Andrew Dunn over at longleafpolitics.com wrote an interesting post criticizing Dan McCready’s response to controversy surrounding a sermon given by his opponent, Mark Harris.  McCready (D) and Harris (R) are set to battle it out in November for North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District.

Harris gave the sermon in 2013, but it found its way to the internet and made national news.  In sum, it lays out traditional “biblical womanhood” with man as “head” and woman as “helper” and criticizes society’s treatment of young women:

“In our culture today, girls are taught from grade school that we tell them that what is most honorable in life is a career, and their ultimate goal in life is simply to be able to grow up and be independent of anyone or anything,” said Harris, then the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, adding, “But nobody has seemed to ask the question that I think is critically important to ask: Is that a healthy pursuit for society? Is that the healthiest pursuit for our homes? Is that the healthiest pursuit for our children? Is that the healthiest pursuit for the sexes in our generation?”  

In response to the controversy, McCready gave a short statement that he posted on twitter and facebook:

“As a Christian, I believe that we are all created in God’s image. That means men and women are equally valuable and equally capable and should be treated as such in their homes, careers, and in society. Mr. Harris’ comments suggest otherwise. This is just another example of how out of step Mr. Harris is — not just with this district but with this century.”

Dunn is critical of McCready’s response and calls it a missed opportunity.  He argues McCready should have engaged in a fight, used the moment to illustrate his own faith, and made counter-arguments to Harris using biblical scripture:

Try Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Or dip into Proverbs 31: “She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.”

McCready Chose Wisely

I disagree with Dunn and think McCready did what he needed to do.  The simple fact of the matter is that you’re not going to beat a Baptist preacher in a biblical debate.  In addition, this is a red-leaning, rural district straddling the South Carolina line.  Many of the voters McCready needs probably agree with Harris.

More importantly, the battlefield has already been set in this race and McCready likes what he sees.  Here are the the top three issues in the minds of 9th District voters according to a recent Civitas poll:

• The Economy
• Healthcare
• The Presidency (Trump)

McCready can win on each issue.  Why start a Holy War?

Let the preacher preach while you keep your lead going into November.