As has been mentioned before, a Christian involved in politics at any level does not have the luxury of hating their ideological opponent.  Challenge policies and/or behavioral issues, yes.  A little sarcasm when called for is perfectly acceptable as Jesus uses it quite skillfully when describing the religious leaders who opposed Him when He first walked this earth (He is coming back, y’know).  But not hate.  Not an option.  Never an option.  Instead, it is the Christian’s duty to pray for their leaders, for they are their leaders and as such both deserve the respect their office dictates and the prayerful support needed to govern wisely.  As Paul said in his letter to the Romans:

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.  Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?  Then do what is right and he will commend you.  For he is God’s servant to do you good.  But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.  He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.  This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.  Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

This is one of the clearest ways in which Christians in politics ought to differentiate themselves from the world.  The right embarrassed only itself with its virulent hatred of Bill Clinton.  The left embarrassed only itself with its virulent hatred of George W. Bush.  Now, the right needs to be right by doing the right thing and saying no more, keeping whatever criticism it has of Barack Obama within the realm of policy and philosophy minus the personal.

No Christian is responsible for the misbehavior of others.  We cannot be held accountable for the antics of pundits, be they from traditional or alternative media, who choose to continue the lamentable pattern of the past sixteen years by embracing the hate.  Instead, it is our calling and our duty to un-embrace the hate, instead embracing leaders we disagree with while saying just that and pledging to never relent in our pushing for what we believe is the correct path for those in government to follow.

We must not hold back from lifting up in prayer our elected officials regardless of whether we voted for them.  We must not hold back from supporting them and respecting them for the office they hold.  We must not see in them only shadow and never light, thus forbidding ourselves from praising and supporting them when they do the right thing.  The fundamental for these things is that we must not deny not only the redemptive power of Christ in an individual’s life but also the transforming power of the Spirit at work in an individual’s life.  Again referencing Paul’s letter to the Romans:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

No one is outside the realm of our Lord’s power.  We must always keep this in our minds and hearts as we go about our business.  Always.