KERRY BROKE THE LAW

Did you know there are precise laws about how an argument is presented? Aristotle called the rules of sound rational thinking the first principles of dialectics. These metaphysical laws operate like the other natural laws designed into creation to reflect God’s intentions for mankind. Break one of these natural laws (say, the physical law of gravity) and you will suffer the painful consequences.

In last night's debate John Kerry broke several of these first principles of sound rational thinking. One of the principles Kerry violated was causality, the principle that everything that happens must have a cause or, as Richard Weaver says, "ideas have consequences."

Well into the debate, Kerry was asked the following question:

“Senator Kerry, suppose you're speaking with a voter who believed abortion is murder, and the voter asked for reassurance that his or her tax dollars would not go to support abortion, what would you say to that person?

Kerry’s response: “ First of all, I cannot tell you how deeply I respect the belief about life and when it begins. I'm a Catholic - raised a Catholic. I was an altar boy. Religion has been a huge part of my life, helped lead me through a war, leads me today.

In the first part of his response Kerry empathized with the questioner and passionately communicated his respect for her belief about life and its beginning as being in alignment with his Catholic upbringing. Although he didn’t clarify his beliefs in the debate, Kerry had previously stated here that he was personally opposed to abortion and that life begins at conception. By Kerry’s own admission, this is a deeply held root belief. Then Kerry continued:

“But I can't take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn't share that article of faith, whether they be agnostic, atheist, Jew, Protestant, whatever. I can't do that.”

Kerry now interjects the infamous “but” preposition, alerting us that he is about to contradict everything that preceded the preposition. This is where he broke the first principle of sound rational thinking. Ideas have consequences. He had implied that his pro-life beliefs are deeply held from a lifetime of religious conviction. But in the very next sentence Kerry admitted those beliefs are not strong enough to actually influence his behavior as a politician. One has to wonder what is the value of beliefs if they don’t product behavior consistent with those beliefs? That is the meaning of the scripture exhorting Jesus' followers to be doers of His word, not just hearers.

The second principle of sound rational thinking violated by Kerry in the debate was the principle of noncontradiction, the principle that opposites cannot be the same. For the one who affirms that “opposites can both be true” does not hold that the opposite of this statement is true. Kerry’s rhetorical inconsistency exposed his claims of solidarity of belief as false and hollow. A close examination of Kerry’s actual words revealed he didn’t actually say he shared the questioner’s beliefs but that he had “respect” for her beliefs. However, Kerry’s “respect” was not sufficient for him to act consistent with these beliefs.

Kerry’s response was a classic case of liberal cognitive dissonance (acting contrary to professed beliefs). Liberals love this twisting of truth because it allows them to say one thing to pander to one special interest group while doing exactly the opposite to pander to yet another special interest group.

However, the consequences of violating the first principles of sound rational thought are costly. Just look at the facts. In the last ten years the Democrats have lost majorities in the US House, the US Senate, the Presidency, and most state governorships. Remember, ideas do have consequences.