Jeff Flake has decided to stand for principle, even though it means giving up his U.S. Senate seat.
Some LDS people believe in the White Horse Prophecy, a prediction that the Mormon Church will save the United States. The particular scenario, loosely attributed to church founder Joseph Smith, is outside the official canon and is in some disrepute. But in a broader sense, most Mormons “know” that saving the Constitution is in their job description.
What better person to lead the charge than Flake, who is handsome, bright, candid, principled and possesses a deep understanding of public policy? He is the great-great-grandson of the founder of one of Arizona’s first successful LDS communities.
(Kos readers will have a hard time having empathy for anyone as conservative as Flake, but try to get beyond that for a moment to understand that Trump has alienated a very significant block of conservative voters in the West.)
Instead of riding the horse, Flake has decided to unsaddle his mount, withdraw from public service and let the Trump administration fall from its own vice, incompetence and lack of principle.
There are only six Mormons in the Senate. You can believe Flake did not make his decision without talking to someone in the 801 area code. It is hard to believe that any church leader advised anything other than the path he chose -- standing for principle and walking away from Trump.
Mitt Romney, the most respected Mormon on political matters, warned of the dangers of Trump and now, a year later, it’s hard to fault Mitt’s insight.
Kelli Ward jumped on Flake’s decision, much as she shamelessly welcomed John McCain’s illness as a personal opportunity to get to the U.S. Senate. Arizonans will have another 12 months to judge the Trump administration by its fruits. Many will agree with Flake and Romney on the direction needed to save the Constitution. A know-nothing, self-serving blow-hard is not exactly who we need in this critical situation.
There are more than 425,000 members of the LDS church in Arizona and they vote in very high numbers. Many of them will remember that Trump unfairly attacked one of their own. (Being unfairly attacked is one of the collective memories of Mormons, who were chased out of New York state, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri. For most of us, it was a long time ago, but for them it is a fresh memory.)
If Mormons lack enthusiasm for Ward, (or any other Trump surrogate) Arizona will be represented in the Senate by Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat who will help make up the new Senate majority. In a sense, the Mormons will have helped to save the Constitution.