These are the most important reasons why I cannot vote for Donald Trump to be President of the United States.

Character is King

Donald Trump does not deserve your trust. He does not tell the truth.

He makes wild and irresponsible accusations. He leads his followers in disparaging whole races of people based on the actions of a minority. He opened his campaign calling Mexican immigrants rapists. He said he would ban all Muslims from entering the United States.

We’ve come to expect that candidates will make promises they cannot possibly keep, but Trump has taken it to a new level. He’s going to build a wall – 100 feet high and 2000 miles long. That would be nearly impossible, since the United States does not own the property required for a wall. Plus it would prohibitively expensive, especially since any wall money is more urgently needed re-building our highways and bridges. But we don’t have to worry, Mexico, a country that is much poorer than the United States is going to pay for it.

Does anyone believe this can happen? Further, does anyone believe such a wall would make a dent in the crime rate, slow down the flow of drugs or open up jobs?

Donald Trump goes far beyond making promises he cannot possibly keep. He lies for sport. We hardly notice when Trump dispenses falsehood after falsehood. He continually repeats his lie about not supporting the invasion of Iraq led by President George W. Bush, and insists there are published interviews proving it. But, the only recorded interview on the subject demonstrates his support of the invasion. After years of stirring up rumors that Barack Obama was not a natural born citizen of the United States, he recently admitted that President Obama was born in the United States and added two lies that can only be categorized as whoppers. He said Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign started the “birther rumor” (false) and he’s the one who put an end to it (ridiculously false). His supporters laugh off the daily news of new lies with pat answers like, “That’s Donald,” or “He’s not a politician and he’s not running a conventional campaign. Isn’t that refreshing?”

An ice cold Coke on a hot day is refreshing. Donald Trump bloviating on a subject he knows nothing about is nauseating. I’ll admit I am tired of political correctness and some of its absurd outcomes, like banning Christian clubs on college campuses. And I pay attention when someone dares to blurt out what many believe, but wouldn’t dare to speak. But, those who dare to violate the rules of PC should make doubly sure they’re speaking truth. Rebelling against PC is no excuse for name-calling, profanity, race-baiting, or insulting people you don’t like. What’s his deal with Rosie O’Donnell?

Judgment

The biggest threat to our nation under a President Trump is his propensity to produce uninformed and overly simplistic solutions to complex problems without the benefit of a high-school student’s knowledge of the subject. How to defeat ISIS? Bomb the hell out of them (as if we haven’t tried). And bomb their women and children (war crimes) and torture captured terrorists (also war crimes).

How to stop drug addiction in America? Build a wall on the southern border.

How to produce more middle-class jobs? Build a wall.

Few facts or details. Just trust me.

Cozy with Putin and Russia.

Nuclear weapons.

Hair-brained Statements:

He considers himself more of a war hero than John McCain.

He believes it’s dumb to pay federal income tax.

The Great and Beautiful Wall

I know more …

• about ISIS than all the generals
• about the IRS than any other candidate in history
• about any policy than any policy experts

Experience

Oh, he’s a businessman. And America needs a president who knows how to run a large, successful business for a change. We don’t need a politician.

Then make Mitt Romney president. He managed to run large, successful businesses and, unlike Trump, he did so without filing for bankruptcy protection four times. That’s called failure and banks know it. That’s why, after Trump walked away from his casinos, he couldn’t get a loan. His credit was destroyed. Furthermore, Trump has had to defend himself in court 3,500 times for illegal activities, like refusing to fulfill his part of contracts, renting to minorities or defrauding students. Lawsuits are inevitable when you have large businesses handling lots of money. But, 3,500 lawsuits? There’s something wrong there.

Many businessmen and women choose to bring their skills to government. They may run for and serve on city council, state legislature, congress or as the governor of a state. These are reasonable testing grounds to prove one’s mettle. Trump has not served in government in any capacity, elected or appointed. It is a huge risk trying him out by making him president of the United States for four years.

Then, there’s the matter of Trump’s refusal to release his taxes, despite the forty-year custom of presidential candidates to do so.

He’s Mentally Unstable

Trump is not a healthy man. Remember, he himself deemed his health inadequate to serve with his classmates in Vietnam.

Sleep deprivation makes you crazy. Studies show that people who are deprived of sleep show similar judgment as people who are under the influence of alcohol. Donald Trump claims that he gets about four hours of sleep a night. He sees this as a strength. Doctors and researchers see sleep deprivation as a serious problem. Check out Trump’s 3 AM tweets as just one example.

Then there’s Donald Trump’s insatiable need to put his name on everything – tall towers, golf courses, steaks, water bottles. I’m not going to make an amateur psych diagnosis, but it’s obvious the dude is messed up.

Note: The opinions expressed on this website are mine, informed by Scripture, reflection, discussion and prayer.
They may not be the views held by my church, which welcomes all, no matter how they vote, and takes no position on candidates or election issues.