The Op-Ed pages of The New York Times are plenty poor to be sure, but Ross Douthat and David Brooks are sometimes worth reading. But the following from Brooks (28 October 2016), despite the correctness of its opening sentence, is singularly uncomprehending:
The very essence of conservatism is the belief that politics is a limited activity, and that the most important realms are pre-political: conscience, faith, culture, family and community. But recently conservatism has become more the talking arm of the Republican Party. Among social conservatives, for example, faith sometimes seems to come in second behind politics, Scripture behind voting guides. Today, most white evangelicals are willing to put aside the Christian virtues of humility, charity and grace for the sake of a Trump political victory.
Come on, man! (As Joey B would say.) Don't be stupid. The Left is out to suppress religious liberty. This didn't start yesterday. You yourself mention conscience, but you must be aware that bakers and florists have been forced by the state to violate their consciences by catering homosexual 'marriage' ceremonies. Is that a legitimate use of state power? Obviously not. And if the wielders of state power can get away with that outrage, where will they stop? Plenty of other examples can be adduced, e.g., the Obama administration's assault on the Little Sisters of the Poor.
The reason evangelicals and other Christians support Trump is that they know that politics is about better versus worse, nor perfect versus imperfect, and they know what that destructive and deeply mendacious stealth ideologue Hillary will do if she gets power. They support Trump not because they think the Gotham sybarite lives the Christian life, but despite his not living it. They understand that ideas and policies trump character issues especially when Trump's opponent is even worse on the character plane. What's worse: compromising national security, using high public office to enrich oneself, and then endlessly lying about it all, or forcing oneself on a handful of women?
The practice of the Christian virtues and the living of the Christian life require freedom of religion. Our freedoms are under vicious assault by leftists like Hillary. This is why Trump garners the support of Christians.
The threat from the Left is very real indeed. See here and read the chilling remarks of Martin Castro of the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights. Given Castro's comments the name of the commission counts as Orwellian.
ADDENDUM (6/7/19) We who rolled the dice for Trump have been vindicated in spades. He has kept his promises. The cause of religious liberty is much better off than it was under Obama, and much much better off that it would have been under Hillary.
ADDENDUM (11/5/2024) The slings and arrows sent in Trump’s direction have worked a moral change in him, thereby rendering my “Gotham sybarite” characterization out date. He has been made to tread the via dolorosa and bear many a cross — impeachments, fines, the Russia hoax, lawfare, assassination attempts, vicious attacks by his moral inferiors, etc. He has shown himself to be a man of great character, a profile in courage. Any lesser man would have been crushed by the onslaught. Yes, he remains flawed. But now ask yourself two questions. Whose policies will be better for the country and world? His or Comrade Kamala’s? And who has demonstrated a better character?