Some far-right folks in Idaho have some “big feelings” over Dan Gookin’s decisive win in the Coeur d’Alene mayoral election. So much so that they spliced and diced a video to make it look like Mayor-Elect Gookin is anti-Christian, and that edited clip has since gone viral.
I’m a Christian who has known Dan well for 15 years, and nothing could be further from the truth. There’s a world of difference between calling out self-labeled Christians who behave badly and vilifying Christianity. Dan has never done the latter. He’s been honest about hypocrisy when he sees it which is something Jesus himself did often.
As a believer, I find it deeply troubling to see people take a few seconds of footage, strip away context, and push it out as “truth.” That kind of deceit isn’t discernment, it’s manipulation. The Bible calls us to speak truth in love, not twist words to score political points.
Mark Twain once wrote, “A lie makes it halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” We’re watching that play out in real time. A spliced video travels fast; integrity takes its time — but it always catches up.
That’s why it’s so important to pause before believing or sharing what shows up in our feeds. In today’s world, anyone can edit a video, add a caption, and send it racing across social media in minutes. But truth still takes work. We have a responsibility, especially as Christians, to seek it out, verify what we’re told, and test it against both facts and faith. Bearing false witness doesn’t only harm the person being attacked; it corrodes our own credibility and our witness as believers.
The irony is that this sort of smear is the opposite of what Christ taught. Jesus didn’t tell us to bear false witness or tear others down to prove our faith. He called us to humility, honesty, and grace, especially toward those we disagree with.
Let’s be honest about what this really is: an attempt to discredit Dan before he ever takes office. It’s a calculated effort to undercut his credibility with the community and sow division where none exists. That kind of tactic says far more about the people spreading it than it does about the man they’re targeting.
Dan Gookin is a man of integrity and service. He’s the same person in private as he is in public. Disagree with his policies if you want — that’s democracy. But twisting the truth about his character isn’t politics; it’s sin dressed up as righteousness.
We can do better, not just as Republicans, but as neighbors and people of faith. The next time someone tries to sell outrage disguised as truth, let’s be the ones who stop, check, and choose integrity over impulse. That’s how we keep both our politics and our witness honest.
About the Author
Becky Funk is a former Chair of the Legislative District 4 Republican Committee (Cd’A), community volunteer, and has called Idaho “home” for 21 years.
I do think it’s interesting the same people who are offended by Dan made excuses for “Grab ‘em by the *****”.
The christian nationalists (small "c" intentional) are all about "My Jesus can beat up your Jesus." There is nothing remotely resembling the teachings of Jesus in their rhetoric - actually, _they_ are more anti- ("anti" defined as "opposite of") Christian if you compare their rhetoric to the words and teachings in the New Testament.