If there’s one thing that pundits across the board missed last summer, it’s that they didn’t apply what they’ve instinctively known all along. A handful did, but even they underestimated the number of people who rely on the lowest dimension to determine their candidate of choice.
With an understanding of these dimensions, it should be easier to come to the same conclusion that we came to regarding Ted Cruz. Fair warning: we have endorsed Ted Cruz so if you’re looking for an unbiased perspective, you won’t find it here. However, if you’re willing to look past our bias and examine the truth for what it is, you will either reaffirm your choice or start to take a deeper look at other candidates, even Cruz.
There are three basic levels or dimensions that go into the decision-making process. They are all tied together; the lowest dimension leads to the middle dimension which leads to the higher dimension. It’s rare to find people who work in all three dimensions, but it really should be the way that people evaluate everyone they support, whether it’s the future President of the United States or a local Assemblyman.
The Carnal Approach
Some will recognize this basic level of discernment as the emotional response choice. Those who take the carnal approach will normally latch onto one or two major issues and try to determine which candidate speaks to them the best on those issues. For example, there are those who will only vote for the person based upon their support for LGBTQ rights. There are others who will wait for their gun organization to endorse.
Arguably the most notable of those following the carnal approach is Ann Coulter. When Donald Trump came out and said that many illegal immigrants were murderers and rapists, Coulter was sold. He could have later said that he intends to post nuclear launch codes on Twitter and her choice would not have wavered. In fact, many of Trump’s supporters fall into this category.
The Political Approach
Rather than being a singular dimension like the carnal approach, the political approach manifests in different degrees. This makes up the majority of voters in the United States… at least that was the thought until this election. Today, it’s very possible that the carnal approach has superseded the political approach as more people are doing less research despite the increased resources available to us.
With the political approach, a voter looks at multiple issues. They often have established their own thoughts on these issues and have even classified their opinions to align with a particular wing of their party. Are the “Reagan Democrats?” Do they lean towards being “Constitutional conservatives?” Perhaps they’re “modern socialists.” They break down the issues and try to find the right match.
There is more to it, though. They will often list several candidates who are acceptable and then determine who will get their support based upon other factors such as likability and their potential to win in the general election.
The Holistic Approach
Take the political approach and add even more factors. Those who practice the holistic approach will read through most of the candidates’ websites, listen to how they interview, watch every debate, and then research their histories. They are the most likely to take religion into account if that’s something that’s important to them.
Another distinction between the holistic and political approaches is that this degree of discernment often yields frustration. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I haven’t voted in the general election since 1992. That was the last year that a Presidential candidate inspired me. In that case, it wasn’t support for George H. W. Bush that made me vote but rather a complete fear of what Bill Clinton would do if he made it into the White House. As history has shown, my fears were realized.
This year, I will be voting and that vote is going to Ted Cruz. Pound for pound, he has the highest potential for greatness of any candidate we’ve seen since Ronald Reagan. He’s a true conservative and he’s an unflinching Christian. Moreover, he’s fearless and has demonstrated a willingness to fight for what’s right even if it means fighting the Democrats, the Republican Establishment, or even his own peers. These are the types of traits that we need to see in a President.
As the election drags on, it’s important that the American people become more and more discerning. We have to look past the top layer and dig deeper into the candidates. If we do, I’m confident that Ted Cruz will be the next President of the United States.
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