Senator McCain, it is hard to believe that you will fulfill your promise to cross party lines and bring this country together when you and your running mate make insinuations that a perfectly good American is connected to terrorism, that he has socialist tendencies, that he and his supporters are not pro-American, when your campaign laughs at and then taints community organizing. You have put fear into the hearts of good Americans.
When you do that, you fan flames that tear this country apart. You deepen the wounds that are already causing us so much pain.
Obama served on the board (organized by a Republican) with Bill Ayers because he believes, like so many others, that we make progress when we are willing to work with all sorts of people for a greater cause, even those who are not like us.
The reason that you are losing in the polls is that you have underestimated the American People. We are smarter than you give us credit for. We are tired of politicians that deliberately put fear into our hearts for political gain. Our desire to come together as a country is deep. We don’t want to be divided anymore.
Obama has understood that from day one. Even when we underestimated him, when the Democrats underestimated him and were calling for “red meat,” when the media underestimated him, he never underestimated us.
That, my friend, is why while you are a great Senator, he is a great leader and will make a great president.
Couldn ‘t agree with you more…
October 21st, 2008 at 6:12 amI used to deeply admire McCain but I feel as though I’m watching a Shakespearean tragedy — I think he sold his soul for the Republican Party backing and hasn’t any idea in the world how to get it back. It’s very sad. Especially that increasingly slim chance that he could win. Shudder.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:22 amBe careful. With the way it’s going, you could end up on an undesirables list. The Reps are good at inducing fear; I’m starting to refer to them as the party of the Great White Paranoia.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:36 amBelle, By no means is a Democratic victory a sure thing. If McCain wins this way, I don’t know how this country can heal. I am scared.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:40 amI used to admire McCain, although I didn’t always agree with him. I believed that he was a principled man. Now, I’m not too sure what is him and what is the campaign–but I don’t like any of it!! I dislike their efforts to frighten and manipulate me as though I were a naive child. I can do my reading and research just fine and so I can see that much of the crap they’re flinging is made up of lies and distortions. It makes me sad.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:50 amSorry, I have to pipe up, you know how I am.
The reason he’s losing in the polls is because that’s what the media wants you to believe. Typically, conservatives are quiet people with personal opinions and beliefs and they use their voices on election day. You’re not getting an accurate picture of what Americans want if you believe what the media is telling you.
As far as McCain goes, well, I’ve been watching negative ads from Obama accusing McCain of negative ads. Seriously hypocritical on both sides, if you ask me. The worst of it is that the media wants you to think you only have two choices in this election, so that’s what most people think. They don’t even know who else is running.
It’s all very sad.
Saw some words spoken by Biden that frightened me, (paraphrasing) that within 6 months of Obama getting into office that there will be a world crisis of some sort that will test him, and that the way he manages it will not be popular to many people. That scares me - not because he would have to handle it, but that they predict something God-awful is going to happen to even more people. Is that really what Obama supporters want to see happen across the world? More tragedy just to prove that he’s “The Chosen One”? I don’t get it. This whole election makes me want to build an underground shelter and buy several years worth of canned goods.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:40 amLeanne,
Since I just happen to have my own conspiracy theories about Republican owned voting machines that flip democratic votes to republican ones in this and previous elections, and concerns about voter suppression, I will stay mum and let you have your own theories.
; )
October 21st, 2008 at 9:57 amAmen, sista! Keep preaching ^j^
October 21st, 2008 at 10:47 amFor anyone who doesn’t know, Leanne is not a troll. She’s a friend. We like to go at it over politics. Well, of course I’d like if she said I was right about everything, but I love that she’s a fighter. I like to fight back, too.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:11 amWell said, Raehan.
And I have to respectfully disagree with Leanne on one thing she said… Obama supporters do NOT want to see a world event happen to prove Obama is the right leader - we already have deep faith that he is. What Biden was saying is that the world is looking (which they are) and that there are “bad guys” out there who would generate a crisis if it suited their own political ends (think cuban missile crisis). You can disagree with what he was saying, but don’t interpret this to mean that the Obama camp wants an event. Quite the opposite.
What scares me worse than anything is the thought of Sarah Palin stepping seamlessly into Dick Cheney’s shoes. It scares me badly.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:22 pmAMEN!!
October 21st, 2008 at 12:37 pmJust to clarify - I did NOT say that Obama supporters want to see a world event/tragedy. I said, and I quote:
Biden “predicted” an event. That scares me. That’s what I said.
So, Rae, yea - Republicans are bad too, but like I said, you’d think that those are the only two choices we have. There are more than that on the ticket, thank God.
(Now quit implying I’m way over to the right, would ya?? xox)
October 21st, 2008 at 12:49 pmIt IS odd that they aren’t letting the “third” party candidates have any forum. I’ll give you that.
