As a registered member of the Republican Party, I feel that all Americans have a civic duty to not only vote, but to value that cast vote based upon its overall impact to the country, and not a particular person or party. Therefore, although the powers that be have placed me as a voter with the Republican Party, I have always voted my conscious. Some things I am liberal about, and other things I am conservative about, but my mind is always open to change based upon new information. My most recent concern with the Republican Party has been its utter dominance and control by religion. This has occurred to such a degree that candidates are now measured and qualified for fitness to hold political office based upon their reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations. I have no issue with people practicing their faith within their own homes, churches, synagogues, and temples, but the injection of religion into politics has gotten out of hand. Where I really see a line being crossed is when the Republican Party’s religion voters not only want to have their own beliefs, but want to force them on the rest of us in the areas of abortion, sin, sexuality, and many others. Whatever happened to live and let live?
Again, I have no problem with having a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects. Teach your children your beliefs to pass on your values, but do not attempt to strong-arm them on the population at large. This ongoing monopoly of opinion and branding of dissenters runs contrary to the very value system the founding fathers expressed in our Constitution. Casting a vote for a particular candidate based upon his religion, or lack thereof, is no less bigoted and unchristian as casting a vote based upon race. If I had my way, everyone would take an oath upon voter registration to support the Constitution, and cast their vote without regard to race, creed, color, or national origin. We require this of public officials, so why is the individual vote no less sacred a trust? Recently, none other than Joe Biden put this all into context when he stated that as a Catholic he believed life started at conception, but was not willing to enforce his views on everyone. That is as it should be. Separation of church and state is the principle that government must maintain an attitude of neutrality toward religion. The First Amendment not only allows citizens the freedom to practice any religion of their choice, but also prevents the government from officially recognizing or favoring any religion. The future President of these United States has an obligation to that Constitution.
Let’s face it, all politicians make false promises, or exaggerate the facts. The President cannot unilaterally pass a budget, or approve programs, so every time a candidate promises something, we should take it with a grain of salt. As to Republicans in general, and John McCain in particular, they tend to promise the world, and cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses. Basically, their practices pit us against one another, when we should all be joining hands to make a better America. John McCain has already given us a glimpse of his potential Presidency by pandering to religious entities. Don’t you think that if you get elected these people will feel owed something for their vote? The Supreme Court and future nominees come to my mind. Be afraid, be very afraid. Yes, John McCain was a Prisoner Of War (POW), but is a deed performed 40 years ago a clear indicator of moral or ethical qualities? There is nothing in his recent actions to show that anything he does is anything more than a maneuver or strategy to gain the advantage. Take a look at his 26 year voting record on a wide array of issues. All perfectly calculated. Barack Obama says that it’s not that John McCain doesn’t care, but that he simply doesn’t know. I would disagree, and say that John McCain could give a hoot in hell about you, but is focused upon what gets John McCain the advantage, or elected. Pick Sarah Palin?...calculated. Suspend his campaign?..Again..Calculated. Haven’t we had enough of leaders who calculate their decisions upon what gets them elected or reelected, or caters to a certain group? We have had 8 years of that.
As citizens, our devotion should be to this country and its laws, not to some revered person, party, thing, or self. I will borrow a line from "Star Trek" and say that "the needs of the many out-way the needs of the few". Based upon something he did 40 years ago, John McCain has and is attempting to establish himself as an idol to be regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion. Many have bought into his faked persona. What we really need from him is determination to speak the truth, to keep at least some of his promises, and he has failed miserably on all fronts. Basically, if current events are any indicator, the few needs of John McCain out-way the needs of us many. Mr. McCain has cast himself then recast himself as a lone dissenter who takes an independent stand apart from his associates, a maverick. Is that why he voted with George Bush 90% of the time? Doesn’t sound like a maverick to me. In fact, any attempt by John McCain to be bipartisan is just another calculated move to boost his own credentials and resume. In this election, we must all ask ourselves if John McCain has the combination of mental, physical, and emotional traits of a person we want making decisions on our behalf. Really ask yourself if John McCain’s shoot from the hip personality and natural predisposition to go it alone in a dangerous world is not a movie we have already seen... a person who betrays us and our trust for his own petty needs, and then tells us we are not hearing and seeing what we see and hear. Remember the Wizard of Oz (Bush)? "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain". That in a nut shell is John McCain. . It looks like more of the same to me.
In addition, at 72 years old, can John McCain mentally capture unprocessed immediately-perceived events, and have the required wisdom gained in subsequent reflection on those events or interpretation of them? The character of John McCain was forged 40 years ago, both as a POW and in his personal life and challenges. Character and its other positive aspects are acquired through learning. At 72 is Mr. McCain willing to unlearn his negative character traits? In his absence, is Sarah Palin up to the task? I think not. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Some say that electing an inexperienced Barack Obama is a risk, but is selecting John McCain, based upon his erratic behavior, no less a risk? In baseball, when your experienced pitcher (the Republicans) has let you down, you go to the untested and untried replacement. In John McCain, do we really want a maverick pitcher who is all over the field? I truly believe that Barack Obama can come from the bench and make us all proud once again. If not, in 4 years, we can replace him. We gave George Bush 8 years even though after 4 years we knew he was an idiot. Let’s not retry the same thing with John McCain and hope for different results.