The presidential candidate who will get my vote

In a few days, people will begin casting votes in the yearlong process that will result in the election of our next president.

Millions of fellow Americans will use some process of evaluating the candidates to decide who will get their support.

Here are some of the ways I will determine who will get mine. I will address many issues in future columns, but these to me are paramount.

First, I’ll try to judge who demonstrates integrity and the strongest character qualities.

I have absolutely no clue why anyone would award their vote to someone whose reputation renders them unworthy of taking on the responsibility of the public trust.

I want someone who is “presidential” in every sense of the word, and that means I must be able to believe them when they declare their allegiance to the values upon which our country is founded and upon which our future depends.

Next, I’m looking for the person who will unconditionally defend the sanctity of human life.

I will try to determine which of the candidates will without hesitation or ineffective half-measures use our nation’s awesome military power to keep us safe from radical Islamic terrorists and all other enemies bent on our destruction.

I’m looking for the person who understands that the federal government has become too big, too powerful, and increasingly threatens our basic freedoms and unduly restricts economic growth.

That person will be an unapologetic advocate for self-reliance. He also will get the government out of our way so we can succeed on our own merit and initiative.

That person will understand that this is how the United States has become a nation of the most successful people in all of human history, providing equal opportunity for everyone.

Finally, I want to see in our next president someone who understands the ancient promise of Scripture that is the surest way to the endurance of our society.

We are a nation under God. It says so in all our founding documents, and we are reminded of it every time we study our history, convene our Legislature and look at our currency.

The Creator has promised to heal our land if we are faithful to him. Every president has sought his blessings on our country.

I’m looking for someone who seeks that not just for a common closing statement to a speech but actually understands that, without it, we will not survive.

As part of the week of inauguration ceremonies, presidents attend public church services where Scripture is read and prayers are lead by ministers of religions found across the country.

Such practice reveals the understanding explained by John Adams, one of the founders of our nation and our second president, that the design of our country was “made only for a moral and religious people (and) wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Not a theocracy, but a government faithful to essential moral standards and values.

At the inaugural ceremony itself, we will witness the opening of the event with a prayer. It will be closed with another prayer. In between, the oath of office will be administered.

The new president will promise to faithfully execute the duties of the office and to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution with God’s help.

The Bible will be used to affirm the oath.

When I again witness all of that, I want to believe the promise contained in that Bible will be claimed by our new president and that he will lead our nation accordingly.

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 6:08 PM with the headline "The presidential candidate who will get my vote."