Righty. (Just kidding.)
Actually, I do think our two party system is a big part of the problem. People aren’t divided neatly along party lines most of the time. It is a false dichotomy and it makes it too easy and sometimes politically necessary to label the other side (yes, both sides do it).
You got a point there.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:52 pmI do?! I DO?!??!?!!?!? OMG!!!! I feel faint!
*giggles*
You do, too!! I hate that the media has not given other candidates any air time. No debates, no nothing. It sure does deepen the great divide. (Also, if you’re gonna align yourself with a party, you’re kinda labeling yourself, aren’t you? ) As Americans, we have more choices than “the lesser of two evils”. We need to stop allowing ourselves to be cattle divided into two pig pens. We’re smarter than that.
October 21st, 2008 at 1:24 pmI agree girls… a 2 party system isn’t healthy.
And media coverage of other party candidates would be a huge first step in the right direction. Not sure how that would be accomplished in a fair way (ie. which of the umpteen party candidates to give a forum to?), but this is certainly a subject that warrants more discussion. We’d just need to make sure the “nuts” were weeded out sp as not to waste our time, of which we have precious little for politics as it is.
Not to hammer the issue Leanne, because I know you mean no harm, but as an Obama supporter ~ and knowing many others through the course of volunteering for the campaign ~ I just need to state once more that none of us want a tragedy to prove he’s the “chosen one”, which is what you pondered in your comment. His supporters believe he can prove his worth without a tragedy.
I think Biden was just trying to be pragmatic in stating that the world has bad people who may try to test whomever our new President is - and he wanted to make it clear that we might not like how Obama will manage it (I take this to mean we will be asked to make sacrifices, not to go shopping).
Anyway, this is all in pure friendliness, I’m not trying to pick a fight. I just feel passionate about this particular election, and it’s quite possible I jump to defense because I’ve had to defend Obama a few too many times to people who’ve forwarded me crazy Muslim, terrorist, and tax accusations, just to name a few. lol.
xo
October 21st, 2008 at 8:44 pmIt was quite refreshing to leave “McCain Country” as much of this county here is painted and spend some time on the left coast.
My brain feels much more balanced now
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 amFortunately I don’t have a vote in the US elections.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:24 pmLook at me, I’m applauding!
(and I kind of love that you and Leanne have a relationship where politics are fair game. Josh is a Rep, so I get that right in my own home. LOL!)
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:03 pmI’m just so afraid that something is going to slip up in these last ten days. I just don’t think I can bear it. And I have to say that Obama has impressed me more and over over the course of the campaign with his character and intelligence. I think if there is a crisis (God forbid), he will rise to the occasion and show the thoughtfulness, strength, and judgment to respond in such a way that doesn’t further alienate us from the rest of the world. So Biden’s words don’t frighten me at all. McCain’s “joking” about “Bomb bomb Iran” and Palin’s attack mentality and anti-intellectualism frighten me tremendously.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:22 pmI don’t have a blog and I’ve read one too many blogs stating their support of Obama. So, I’m shamelessly using yours to sound off an opinion. I’ve lurked on your site long enough to feel you won’t mind. I’m a Republican. I’m conservative in my values and lifestyle. McCain is not my ideal candidate, yet I plan on voting for him. However, before you write me off as a right-wing fanatic, I want to say this. Over and over I have heard those who support Obama say they are frightened to think what might happen if their candidate isn’t elected. Let me say, I feel the same way. Obama frightens me. His policies frighten me. His flaws and his strengths as a person frighten me. What he has promised does not inspire me with confidence in his ability, intelligence, or character. I cannot see why you feel so strongly that he is the one person who can heal our so deeply divided country when we as a country are so divided on our candidates.
October 24th, 2008 at 4:09 pmThere, that is one humble opinion of a Republican.
Rachel,
I actually sort of know what you mean. I feel the same way about people who aren’t excited about Obama. I can’t understand at all why anyone would be frightened of him or believe all the smears on him, which to me, seem so obviously to be lies.
So, I sort of know what you mean, but from the other point of view. How can someone with seemingly so much in common with me see a person so completely differently.
Maybe I will try to answer the unspoken question: why does he excite me and why am I not afraid of him, when you are. I don’t want to write a lot of poltical posts, but maybe I will write just one more…..
Thanks, Rachel, for being brave and piping up.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:35 pmTo me the scariest thing is how common people can claim that Obama represents and understands them when he is the furthest thing for them and his policies reflect his complete lack of what it means to be a “common” person.
