I like the general idea of yours about what a good politician should be [“The ideal candidate,” Oct. 26], but the system doesn’t work that way. Parties control who runs and how much money they will receive. Consequently, their loyalty is to the party first. The candidate will give the appearance of listening to the polls and people and interest groups, but the party demands the most attention.

Because of that, we have the “Yellow Dog Democrats” and “Gray Elephant Republicans.” Party politics determine the agenda. So as a Christian and a voter, I must try to determine which party comes closest to biblical standards, not which candidate is the most appealing. At this present time, the most critically important issues, for a Christian voter are:

1. Unrestricted abortion (including partial-birth abortion) and its companion the “Child Protection Act” (which would make it illegal to transport a minor child across state lines without parental consent, for the purpose of obtaining an abortion),

2. Homosexual marriage.

On these two issues Democrats are solidly for them and Republicans are overwhelmingly against them. I could give you a list of other differences between the parties that I see as Christian reasons for supporting Republicans, but nothing even comes close to these two.

Since all politics are driven by compromise, is there any other issues that trump these? I think not! Some Christian convictions are not negotiable!

David Coburn, Ashland