Brain Trust - Matt Barber

On the Matt Friedeman Show's Brain Trust today: Matt Barber, Director of Cultural Affairs with Liberty Counsel and Associate Dean with Liberty University School of Law. Barber commented on the GOP presidential field, Israel, and the Oprahfication of America.

 

The Republican presidential field is starting to firm up. Anyone you see who excites you?

You know, there are some good candidates - there doesn't seem to be a real rock star yet that we know of - I've been impressed with Herman Cain. Michelle Bachmann is a full conservative.

 

I'm kind of keeping my eye on Rick Perry from Texas as well.

 

Frankly, I think any one of these people who we have in the Republican field, none of them are particularly exciting. But that's not what the presidency is about.

 

I think any of them would be better than this secular socialist we've got in the White House.

 Anyone would be better. 

There are some dealbreakers. We can't have a GOP candidate who does not recognize the sanctity of life, who does not recognize the sanctity of marriage.

 

Whoever gets the nomination, conservatives and Christians need to rally around that person.

 Is it fair to dislike Mitt Romney based on his past views and positions? 

I think you're being perfectly fair.

 

Mitt Romney is one of those dealbreakers.

 

I think RomneyCare is a millstone around his neck.

 

Any other candidate he's going to face in a Republican primary, you're going to hear the word RomneyCare everytime he steps on the stage.

Is it fair to say that based on background, we can't consider Newt Gingrich? 

I want to see where he's at now more than where he was in the past.

 

How someone governs themselves can be an indicator of how they will govern and conduct themselves in higher office.

 

I'm not ready to write Newt completely off.

 Barack Obama went after Israel in a speech last week, then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded strongly. Then he received a rock star welcome when he spoke before Congress. Were you suprised by the 30 standing O's he received? 

I was heartened by that welcome after the welcome he got from Obama, getting thrown under the bus.

 

The only word that really applies here is anti-Semitism.

 

To see the two side by side, and the contrast in presence and oratory...you couldn't help see the contrast in true leadership. 

Oprah Winfrey's last show this week. How big of an impact has Oprah had on America? 

Unfortunately, I think she's had a bigger impact than people think.

 

She's a likable person and a good entertainer.

 

But I've often talked about the Oprahfication of America that's emasculating us.

 

We've kind of lost our masculinity ...as males in America. And a lot of that has to do with Oprah.

How do we get our masculinity back? 

Listen, we need to get back to our founding roots.

 

We need to get in our Bibles.

 

Jesus cracked some whips - there is something called righteous anger. He turned over some tables.

 

We need to get tough again as leaders of Christ.