Here is a letter by a supporter of McCain with my responses in CAPS. I am a supporter of Obama.
Check also my block:
http://cyprusissue.blogspot.com/
Dear Friends:
My name is Joe Porter. I live in Champaign , Illinois . I'm 46 years old, a born-again Christian, a husband, a father, a small business owner, a veteran, and a homeowner. I don't consider myself to be either conservative or liberal, and I vote for the person, not Republican or Democrat. I don't believe there are 'two Americas ' but that every person in this country can be whomever and whatever they want to be if they'll just work to get there and nowhere else on earth can they find such opportunities. I believe our government should help those who are legitimately downtrodden, and should always put the interests of America first.
The purpose of this message is that I'm concerned about the future of this great nation. WE ALL SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ALL THE NATIONS ON THIS PLANET NOT JUST OUR OWN. I'm worried that the silent majority of honest, hard-working, tax-paying people in this country have been passive for too long. Most folks I know choose not to involve themselves in politics. They go about their daily lives, paying their bills, raising their kids, and doing what they can to maintain the good life. They vote and consider doing so to be a sacred trust. They shake their heads at the political pundits and so-called 'news', thinking that what they hear is always spun by whomever is reporting it. They can't understand how elected officials can regularly violate the public trust with pork barrel spending. They don't want government handouts. They want the government to protect them, not raise their taxes for more government programs. GOVERNMENT HAND OUTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AROUND. THIS IS HOW TAXES ARE USED. THIS IS WHAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS (OR WHAT IS LEFT OF IT) MEDICARE, SCHOOLS, ROADS ETC.
We are in the unique position in - this country of electing our leaders. It's a privilege to do so. I've never found a candidate in any election with whom I agreed on everything. I'll wager that most of us don't even agree with our families or spouses 100% of the time. So when I step into that voting booth, I always try to look at the big picture and cast my vote for the man or woman who is best qualified for the job. I've hired a lot of people in my lifetime, and essentially that's what an election is - a hiring process. Who has the credentials? Whom do I want working for me? Whom can I trust to do the job right?
I'm concerned that a growing number of voters in this country simply don't get it. They are caught up in a fervor they can't explain, and call it 'change'.
'Change what?', I ask. CHANGE THE STANCE OF THIS COUNTRY TOWARD THE ENVIRONMENT (IE SIGN THE KYOTO AGREEMENT), CHANGE THE FACT THAT MILLION OF PEOPLE LIVE UNDER THE POVERTY LINE, CHANGE THE FACT THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, CHANGE THE FACT THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO GO TO COLLEGE, CHANGE THROWING TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARD THE PRODUCTION OF WEAPONS AND DIVERT THOSE DOLLARS TO HELP PEOPLE THAT DIE FROM HUNGER.
'Well, we're going to change America ', they say.
'In what way?', I query. IN MAKING PEOPLE SEE BEYOND THEMSELVES AND THEIR OWN FAMILIES. IN HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GREATER GOOD IS FOR HUMANITY
'We want someone new and fresh in the White House', they exclaim.
'So, someone who's not a politician?', I say.
'Uh, well, no, we just want a lot of stuff changed, so we're voting for Obama', they state.
'So the current system, the system of freedom and democracy that has enabled a man to grow up in this great country, get a fine education, raise incredible amounts of money and dominate the news, and win his party's nomination for the White House that system's all wrong?'EVERY SYSTEM AND EVERY PROCESS NEED TO EVOLVE TO ACCOMMODATE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES. BECAUSE A SYSTEM HAS WORKED 200 YEARS AGO DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT CAN WORK FOREVER. WE SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY EVERYBODY STAND THE SAME CHANCES TO HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE OR MORE.NOT EVERYONE IS GIFTED WITH THE SAME GENES, OPPORTUNITIES ETC. THERE ARE WEAKER PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT NEED THE HELP OF THE STRONGER ONES AMONG US.
