have been beaten in the public park by the local police JUST for preaching Fire-and-Brimstone while praying for people. We have a multitude of video footage showing my husband holding a sign (i.e. Repent or Burn in Hell) and being removed from the public right away with false charges such as "trespassing" in making traffic impasseble, "Failure to Obey a Lawful Order," and the infamous "Disorderly Conduct." As Chistians, we are being persecuted ridiculously in the Baldwin and Mobile Counties which is the state of Alabama. We believe that you are GOD'S Moses for the State of Alabama. We are Christians who are being forced to worship the heathen's GOD who is an anti-CHRIST. Even if you do not win the Governor of Alabama, please know that GOD is calling you to fight for the right to promote GOD and the Christian Religion no matter where you go. If you do make it into office, we will be hearing from you. Do you see what I am talking about? "We will be hearing from you." Who is "we?" I believe they could possibly turn out to be Moore's worst nightmare. They will be all those who have set their hopes on him - fanatics and fundamentalists alike who will fight tooth-and-nail to get him elected. In the end, I don't know what the outcome will be, but I do hope in the meantime, supporters of his campaign will not be baiting the public with supposed same-sex legislation as an ecclesiastical mobilizing force. Politics can be very dirty and costly (see the latest evidences with the Abramoff scandal), and more than winning elections and having Christians in influential roles in our government, I want to see Jesus Christ honored with followers who campaign and vote with integrity, forthrightness, and humility. Besides, inside every Christian is Christ, just as in every gubernatorial candidate there is a guber.