By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief

Supporting George W. Bush for president. It almost seemed like an unfortunate assignment at first. No matter what points I make, many will believe, “No surprise there-someone from Abilene Christian University supporting President Bush’s re-election.”

But there is nothing too unfortunate about supporting the best man on the presidential ballot this year.

Bush has shown the ability to lead the nation through crisis and into war. Whether voters agree with the war does not change the fact that our troops are there. Constantly berating the cause will not help Kerry pull troops out of Iraq any sooner, regardless of his plan.

Resolute leadership and continued support for the troops with needed funds like Bush has shown will lead to a free and independent Iraq.

The man who is elected in November will be the first president under which most college students truly pay taxes. A look at tax policies between Bush and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., leaves little doubt about who I want to see supporting tax bills before Congress.

The contrast is stark. Bush believes people should have more of their money to decide how to spend. The mantra of liberals like Kerry has long been that the government can better decide how to spend private citizens’ money.

Bush’s tax policy makes sense for the American economy. Citizens are more apt to put money into a growing economy if they have it to spend themselves, and Bush’s tax cuts, which he now wants to make permanent, have done that for the American people.

With Bush, voters know exactly what they get. With Bush, voters can vote for the man, instead of simply a plan. Bush does not have to constantly remind voters he has a plan because his plan is more than words from the podium of a debate. The past four years are his results and his plan-a plan he is unlikely to flip-flop on. Like it or not, Bush has strong convictions, and I’m not talking about religion.

So many other issues define this campaign, Christians need not proclaim whom they feel God has ordained as president.

A look at the economic and social issues shows that four more years of George W. Bush is the direction this nation needs.