He has openly stated he would reinstate the Inheritance tax, living in a state with a lot of farmers having to pay 40% on the land you get from your father basically means good bye to the family farm. He has stated he wants to reinstate the Capital Gains tax that Pres. Bush wrote. And before any one fires back with a “that’s a tax for the rich”, let me remind every one out there with a 401(k) or any type of retirement program that the majority of the growth your fund and consequently your retirement feeds off of the Stock Market which is Capital Gains. He has openly insulted any one who believes in God or believes in the 2nd Amendment calling them “clingers.” He has been in office for 2 years as a senator and has the audacity to call Palin inexperienced.
Basically my problem with Obama is not that he is running for President but that so many people out there claim that he understands them, yet cannot point to one policy or idea that he has spoken about that will actually help them. They all say words like “feel” and “uplifted,” these are emotions and as any one who has any knowledge about emotions and history, they are not a good pair when it comes to making decisions.
October 25th, 2008 at 5:21 pmBarack’s Ideas, policy that will help me:
Option to buy into health care offered to government workers
Tax-Cut for those making under $200,000
Investment in Green Technology
A commitment to keeping jobs in this country, rather than sending them overseas
Diplomacy - an understanding that we can’t fight the whole world.
(I could go on)
October 25th, 2008 at 6:13 pmProblems with each Policy
1. NOTHING from the government is ever free and government programs never cost what they are estimated at. If Obama is serious about this it means that he is going to have to get the tax money from some one and right now the Tax burden is high enough as is.
2. A tax-cut for those under 200,00 is a nice idea except I have never heard of a Democrat or a liberal, or lately for that matter a Republican who cut taxes and then didn’t raise them some where else.
3. Green Technologies. Wow, is this one loaded. The whole global warming issue is for a different thread but I will say this much. When you hear “Investment” from the Government read: Subsidies. For those of you who don’t know the latest “investment” for green technologies it was to subsidize Ethanol for Cars. Of course they did this without considering what it would do to the world’s food supply, cards engines, MPG has dropped significantly and this of course doesn’t help the middle man and I can speak from having lived in Mexico it drove up the price of food crops around the world.
4. A Government cannot keep Jobs in country. I want every person to stop and think how a entity whose sole job is to make laws governing behaviors can force a company to not trade and take its jobs over seas. That is downright Communistic to say to a company that you, the Government, have decided that you must stay here. Really, this will only result in more companies going out of business because they cannot make a profit. Now, if Obama had instead said that he was going to lift the taxes on these companies and the regulations that is making labor cheaper overseas, and I believed him, that is important, I would be the biggest Obama believer in the world. You cannot Force a company to stay anywhere unless you want a Monarchy or some other form of Central Government.
5. Diplomacy is a nice word. I believe Neville Chamberlain use it when he convinced Germany to not take any more land. And History showed how well it worked. The one fundamental problem with Diplomacy is that 2 things must be true for it to work. 1. Both sides must have something valuable to lose and 2. They must both be convinced that if the negotiations don’t go well, The will lose it. Those who side with Obama and his version of Diplomacy, such as talking to tyrants and murderers like the Current President of Iran and then threatening to Invade our Allies like Pakistan often avoid the sticky issue of how do you negotiate with some whose starting point is your death. Again, I ask each of you to consider how do you negotiate with some one who believes that killing you will send them to Heaven and if they die they will go as well. Again, I ask every reader to consider whether the diplomacy that Obama believes in will work. I do not believe that any hostile nation with the intention to harm USA citizens will believe for one second that Obama will make them lose anything if the negotiations don’t work. So they ultimately have nothing to lose.
October 25th, 2008 at 7:11 pmYou simply said that Obama supporters can’t point to any policies that would help them.
I did.
We have ideological differences.
Whether you agree to disagree or not, I do.
I guess my point is that people who do support Obama are inspired because he has has WANTED to talk issues rather than attack character, so we are well aware by now of where he stands on the issues and we agree with him. If you are ideologically a Republican, than it goes without saying that you do not. I simply do not look at the issues in the same way you do.
October 25th, 2008 at 7:16 pmNo time for politics…
October 27th, 2008 at 6:23 amI come from a family where religion and politics were all wound together. It’s deep in my blood. Gotta make time for politics every four years, especially when a candidate excites me and makes me more hopeful about my children’s future and the health of our great country and this amazing earth.
; )
October 27th, 2008 at 10:16 pmYour post was beautiful and really spoke for everything I’ve been thinking. I’ve always admired John McCain but have been disappointed in his “campaign” strategies. On the other hand, I’ve been so impressed with the way Obama always takes the high road. I really feel like he’s on a different level of enlightenment than most politicians. He gets the spiritualism that is beyond religion and religious dogma, and that is the only thing that can unify this world.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:21 pmI also enjoyed your comebacks to Leanne and the intelligent debate throughout your comment section.