RECLAIMING HOPE by Michael Wear

This is a memoir by a a former Cabinet member of faith, whom former Pres. Obama had appointed to his administration. Michael Wear begins his book with a Prelude, telling the story of his first days in the White House. He follows this with an Introduction to this book and what to expect from it. He spreads his story over 12 chapters, which are well-researched. He includes many subheadings, to make his material more readable. Michael Wear includes a section of Acknowledgments of all those who have made this book possible, following it with his author bio. He wraps it all up with Notes of sources used for each chapter, and an Index. The author had founded Public Square Strategies, LLC. This is a consulting firm that businesses, nonprofits, foundations, and Christian organizations in matters involving faith, politics, and culture. WEar also directed faith outreach for former Pres. Obama's historic historic 2012 re-election campaign. Wear was one of the youngest White House staffers in modern American history. He lead evangelical outreach and helped manage the White House's involvement in faith-based and values issues. THese include adoption and anti-human trafficking issues. He serves on the Board for Bethany Christian Services

I was excited to read this book's content. I didn't know what to expect of a Christian person who would accept join Obama's Cabinet as a staffer. If he was pro-life, how could he reconcile his pro-life worldview with our former President's pro-abortion policies. This author made his case for why he chose to identify as a Democrat, though he also identified as a pro-life Christian. This book is a page turner and I finished it in a matter of days. I was disappointed to learn that our President had lied to us when he assured us that abortion funding would not be part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). I sense that many pro-lifers would accuse this author of not being "really pro-life" because he chose to align with a pro-abortion President, instead of "the pro-life party." This author wrote about his objections to the REpublican party and why he felt more at home in the DEmocratic Party. But he couldn't support them fully because of abortion. He describes adoption initiatives that he helped work with in his time in this administration. I was unclear about his stance on same-sex marriage, whether he is for or against it. I don't agree with him that if voters leave both major parties, that they have given up on politics. Identifying as Independent is an act of protesting against the political Establishment. WHat is wrong with that? Though he mentions Hillary Clinton and the 2016 election a couple of times, one thing is absent. I could find no mention of Donald TRump anywhere in this entire book. Nor of anything about his campaign. Was this a deliberate omission?

I recommend this book for Republicans, Democrats and anyone else regardless of religion or political ideology. You may not agree with all of this author's conclusions (I didn't) but he makes a lot of sense. Ahd you, like me, might learn something. Read this book with an open mind. This author shows us how to become better citizens without placing our hope in politics or politicians. Maybe a youth version of this book should be written. Pastors, whether conservative or progressive in theology, may benefit from reading this book.They may learn some things about our former President.

I received a complimentary copy of this book throughBookLook Bloggers, in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review of this book.

A Look At John Kasich

Get out John Kasich; you're taking votes from the two front-runners!

Go away; you're just a spoiler and have no relevance to the Presidential race!

John Kasich leave the race; you have no path to the nomination!

Drop your campaign for the good of the GOP and the country because you can't win!

The Atypical State of the Presidential Primary Race

This has been a Presidential race unlike any other. I have never seen a political party so at war with itself. Before this year, I have never heard of a contested convention. I have never heard of a brokered convention. I'm sure that these things are true of many other people. These races have been an education! I would never have followed any of this except that the TV is on at our household all day. What is going on are the selections of the nominess to run for President in both major political parties. We know these selections as the Presidential primary elections. I have taken an interest in these elections as I have never taken an interest in any elections. This is because is because of the highly unusual state of these 2016, where many voters have embraced pragmatism rather than voting their consciences. This is largely because of one billionaire businessman and former reality TV star who chose to run as President. He wanted to "make America great again." He needs no introduction.

