Morefield a Christian

Mark Morefield may not really like this article being written about him, but after he has been the target of two of the most ruthless political attacks in Liberty County this election cycle, we think voters deserve to know.

The first attack started this summer. A couple of the local Democratic candidates needed some way to appeal to the local church going conservative voters who have tended to vote over the years for Republicans in state and national elections and for Democrats locally. This has never been the most reliable source of local Democrats’ votes but they have always received enough votes from this demographic group to win elections. But the last election local candidates began to see less and less of the Christian conservatives shade in the boxes on the ballot by Democratic candidates’ names.

At the beginning of the summer they decided to force church goers to reconsider voting for Republicans and to continue voting for Democrats. By using family and friends within the local Republican party, in early June we heard the first of two vicious attacks on Mark Morefield, the Republican candidate for the 75th District Court. “He is not a real Christian” were words some of those who not only claimed to be leaders of a movement to elect Republicans for every local office, but the words of people who claim to be Christians. The second barrage of this type of attack started as Morefield began to make arrangements to go be by his dying father’s side in New Mexico. He may not even know about the attacks, but we are sick and tired of them. His opponent and his opponent’s campaign team must be reacting to factual accounts on this website of how liberal and incompetent and political he is. But Rusty Hight or his campaign team rather than speak to the issues has decided to make personal attacks and a whisper campaign.

Morefield is not only one of the best attorneys in Southeast Texas; he has been the most well-known Republican among the legal crowd in this county for more than fifteen years. He knows personal attacks are not from people with convictions about conservatism, but rather they are all about getting someone’s buddy elected (Democratic buddy).

But Morefield was asked a question directly by one of his supporters after one Republican meeting: “What do you say to the rumors Democrats and one or two people in this room have started about you not being a Christian?” Morefield responded to this question very calmly eyeball to eyeball with those present by first saying he is a Christian and that he believes and depends on God and His Son Jesus Christ. Then as those nearby tuned in he told about how his faith and the way he lives his faith was greatly affected in the foxholes of Vietnam.

People that don’t know how vicious and desperate politicians can be might would think that would be the end of that rumor because for at least two reasons. First, anyone with knowledge of the bible knows that God Himself will be the one who says who has a relationship to Him on Judgment Day. Why would any of these people usurp God’s position? Second, are these people that are claiming to be Republicans and these Democrats trying to help the Hight campaign claiming to be “judging Mark Morefield by his fruit or his life”? And if they are – are they inviting a similar public analysis of some of Hight’s known indiscretions? And are they prepared to dole out the same harsh judgment to Hight and all others someone claims have consistently and purposefully sinned against the Lord?

In a subsequent conversation with Mark Morefield, we asked him several questions including how he was dealing with these personal attacks. Morefield declined to answer any questions about this; he said it is a distraction to the voters. He also declined an opportunity to explore rumors of Rusty Hight’s immorality over the years or to say anything other than the voters want to know their judges will be even handed and apply the law justly. When asked what he would do if he had some of the lawyers and political zealots that had promoted these rumors in front of the bench if he is elected, Morfield’s reply was real simple. He said he would treat them like everyone else. He said that people that appear in court deserve to be treated fairly.

Morefield has never been a politician, but he has been a good father and a good lawyer. If you talk to Mark Morefield for long you will find out he is a real history buff and someone who speaks about this country and the Constitution with a great deal of respect. Demonizing Mark would be a tough job for anyone, but Hight and company are taking their stab at it. They are throwing everything but the kitchen sink at him. They have even hired a professional to take aim at him. It kind of makes you wonder what his supporters think a Christian actually is.