Conservatives Offer No Hope

Over the past several months, I
have been privileged to attend (and sometimes endure)
several significant gatherings of a variety of
conservatives. Some of the meetings were large; others
were small. The meetings sometimes featured mostly
grassroots activists and sometimes very high-profile and
notable conservative icons. In some of these meetings, I
was allowed a platform to speak; in others, I was merely
a spectator. In most of the meetings, there was a large
percentage of

Christian conservatives present. The meetings
occurred in locations all over the country.

After witnessing the
philosophizing, postulating, and pontificating of the
various conservative speakers (or those to whom I spoke
in private conversation), I am left with the very
profound and distinct impression that the so-called
conservative movement is dead. It is not dying: it is

dead. Totally and thoroughly dead.

Oh, the spokesmen (and women) of
the various conservative organizations will strongly
argue that the conservative movement is as alive and
vibrant as ever. They are either delusional or in
denial. The truth is, there is no conservative movement
in America today.

Most conservatives–even Christian
conservatives–have embraced philosophies and ideals
that are antithetical to genuine conservatism. In fact,
my experience with these people leads me to the
conclusion that today`s conservatives do not even know
what true conservatism is–or was.

For example, I could not tell you
how many times I have listened as speaker after speaker
praised and promoted the candidacy of the
"conservative" John McCain. These are the same
people, mind you, that in 2004 properly identified
McCain as the conservative phony that he was–and still
is. Many of the same conservative organizations that
rejected and repudiated McCain`s 2004 candidacy now
boldly extol its virtues. But it is not John McCain that
has changed: it is today`s conservatives.

The reason for this reversal of
"convictions" is that this time John McCain is the
presumptive Republican Presidential nominee. And if
today`s conservatives believe in anything, they believe
in the Republican Party. They might turn their backs on
their best friends; they might forsake their pastor and
church; they might even divorce their wife or husband;
but, one thing they will not do is forsake the
Republican Party. This rabid devotion to the GOP has
made mincemeat out of a once-great movement.

Of course, there are modern-day
prophets. Men such as Alan Keyes, Judge Roy Moore, and
Ron Paul, for example. For the most part, however,
America`s conservatives–including Christian
conservatives–have dismissed these "voices in the
wilderness" with either utter contempt or wholesale
indifference. These prophets are about as welcome as an
outbreak of influenza.

Even as a pastor, I am not immune
to the odious attitudes and actions of Christian
brethren. I have seen people I thought were my closest
friends–people I have helped in untold ways–turn and
walk away, without so much as a goodbye. I have watched
as my own dear wife and children have been subjected to
insults, tongue-lashings, and even obscene gestures by
these "loving" Christian brothers and sisters. I
have witnessed my preacher brethren refuse to even
"reason together" over the omnipresent threats to
our liberty and independence.

The beginning of the end came when
Christian conservatives began

idolizing President George W. Bush. They have done
this to the point that they have come to accept just
about any and all abuses against the Constitution, Bill
of Rights, Declaration principles, and even our very way
of life. Furthermore, they have become robotic foot
soldiers for universal and everlasting war. At the same
time, however, they see no harm in the decimation of
individual liberties, as long as it is a Republican who
is stealing them. But these same Christians will cry and
wail–to the point of almost cutting themselves–against
the thought of a Democrat doing the same thing. But,
pray tell me, since when does it matter what the brand
name is on the tyrant`s sword? Are not our liberties
just as dead?

But look at how our modern prophets
have been treated. Alan Keyes has been forcibly removed
from debate platforms, only to be released in remote,
crime infested neighborhoods at night by Republican
Party operatives. Roy Moore was lampooned and utterly
destroyed by Republican Party operatives (including
those within George W. Bush`s White House) in his
attempt to become Alabama`s governor. And, in his recent
Presidential campaign, Ron Paul has been subjected to
the most insidious attacks by Republican Party
operatives that I have ever witnessed.

Regardless of how the Republican
Party has compromised, capitulated, and castrated
genuine conservative principles,
conservatives–including Christian
conservatives–continue to refer to the GOP as "God`s
Own Party," and other such nonsense. In fact, the
current lapdog performance of modern conservatives to
the candidacy of John McCain demonstrates just how far
down the road of destruction they will go in order to
grovel before the Republican Party.

National Right to Life even had the
gall to say that it is "grateful"
for John McCain`s "strong pro-life" record. What
balderdash! McCain has repeatedly voted to spend Title X
tax dollars to underwrite the nation`s largest abortion
provider,

Planned Parenthood. He publicly supports killing
unborn babies conceived via rape or incest. And he
continues to lie to the American people about killing
babies "to save the life of the mother," which
almost any
OB/GYN doctor will tell you almost NEVER occurs.
According to the OB/GYN physicians that I have spoken
to, the only pregnancies that pose a legitimate health
risk to the mother are those where the unborn baby has
already perished.

How can National Right to Life–an
organization that once vociferously opposed Senator
McCain–now compromise the life issue in such an
egregious manner and support the corrupt candidacy of
John McCain? I`ll tell you how: NRL is bought and paid
for by Republican donors. And that is the problem with
the vast majority of our "conservative"
organizations today. As the old saying goes, "He who
pays the piper calls the tune."

In fact, I will say it straight
out: there is no hope for America within today`s
conservative–even Christian conservative–movement.
None. Zero. Zilch.

The closest movement to reclaiming
America`s freedom and independence was the recent
Presidential campaign of Congressman Ron Paul. With
Congressman Paul effectively neutered and neutralized
(by a hostile media and mercenary Republican hierarchy),
the only hope is in America`s churches and a burgeoning
independent movement.

I only wish I could expect today`s
pastors and churches to stand in the gap for our nation.
They have the power to thwart the forces of globalism,
corporatism, elitism, and liberalism that are destroying
America. So far, however, this has been nothing but
wishful fantasy. Most of our beloved Christian leaders
are as beholden to the same Republican donors as are the
previously mentioned conservative organizations. And
just as impotent.

That leaves The Constitution Party
as the only political party with the courage and
convictions to set the ship of state aright. With
someone such as Judge Roy Moore at the helm, true
Christians and constitutionalists would at least have an
opportunity to vote for someone in November without
being forced to hold their noses and surrender their
principles.

After attending numerous meetings
of conservative activists, I am more convinced than ever
that, ultimately, the survival of liberty in America
does not depend upon political parties, special interest
groups, or corporations. In these United States of
America, God has put the destiny of the country squarely
in the hands of "We the people." It will not be
conservatives or liberals, Republicans or Democrats,
Christians or unbelievers that restore America. It will
be individuals from all walks of life, all backgrounds,
and all political persuasions who love liberty enough to
fight to maintain it. Ultimately, of course, all
nations–just like all individuals–must give an account
to our Creator for how we protected the freedoms and
liberties that He gave us. Right now, we are not doing a
very good job.

Dr. Chuck Baldwin is the
pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola,
Florida. He hosts a

weekly radio show. His
website is

here.