The Impossible Situation of the GOP

We all know about Donald Trump. You either love him or detest him. It's impossible to be neutral about Donald Trump. When he first came on the scene last year, didn't think he would be a serious candidate. I know that many others felt this way also. How wrong we have been! Donald Trump, as all of us know, is in a class by himself. He has become a political icon. He has become a cult personality. He has formed a cult called angry voters who have remained loyal to him no matter what. Trump has oddly chosen to run as a Republican. In the past, he had supported abortion "rights" and a woman's "right to choose." When he began his race, Trump flipped on abortion and said he "was now prolife." Yet he said that Planned Parenthood "does many good things." He said that if elected President, he would appoint his sister who supported abortion, even "partial-birth abortions." Abortion is the fundamental issue he did this on. He claims he's now prolife. Yet the GOP hate and fear the idea of a Trump Presidence because of Trump's inflammatory rhetoric, unPresidential conduct, hate-mongering and penchant at dividing people. Yet they find themselves in a no-win situation where Trump is so popular and racking up so many votes that they will "stop him" at all costs. This includes endorsing politicians they can't stand! As it stands, the GOP is a party at war.

Who Is John Kasich?

What does this have to do with John Kasich? Everything. John Kasich is the Ohio Governor. He has served in Congress for decades. He had chaired the Armed Forces Committee. He has been in 2016 race for President from the beginning. He has exhibited the most Presidential and classy conduct of most of the candidates in the GOP race. He has been known as the "adult in the room" in Presidential debates. He has spoken clearly and consistently about his positions on key issues. We may not agree with all, or most of his positions. In spite of all this, he has not been able to amass the votes and the delegates of the some of the other candidates. Kasich's impressive resume and executive experience have gotten him branded as Establishment. This label has been a negative in this 2016 GOP campaign where being "anti-Establishment" has been seen as a plus. During the course of his Presidential campaign, Kasich has signed a bill to defund Planned Parenthood in Ohio and move the funds to life-affirming alternatives for women and children. This is one more reason for the prolife community to consider supporting Kasich. Trump may talk about defunding Planned Parenthood, but John Kasich has actually done it in his state, where he has won last week in the Ohio primary.

Arguments for John Kasich Ending His Campaign

Why should John Kasich suspend his campaign? Though he has won his own home state, there seem to be many arguments for Kasich to end his campaign. The delegate math shows that he could never win the GOP Presidential nomination outright. Even if he can pull off an excellent performance in the remaining primaries, he still could not win the nomination. A path to a conventional nomination doesn't exist. Also, even some of his colleagues claim that though they like him, they won't support or endorse him. They claim that a vote for Kasich is wasted and an indirect vote for Donald Trump. I have been bombarded with posts and comments all over the Internet screaming for the Ohio Governor to get out of the Presidential race. The case? They claim that Kasich cannot "stop Trump" if he stays in the race. They claim he is being unpatriotic, narcissistic and selfish in staying in the race. Is this actually true?

Arguments for John Kasich Continuing His Campaign

Why should John Kasich continue his campaign? I would agree with these screams for him to leave, for his own sake, if there were not such a thing as a contested convention. Kasich is conservative but not an "extremist." He has the proven executive experience. In debates, he has shown himself to be the most Presidential and consistent. He has shown that he can unite people and work on the other side of the aisle. Taken together, all these things indicate that Kasich is a good general election candidate. Even others who are supporting Cruz agree that Kasich would be the best general election candidate. There is only one way that John Kasich could get the nomination. And based on these things, it's still possible. It's called a contested or brokered convention. Below I have a link to an article explaining more about how such a convention would work. According to history, such conventions have been held. Kasich himself says that he was a part of the contested convention which gave former President Ronald Reagan. So he knows how contested or brokered conventions work. Would indeed a contested convention be a calamity?

As the Ohio Governor says, "Everyone needs to calm down, chill out and let the process play out."

Click here to visit John Kasich's website

Click here, type in John Kasich and find out all about him

Click here to learn where John Kasich stands on key issues

Learn about the history of contested/brokered conventions

Above photo by cornstalker under Creative Commons 2.0.