Election Season: My Endorsements

For the 2008 presidential primaries, I endorse Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama.

I respect both of these individuals a great deal. I believe they are fundamentally decent patriots who want the absolute best for our country. They are both thoughtful and willing to listen to the other side. They are respectful of their opponents and driven to develop a consensus to solve tough problems.

I am much closer to Senator McCain than Obama on many issues, and would likely vote that way if the two were to face each other in the general action. That would truly be a once-in-a-lifetime election as both men believe in appealing to the best in each us.

I've had two hesitations about McCain since the beginning of the campaign. The first was his age (he would be older than President Reagan was on inauguration day) and the second was his attempt to transform himself into a Republican standard bearer instead of the maverick that he is.

His tireless campaigning has convinced me that his age is not an issue, particularly with the right VP candidate and perhaps a decision to seek a single term. Though his position on the war has severely hurt his appeal to moderates and independents, the recent success of the surge, his personality, and his renewed focus on issues and/or positions Republicans normally avoid, means he still has the best chance to broaden the party. I wish he had won eight years ago, but he remains the Republican Party's best candidate.

Senator Obama is the first candidate that I have ever felt a personal connection with, and the first Democrat I have ever seriously considered voting for. Though we are worlds apart in many obvious and not-so-obvious ways, I identify with him as a husband, father, and writer. I relate to the fact that just a couple of years ago, he was part of a fairly typical two-income household, struggling to balance family, ambition, and financial demands. He does not come from wealth, nor is he part of a political dynasty. He is thoughtful, curious, and eloquent. The following paragraph from his convention speech is one of the most powerful things I've heard in the past 10 years. Few people note how much these words go against the typical identity-based politics of the Democratic Party.

Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America — there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

Obama comes to many different conclusions than I would, but the fact that he truly thinks through each position, gathers a lot of input, and then makes his case in a way that respects the voters and those on the other side, makes a significant difference. He has moved further left during the campaign than I would like, and I would never be able to truly embrace his party or the Democratic Congress, but I still believe that the day the senator, along with his terrific wife and daughters, moved into the White House would be one of our country's greatest moments.

Next up: A Third Way and Thursday Night Predictions

Comments

[Mark Burleson]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

One of the major issues I have with Obama is that he seriously implies of a lot of socialist thoughts. I personally think the government has too much reach as it is, and I really would not like to see it stretch any further.

Not to say any republican isn't just as capable.

I mean, we're now banning the incandescent light bulb among other things? What's next? My coca-cola?

[Barbara Harlem]

I can't understand how Obama can state that there is not distinct difference between liberal thinking Americans and those who believe in Judeo-Christian values. A stark difference has always existed between those who believe that God is sovereign and those that believe "man is the measure of all things." As one who believes that God is supreme and His Word is truth, I could never support anyone, whether Democrat or Repuublican, who supports abortion, same-sex unions and other anti-God matters. Additionally, I would never support those, like McCain, that believe that Americans will ever destroy what God has made and Jesus will return to -- how absurd is this new religion of earth worship!! It's so unfortunate that America has turned so far away from God that some of these "secular humanists (liberals) have such gall to even run for this office. It's really alarming that Christians have been seduced to ignore God's direction in matters so paramount to this country's future and past blessings.

[jeff]

Hmmm...McCain. I have a hard time forgiving him for the campaign finance bill. Being against so called special interest groups really just serves to make it tougher for the average person to get their voice heard. I agree with your take on Obama.