Joy Lucius
AFA Journal staff writer
September 2018 – President Ronald Reagan declared in a 1961 speech, “But freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”
His next words are too often forgotten: “We didn’t pass [freedom] on to our children in the bloodstream. The only way they can inherit the freedom we have known is if we fight for it, protect it, defend it, and then hand it to them with the well thought lessons of how they in their lifetime must do the same. And if you and I don’t do this, then you and I may well spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it once was like in America when men were free.”
Rob Chambers (photo, right), vice president of AFA Action, the governmental affairs affiliate of American Family Association, believes conservative Christian voters must heed Reagan’s warning.
“Now is not the time for discouragement or complacency,” said Chambers. “Midterm elections are quickly approaching, and conservative voters could impact many critical races.”
In a recent interview with AFA Journal, Chambers discussed the importance of national midterm elections this November. He emphasized the possibility of significant negative consequences if conservatives fail to vote.
Midterm past
Contrasting presidential elections, midterms historically draw lower voter turnout from both parties. According to 2014 Pew research, lower midterm turnout has occurred regularly in American election cycles since 1840. But in Pew’s June poll, midterm turnout is predicted to skyrocket this fall.
Research indicates this projected increase may revolve around like or dislike of President Trump. While 61% of polled Democrats view their potential vote as a mandate against President Trump, only 52% of Republicans feel their vote will validate Trump’s presidency.
This is only one aspect of the midterm elections that concerns Chambers. He noted the Republican platform obviously compliments a biblical worldview much more than the Democratic platform.
Chambers further explained how those nine potential percentage points between Democrats and Republicans could negatively impact America. For example, of the 100-member Senate, Republicans currently hold a narrow majority of 51 seats, while Democrats hold 47 seats. Independents hold 2 seats but traditionally vote with Democrats.
Midterm present
With over 30 Senate seats and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives up for election, November 6 could be a watershed moment in history, especially since the Democratic and Republican parties differ greatly on issues such as the sanctity of human life, religious liberty, and human sexuality.
“If the Senate and House flip to a Democratic majority,” said Chambers, “our deeply held, biblical values will be subject to a drastically different worldview in Congress than we have recently witnessed.”
Current Republican Congressional leadership has been slow to act and dysfunctional at times, even appearing to intentionally block the agenda of their own president. But Chambers said the alternative of a liberal party with socialistic leanings in charge of the legislative agenda would be disastrous.
“Consider what liberals would do if they gain power in Congress,” Chambers said. “There’s no question they would fight for abortion rights and Planned Parenthood funding, insist on open borders and amnesty, and demand liberal judges.”
Chambers believes conservatives not voting in midterms could increase the odds of one or both Congressional chambers shifting to a liberal majority. Instead, conservative Christians must mobilize to preserve our liberties as President Reagan urged.
Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president, challenged voters with these words: “Should things go wrong at any time, the people will set them to rights by the peaceable exercise of their elective rights.”
“Now is the time to set things right,” said Chambers. “Vote on Tuesday, November 6.” 
AFA Action (afaaction.net) offers valuable voter resources including:
▶ AFA Action iVoterGuide reveals a candidate’s stand on issues such as sanctity of life, marriage, and government spending. Click on the “Voter Guide” tab.
▶ AFA Action Scorecard reveals how incumbent candidates have voted on the issues. Click on the “Scorecard” tab.
