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"During the past several years, the American people have watched too many public figures in both parties try to make distinctions between whether something is legal or whether it is right. [Does anyone spring to mind?] The consequences for our politics have been disastrous, because the people correctly see these as attempts to rationalize behavior that is wrong, and they turn away disgusted."

Torah observance will not guarantee a moral candidate. God placed too much rationalizing ingenuity in the human heart. Those who want to keep the rules—even God's rules—can find a way to line their pockets and bolster their power. Yet Torah observance could be a great starting point, a moral wake-up, I-needed-that slap in the face. The sharp contrast to the current administration's hypocritical casuistry could even provoke angry reactions from those who prefer to let their consciences to continue to drowse. And that renewed impetus for a moral debate should, if anything, be a big plus for the candidacy of America's first observant Jew to run for national office.

David Neff is Editor of Christianity Today.

:See today's Weblog for other articles about Lieberman.

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October 2 2000, Vol. 44, No. 11