| | | Ted Cruz's Announcement Disrespects The Founding Fathers, American Tradition And Non-Christians
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Somewhere along the way, I picked up the notion that when someone announces their candidacy for the Office of President of the United States, they are announcing their intent and desire to be the president of all Americans, irrespective of race, religion or other considerations.
As a result of this tradition—and while recognizing that such an announcement does, in the reality of our times, serve as the launching point for the grueling primary gauntlet most candidates will be forced to endure—the moment of tossing one’s hat into the ring has, without exception so far as I can tell, traditionally taken place on ‘neutral’ territory designed to convey commitment to the civic interest rather than religious belief.
Indeed, many are my memories of hopeful men and women who stood before their home town city hall, their state capital, a factory, a school, or other like locations to toss their hat into the ring. These choices have always been designed to reinforce one of the greatest traditions of our nation—that anyone among us, no matter where we come from or the circumstances of our personal history, can rise to be President of the United States.
These choices have also traditionally been calibrated so as to convey solidarity with average Americans so that they too can feel included in the process.
Of course, I understand that these notions are somewhat quaint in an era where only those capable of raising big bucks can hope to achieve the highest office in the land—but it is a notion that stirs a certain patriotism within that is part of the fun and glory of being an American. What’s more, it is a notion that, up until now, all candidates for the highest office in the land have seen fit to honor.
Apparently, Texas Senator and newly announced candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination, Ted Cruz, has little use for this important American tradition.
Yesterday, the Tea Party favorite chose a location to announce his quest for the presidency that has, so far as I can ascertain, never been chosen before in our nation’s history—a religious institution that, according to it’s own description, offers “a world-class Christian education” for the purpose of “training champions for Christ”.
 Senator Ted Cruz (Photo by Matt McClain/ The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Unless someone can show me where I’ve missed another moment in our history where a candidate chose to launch his or her candidacy at a religious institution, the significance of Cruz’s decision should not go unnoticed.
Cruz embarked on his march to the White House before a crowd of some 10,000 students at Liberty University—a number that would have been terribly impressive for such an event were it not for the fact that attendance was compulsory —where the Senator would spent the first part of his speech extolling the virtues of Jesus Christ and the importance the Christian faith played in keeping his family together.
While I respect any peaceful religion just as I respect anyone who practices their particular religion in a peaceful manner—and I have no doubt that Senator Cruz participates in his own religion in such a manner just as I appreciate and honor the benefits his religion bestowed on his family—I have to admit that, as someone who was not raised in the Christian faith, I felt kind of left out of the party.
I’m not afraid to admit that I have always enjoyed the moment a presidential candidate throws his or her hat into the ring, even if there is no chance I will be supporting that candidate. The rousing speeches and tributes to America delivered in surroundings designed to be uniquely American always puts a smile on my face.
Now, I get that Senator Cruz chose the site of his announcement so as to appeal to the evangelicals who form the base of his political support. I also understand that Cruz very purposefully chose the first part of his speech to strike a chord with these particular voters.
But I could not help but feel that, in willfully ignoring our traditions, Senator Cruz was also willfully ignoring me along with the many Americans who practice a different faith or no faith at all.
I also could not help but wonder whether the Senator, who fervently claims that his belief in the United States Constitution is the lynchpin of his political approach to governing, has any idea whatsoever as to what the Constitution bestows on his fellow countrymen and women and what it expects from those who wish to lead us.
There is no shortage of American Christians, including Senator Cruz’s father , who believe that the United States was created by Christians to be a Christian nation.
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