The Presidential election is drawing toward its climax Nov. 7 and again we have witnessed how ethics has been thrown under the bus. We have seen half-truths, exaggerations, and outright lies by both candidates and their TV ads.
As I recall, the campaigns began with untrue and offensive ads. Republicans early- on called President Obama the "food stamp president"and then wrongly charged that he took work requirements off welfare requirements.
The former charge has a racial overtone.
Going to the Democrats, we also have some untrue TV ads, one featuring Romney as the head of Bain Capital cancelling insurance for a sick company employee resulting in his death.
There is a lot of crazy campaigning going on but one comment from a conservative web site "takes the cake". It states that our vote is recorded in Heaven. No comment!
I would be remiss if I didn't offer some guidance for voters. President Mouw of Fuller Seminary spoke to a crowd recently about the 2012 election with the title, "Practicing Convicted Civility in the Political Arena". The first point was that we often lack a spirituality of public engagement, and must cultivate manners.Secondly, social justice is central to God's design for the world and the work of the Gospel is to blend evangelism and social justice. Then we must find a way to promote"shalom"where we live as well as keep our sense of humor and maintain a balance of humility and hope.

Source: Fuller Focus Magazine, Spring, 2012, p. 26