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OpinionSteve's Columns

HILLARY CLINTON: Living Proof That You Can’t RUN From Your Past

It must have been a couple decades ago when I heard late talk-radio icon Bob Grant comment in wonderment at Bill and Hilary Clinton’s ability to dodge the consequences of their serial scandals. He marveled that they seemed to possess a kind of barrier against plainly well-deserved, negative repercussions. “It’s almost a satanic shield around them,” (paraphrase) he chuckled mordantly.

And considering the fetid sweep of Bill/Hill’s lives, coupled with the longevity of their dogged involvement in public and governmental affairs, one can understand Grant’s conclusion. How is the tom-cat from Hope, Arkansas currently viewed, after all, but as the éminence grise of the dissipated Democrat party? And his never-endingly enabling wife? For all the delirious hoop-la over her three-weeks-old loss to Donald Trump, she came within a whisper of becoming the first female president of the United States.

How is that possible? This women, who has no business, no matter the circumstances, of coming anywhere within spitting distance of the Oval Office? Her political career, storied though it might be, was hardly distinguished. Other than riding her womanizing, aw-shucks hubby’s coat-tails into assorted high-office berths, she’s actually accomplished ignominiously little while there. And her/their multi-tentacled controversies? Mona Charen hit the mark when describing them as “hydra-headed”. “Tawdry, grasping antics” was Bob Tyrrell’s indelicate phrase — and he’s fixatedly tracked the Clinton’s scabrous course for what seems like forever.

Recall the choking miasma of their malfeasance: “Whitewater-gate”, “Cattlegate”, Monica Lewinsky, Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Wiley, “Lincoln Bedroom-gate, “Filegate”, “Chinagate”, “Pardongate”, obstruction of justice, abuse of power, perjury, Benghazi, email abuse, favor-selling (Clinton Foundation), etc., etc. (See Michelle Malkin’s piece for further details on this scandal sump.)

A week before election day, political caricaturist Bob Gorrell released a cartoon that bitingly captured the entire verminous disgrace: Hillary rendered as the Charlie Brown staple “Pig-Pen”. Befogged by the stench-ridden cloud of her own uncleanness, a hapless expression on her face, she’s clutching a crumpled sheet of paper bearing a single word: “Scandals”.

Thus, while as a Christian, I frown on rejoicing over others’ hardships, there’s no denying some
exhilarating satisfaction in Hillary’s ballot-box comeuppance. If nothing else, it supplies a sort of rough justice imposed on a sinister, lying, career criminal who, until lately, has somehow, inexplicably managed to survive and thrive in the salons of governmental power. It might, in fact, end up being all the redress law-abiding citizens can expect, especially considering Donald Trump’s recent, putative back-tracking on his campaign pledge to hold her legally responsible for her sordid conduct. Still, worst case scenario, Election 2016’s’ anti-Hillary tally remains a reckoning, if only an unofficial one, against her. For the time being, that’ll have to do.

Evidently, sometimes a rotten person’s past really can catch up with her — in the here and now, I mean; for all to see. Doubtless, that’s partially what happened in the wee hours of November 9th: Clintonian corruption finally overtook Hillary (and, in the mix, her former-president spouse.)

It’s a terrifically important lesson for any society aiming at permanence. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil,” cautioned “the Preacher” (Ecclesiastes 8:11). The evil man, indeed, is captured by his own wicked deeds, held by the cords of his own sins (Proverbs 5:22). While dark connivings, schemings and lawlessness often yield fleeting pleasures and rewards “for a season” (Hebrews 11:25), those same transgressions eventually come around demanding costly payment (Numbers 32:23).

The Apostle Paul wrote of these “wages of sin”: they bring death (Romans 6:23) — and death takes many forms; some of them manifesting themselves in this age, some in the age to come.

That said, when the blow-back of a person’s foolishness unfolds in full view of the masses? Individuals and their communities can benefit by taking heed, by avoiding whatever unprofitable behavior is being condemned. British Judge Lord Hewart admonished, “Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.”

Justice visibly executed — be it via formal judicial proceedings or merely effectively (as in a failed political effort) — serves an additional, even grander purpose: reminding men that a final judgment awaits all. “God requires an account for what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). He takes men’s lives seriously enough to hold them responsible for what they’ve done with the time He’s vouchsafed them. Every human being who’s ever strode the planet shall give an account of himself to the One Who gave him life (Romans 14:12).

That last part? Worth keeping in mind when a depraved monster like the just-expired Fidel Castro appears to have skated on all this being-held-accountable stuff. Certainly, after over half-a-century of bankrupting his island-prison of a nation, oppressing his people, imprisoning and torturing his adversaries, even murdering multiplied thousands, the Commie tyrant seems to have lived a long life and passed away peaceably at the advanced age of ninety.

Who knows if the intensified, post-mortem spotlight on Castro’s wretched legacy will awaken the ignorant and deluded to the fiend he, in fact, was. We can pray as much. One thing is guaranteed, though: Having finally breathed his last, he’ll assuredly be facing the Judge of the Universe Who’s taken note of his every humanity-obliterating atrocity. If Fidel Castro is finally entertaining regrets right now? Sadly, too late for him.

Not so for Hillary Clinton, on the other hand. Having freshly endured her excruciating and conspicuous defeat, she might still benefit from it — if she gets the message and gets right with the God whose ways she’s forsaken in her unscrupulous quest for prestige, position and control.

Note: Everyone would be well-served staying conscious of that admonition; including the one who bested Hillary, President-elect Donald Trump. Not to mention the rest of the Washington, DC class, each American voter and every breathing human being.

You can run; you can’t hide. Ask former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

photo credit: thekrisharris DSC05098 via photopin (license)

Share if you agree Hillary reminds us everyone can’t outrun their misdeeds forever.

Steve Pauwels

Steve Pauwels is pastor of Church of the King, Londonderry, NH and host of Striker Radio with Steve Pauwels on the Red State Talk Radio Network. He's also husband to the lovely Maureen and proud father of three fine sons: Mike, Sam and Jake.

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