And the Winner of my vote is … Romney

***UPDATE: Check out the comments for further dialog and updates from tonight’s vote***

… you all are just waiting on pins and needles to learn who I voted for right? I mean… with my narcissistic tendencies, I can just imagine that you are sitting there … pensive, forgetting to breath, fingers poised over the keyboard to alert all your friends … just waiting for my decision.

I know this …because, I can “sense” it. ::: laugh ::: I know in reality you are probably not really caring too deeply but I have a high verbal quotient so thanks for hearing me out.

I share this and all of my political views on my own behalf NOT on behalf of Exodus. Exodus takes no position on endorsing any candidates. That said, our employees are US Citizens, so they can choose whoever they want and believe me … we are all over the map. We even have one staff member supporting Ron Paul.

::: wiping forehead ::: I just got dizzy.

Last night I wrote about my “who should I vote for?” angst and late last night Romney came to mind. I hadn’t considered him really all the way up until last night. But this morning after praying I couldn’t stop thinking about his possibly being the next President and what that would actually mean. At 8:15 am, on my way to vote, I called one of my best friends and said, “I can’t believe I am saying this but … I am going to vote for Romney!” I talked it out with him and he totally understands even though I think he is going to vote for someone else.

When it comes to Romney, I realized that his Mormonism was the main reason I wasn’t going to vote for him in the first place. I have many Mormon readers and friends. They know that I have the views of most other Christians that Mormonism is based on a false gospel. That being said, I know many Mormons who act more Christlike than many people from the mainline denominations. I love my Mormon friends and would rather be lovingly honest than to hide such a fundamental disagreement with them. Plus, I mean, they believe I am following an incomplete Gospel so … it is obvious we can be friends beyond those serious disagreements. Even so, I worried, and do worry, that a “President” Romney will further spread Mormonism.

Another issue is that I had heard about was that the Romney campaign was doing things that were questionable with regard to disseminating information about the other candidates. I actually got to speak with someone from the Romney campaign a couple of weeks ago and he was very nice, informative and professional. I trust the people who shared the reports but the two times I have actually interacted with the Romney camp, once with the Governor himself (very brief introduction), they have been very professional with me and answered all my questions.

I didn’t care for some of the answers Governor Romney gave in the earlier debates but here lately he has been stronger and more forthcoming concerning his position on social issues.

I have been a Huckabee guy for quite a while but if you have read my blog and all my friends know… I have had serious reservations of him being President. I have read all the material, heard all of my friends who love him and can come up with a LOT of very good reasons to vote for him … but in the end, I just can’t. I am afraid that he doesn’t have the same experience. I want the culture war to change or even end and I don’t see him helping in that area. I don’t see the type of leadership in foreign affairs like I would like too. Plus, if he were elected it would be perceived that he is the evangelicals pick and while I love President Bush (another evangelical pick) … I don’t want to be strung along by the RNC for my evangelical”ness” any more. I am not saying Huckabee would do that, or that Bush has been, but it concerns me that this is setting up along the exact same lines.

If you are reading into this that I have problems with the party … you would be correct. That’s a different issue.

When I think if Huckabee as a Pastor, I am very cool with that and would probably go to his church. When I think of him as Vice President and possibly President at a later time, VERY cool with that… but his overall presentation has left me thinking that he is not the most qualified for actually being elected President right now in 2008.

I am not an analyst and am not going to break down all the issues here even though in my own mind I have. After all considered, I believe Romney is just all the way around a better qualified person for the position. His management experience, his executive experience… the man knows how to build and lead a team. He is strong, decisive and visionary. I believe he has good policies and will be good at hiring great minds to advise him.

I am convinced that the United States is headed for some terrible times. I pray to God that I am wrong. If I am looking for someone with a comprehensive skillset and a great Executive presence and experience, I have to go to Romney.

I do believe that the core issues do boil down to Christian worldview versus Secular Humanism. I don’t think Romney is going to help along those lines (I might be wrong) but in this age and time…none of the candidates will do that being that. It is up to the church to step up its apologetics and start serving instead of arguing more. The President can only do so much and I believe too many Christians are only relying on public policy battles and not actually relating to the people we interact with on a more personal level.

I can hear some of the people I know questioning my salvation. I can hear others calling me an “evan-jellyfish” (having no spine.) But what I have heard from close friends and leaders I deeply respect is that we have to respect each others individual choices and come together once the nominee has been picked. I agree.

Well, there it is. Please let me know what you are thinking.

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