What Are the Republicans Looking for in a Senatorial Candidate?

Van Hilleary's new television spot argues that Tennessee Republicans should nominate Van for U.S. Senate because he served his country by fighting in the Gulf War. The commercial also notes that probable primary frontrunner Bob Corker, by comparison, never served in the military, let alone in combat. (Van's legislative priorities and vision for America are again absent.)

Van's strategy might sway a few voters in a general election, but not in a Republican primary. In the past two presidential elections the Republicans ran a ticket consisting of two guys who avoided military service; both times Bush and Cheney actually profited from attacks on their opponents' (McCain in 2000, Kerry in 2004) military service.

Hilleary's primary opponent Bob Corker is setting himself apart by telling voters about a church mission trip he once took to Haiti. As he recalls his trip in a recent commercial, the words "pro life" scroll across the screen. I suppose assisting people in an economically depressed country favors "life," but I suspect the phrase refers to Corker's stance on abortion. (His opponents have suggested that he does not oppose abortion strongly enough.) I'm not entirely sure how abortion has anything to do with Corker's mission trip to Haiti, but whatever.

I am bothered that Corker is using his experience in Haiti to get votes. After all, Jesus says:

When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. . . .

Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:3-4, 6).

Jesus doesn't explicitly mention church mission trips, but the spirit of his teaching is clear. Then again, by writing this I am probably violating another of Jesus' teachings: "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged" (Matthew 7:1).