News

Mar 17, 2024

Trump’s ‘MAGA evangelicals’ aren’t really evangelicals

DeSantis needs to win South Carolina. A MAGA wall stands in his way. | July 13 Terms should be constructed and used correctly. Propagandists often intentionally misuse terms to portray a false image.

DeSantis needs to win South Carolina. A MAGA wall stands in his way. | July 13

Terms should be constructed and used correctly. Propagandists often intentionally misuse terms to portray a false image. Unfortunately, the news media sometimes unintentionally misuses terms and thereby casts a false image. One of those misused terms we have been hearing for over six years is “Trump’s MAGA evangelical base.”

Evangelism is the act of sharing the gospel with others. That gospel refers to the good news contained in the Christian Bible. That gospel states clearly that God hates liars. Credible fact-checking reveals that Donald Trump lied or told “alternative truths” over 30,500 times during his four-year presidency, making him probably the most prolific liar in American presidential history. Still, he is staunchly supported by those “MAGA evangelicals.” Why? Rationalization and hypocrisy. Why else?

The gospel clearly shows in Matthew, Samuel and Judges that God objects to monarchies. Trump has clearly stated and shown that he wants to establish America as a kind of monarchy. Still, he is staunchly supported by his “MAGA evangelical base.” Why? Rationalization and hypocrisy. Why else?

Terms should be meaningful and the term “MAGA evangelicals” is either a lie or propaganda since the Bible appears to show that true evangelicals couldn’t possibly be rendering such blind support. The media should immediately stop referring to this slice of Trump supporters as “MAGA evangelicals.” Doing so would remove the cloak of shame from true evangelicals.

James Stuart-Emery, Valrico

Did you vote by mail in Florida? You need to re-up your request for 2024. | July 20

I have been living and voting in Citrus County for over 30 years. I called to request a mail ballot but was turned down. I was told that the driver’s license that the Supervisor of Elections office had on file did not match my driver’s license. I was shocked. My driver’s license is valid, and it does not expire for a couple of years. I was told to fill out a Florida voter registration application, which I did. It turns out that somewhere along the way, my middle initial was added.

I urge every voter to call your Supervisor of Elections office now to make sure you can get a mail ballot.

Isabell Stawicki, Beverly Hills

I thought the Republican Party would abandon Trump. I was wrong | Column, July 18

The letter writer’s use of a famous line from “The Terminator” movie — “I’ll be back” — to describe how Donald Trump and picked-on Republicans will return to triumph is confusing. At the end of the movie, the Terminator gets flattened in a large hydraulic press.

Martin Gohn, Spring Hill

Meet the Tampa lawyer who just agreed to defend Trump | July 21

My advice to lawyer John Lauro: Get paid upfront.

Carlos J. DeCisneros, Tampa

Mosaic wants to test ‘radioactive road’ with 337 tons of phosphogypsum, records show | July 22

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The Mosaic Co. plans to provide personal gamma radiation detectors to the employees building their test phosphogypsum roads. Will they supply radiation detectors to all Floridians when they start spreading this waste material all over our state?

Barbara Lynen, Valrico

Pasco becomes the latest victim of lawmakers’ attack on local priorities | Editorial, July 23

The excellent Times editorial about Tallahassee’s override of home rule in Pasco County stops one step from the finish, namely reminding the good, Republican voters of Pasco County that they are the ones who helped elect the legislators and governor who are now stealing their independence. Elections have consequences, as the Republicans keep reminding us. Florida voters need to learn that mantra and worry about who gets their votes.

Stephen Phillips, St. Petersburg