
Franklin Graham, the son of seminal 20th century evangelist Billy Graham, and current CEO of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, released a statement on Facebook yesterday addressing the self-righteous bashing of Christians supporting Donald Trump on social, print, and televised media.
Graham’s plea here is a standard one in favor of Donald, focusing on the Supreme Court and the possibility that left-wing activist judges might be hostile to the first amendment guarantee of religious freedom in America — among other things (2nd, 4th, 9th, & 10th Amendments). This point should not be so easily dismissed. With the untimely death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the court has already skewed left. Take a look at the following chart showing the age and ideological proclivity of the current justices.
Even with Justice Scalia on the court, the court constitutional advantage was skewed progressive. There were three conservative votes, two swing votes, and four liberal votes on the court while Scalia lived. With three justices near or over the age of 80, the next president will likely nominate at least four appointees — one to replace Scalia, and then replacements for Ginsburg, Kennedy, and Breyer. If, by some stroke of luck, all the new justices became conservative votes, that would give the court a strong 5-1-2 conservative majority. If they all become progressive votes, it would be a 5-1-2 liberal majority — probably for at least around 25 years or so.
What do you think? Is Franklin Graham right about the nature of the election? Is character the issue (if it is how could anyone possibly vote for Clinton)? Or is it policy we should be concerned with? Let us know on Facebook or in the comments below.