He’s actually a moderate, a fiscal conservative, although, like Obama, he’s had to corrupt his principles to appeal to certain parts of the electorate. We know he’s served his country well both in the military and in the Senate. He’s not so much the “maverick” as the campaign wants us to believe, but he’s not been afraid to cross the GOP hierarchy when he thought it in the country’s best interest.
What I don’t like is his stance on the Iraq war. Obama says he wants out; McCain calls that “waving the white flag of surrender.” With that mentality, we’d still be in Vietnam. I don’t really believe a President Obama could quickly or gracefully get the troops out of Iraq, but I do want a commander in chief committed to trying. It was an immoral war from Day 1, thus there has never been a scenario for something we could honestly or objectively call a victory.
That’s my top issue for 2008.
Frankly, I don’t like either candidate’s “economic plan.” Tax rebates in a time of huge budget deficits just pander to our greed — which is what caused this crisis. There seems to be no debate over whether tax cuts are good or bad, just over which segment of taxpayers should get the most money. I know the economy is all-important, but getting out of an immoral and hugely wasteful (in lives and cash) war is paramount, not whether Joe the (not actually) Plumber will get more or less of a rebate under the McCain plan.
The war has cost us a trillion dollars, killed thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians — not to mention Iraqi combatants. It has led our government to abandon its commitment to human rights to the point that America endorses torture. It has ruined our reputation and decreased our prestige worldwide. It emboldens our enemies from the Iranians to the governments of Russia and China and aileniates our traditional allies.
There are things I dislike about Obama and like about McCain — and vise versa. I want to see the war in Iraq end, and that’s more likely to happen with him as president than with McCain. I’m voting for Obama, not against McCain, because ending the war in Iraq is that important to me.
The next president will face a divided country, the worst recession since World War II, a huge debt and deficit. It’s not likely that either Obama or McCain would have a popular presidency.
Still, ending the Iraq war is
my priority. So, it’s Obama.
Mark Beardsley is editor of The Commerce News. He lives in Commerce.
While I have agreed with you on numerous positions you have taken in the past regarding local issues, I cannot fathom WHY you, an obviously intelligent person could ever entertain the thought of an Obama presidency. I consider myself a moderate (kind of a Zell Miller Democrat) and entertain both democratic and republican ideals, and feel that both sides of the fence have made this country the greatest in the world. HOWEVER, I cannot bring myself to vote for someone whose political experience is limited and someone that has accomplished absolutely NOTHING during his time as a state senator. Senator Obama has not introduced or signed off on one significant piece of legislature or chaired ONE significant committee. He has no leadership experience, no military experience and no executive experience. And you want to hand this guy the keys to the most powerful position in the world? You piece has signified that you have made this a one issue election and you are comparing McCain to Bush (I compare Obama to Carter). OK, I don't like Bush either and disagree with the war in Iraq (NOT the war on terrorism), but I am not going to let my dislike of Bush influence my position on national defense, taxes, and the personal freedoms that I currently enjoy. I love my country and though it is not perfect, it is still the best place to be in the world. Sorry, but Obama is too left for me, and I feel that he will be an impotent and ineffective president. He can holler change all he wants, and I must admit he is a terrific and captivating speaker, but that is about all there is to him. I do not dislike him as much as I do Bush as he seems like a pretty nice guy. But there is a difference in having a drinking buddy and running the most powerful country in the world. I trust that my country will be in safe, capable hands with a McCain presidency. Therefore, my vote has already been cast for McCain/ Palin.