I was originally supporting Rudy Giuliani for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination. Most people felt differently and now the presumptive nominee will be John McCain. As soon as Rudy dropped out of the race I decided to support Senator McCain.
Why John McCain?
I feel that Senator McCain is the strongest candidate in the Republican field. McCain has a lot of experience in Washington. And those years of experience have yielded results in the form of legislation passed with support from both sited of the aisle. McCain's ability to work with both parties is an important asset and one that we need to see more of from the next Presidential administration.
Fiscal Responsibility
John McCain has a strong record on fiscal responsibility. I think that Washington has spent way too much money on wasteful programs over the last twenty years. Spending money on preserving and protecting the country is money well spent. But too much federal taxpayer money goes to pork barrel programs that only benefit certain states. State-level projects should be paid for by state-level taxes. McCain is committed to reducing pork wherever possible.
Terrorism And Foreign Policy
John McCain has a strong position on terrorism and dealing with rogue dictators. He believes in a well funded military, strong intelligence and takes a hard line position when dealing with rogue dictators. The job of the American President is not to placate our enemies and do what Europe wants so they like us. The job is about representing the interests of the American people. I believe that John McCain has proven via his record that the needs of Americans, and not the opinion of European leaders, will drive policy decisions.
Dedication To Public Service
John McCain has dedicated his life to the service of our country for almost fifty years. Senator McCain showed great will and loyalty to the country while serving over five years in a Vietnamese prison camp. He could have gained early release but he wouldn't give the enemy the propaganda they wanted. That sort of proven courage counts for a lot in my book. Senator McCain's service in the Navy lasted twenty-two years. And he has spent twenty-six years representing the State of Arizona. Given his strong record and universal respect across party lines, John McCain could have gone into the private sector and made a lot more money long ago. Senator McCain has chosen to serve and the people have chosen him over and over again to represent their state.
McCain vs. Barack Obama
It appears that Senator Barack Obama will win the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. And at the end of the day it's a choice between two (and perhaps three) major candidates. I strongly prefer John McCain over Barack Obama for a variety of reasons but I will only mention one now.
Barack Obama's vision of a bright future for America seems to be contingent on him being elected President. Senator speaks frequently of hope while highlighting the current absence of hope in our country. This is quite hypocritical in my opinion. It paints a picture of a man ungrateful for all that America has allowed him to achieve. Barack Obama has things that most people will never have. He has an Ivy League education. He has an income of nearly one million dollars per year. He occupies a powerful position as a United States Senator. Barack Obama is also a published author of a best selling book.
Barack Obama's achievements are partly due to the fact that he has lived and currently lives in a country where everyone has immense opportunities to improve their lives if they work hard enough to make it happen. I don't hear him acknowledging that. I see a man who refuses to acknowledge the greatness of our country. And it seems that he is doing so in order to scare people into voting for him. You see, I read Barack Obama's message of hope as a message of fear. As if hope for a better life and a stronger country is only possible if Barack Obama is elected President. I strongly disagree.
In contrast, John McCain is proud of the United States and doesn't deliver a message of hope that is contingent on his election. Hope in this country is a given. That doesn't mean that we live in a nirvana where everything is perfect. Every nation has problems. it does mean that we realistically acknowledge that no one person determines the possibilities in our nation.
Spread The Word
If you think that John McCain is the right choice for President please speak up. Don't be deterred by the shrill and angry responses that you might get from those who disagree with you. Your speech is very important. The New York Times has already begun to wage war on John McCain's character by running a three-thousand word hit piece on the front page that hinted at faults in John McCain's ethics. The story claimed nothing outright because there was zero concrete evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Senator McCain. The story was based on anonymous sources and circumstance.
It is now obvious that the New York Times will stop at nothing to derail John McCain's candidacy. That's why it is very important for you to speak your mind when and where appropriate in order to ensure that John McCain gets a fair shake from the American people come November.
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