'No, no, that part of the system's okay we just need a lot of change.'
And so it goes. 'Change we can believe in.'
Quite frankly, I don't believe that vague proclamations of change SEE ABOVE WHAT CONCRETE CHANGE IS REQUIRED hold any promise for me. In recent months, I've been asking virtually everyone I encounter how they're voting. I live in Illinois , so most folks tell me they're voting for Barack Obama. But no one can really tell me why only that he's going to change a lot of stuff 'Change, change, change.' I have yet to find one single person who can tell me distinctly and convincingly why this man is qualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on earth other than the fact that he claims he's going to implement a lot of change. HE IS QUALIFIED BECAUSE HE GETS IT. HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO LEAD THE WORLD TO A BETTER PLACE. HE HAS THE EDUCATION, THE IQ THE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, THE WILL, THE HEART THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE JOB AND HE IS LIKEABLE (CHARISMA, ORATOR ETC.).
We've all seen the emails about Obama's genealogy, his upbringing, his Muslim background, and his church affiliations. Let's ignore this for a moment. Put it all aside. Then ask yourself, 'What qualifies this man to be my president? That he's a brilliant orator and talks about change?' SEE ABOVE
CHANGE WHAT? SEE ABOVE
Friends, I'll be forthright with you I believe the American voters who are supporting Barack Obama don't have a clue what they're doing, as evidenced by the fact that not one of them - NOT ONE of them I've spoken to can spell out his qualifications. Not even the most liberal media can explain why he should be elected. Political experience? Negligible. Foreign relations? Non-existent. Achievements? Name one HAS MANAGED TO BECOME THE NOMINEE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY COMING FROM A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY AND BEING BLACK. HE HAS SHIFTED THE PARADIGM OF CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT. HE IS NOT ERRATIC WHEN IT COMES UNDER PRESSURE. Someone who wants to unite the country? If you haven't read his wife's thesis from Princeton , look it up on the web. This is who's lining up to be our next First Lady? The only thing I can glean from Obama's constant harping about change is that we're in for a lot of new taxes. ONLY THOSE WHO EARN MORE THAN 250K A YEAR. I AM ONE OF THOSE AND I AM HAPPY TO PAY MY DUES FOR PEOPLE LESS FORTUNATE THAN I AM. I KNOW THE ARGUMENT THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO DECIDE WHO THEY GIVE CHARITY TO. UNFORTUNATELY THIS DOES NOT WORK AS IT SHOULD SINCE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE STRONGEST ECONOMY OF THE WORLD THAT GO TO BED (IF THEY HAVE ONE) HUNGRY. I ALSO AM FAMILIAR WITH THE ARGUMENT : “THEY SHOULD GO FIND WORK”. THE RESPONSE TO THIS IS THAT IT IS EASY FOR US WHO HAVE WORK OR ENOUGH MONEY TO SAY THAT. PROBABLY THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE LAZY OUT THERE AND COULD WORK HARDER BUT WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE THAT? ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A REBORN CHRISTIAN YOU SHOULD FOLLOW WHAT YOUR RELIGION TELLS YOU. I ALWAYS FOUND IT HYPOCRITICAL OF US CHRISTIANS TO SAY WE ARE RELIGIOUS AND FAITHFUL AND YET APPLAUD A WAR HERO AND WARS IN GENERAL. WHAT HAPPENED TO : “TURN THE OTHER CHEEK?”
For me, the choice is clear. I've looked carefully at the two leading applicants for the job, and I've made my choice.
Here's a question - 'Where were you five and a half years ago? Around Christmas, 2002. You've had five or six birthdays in that time. My son has grown from a sixth grade child to a high school graduate. Five and a half years is a good chunk of time. About 2,000 days. 2,000 nights of sleep. 6, 000 meals, give or take.'
John McCain spent that amount of time, from 1967 to 1973, in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp. HE WAS CAUGHT, SOMETHING I AM SURE HE DID NOT INTEND.
When offered early release, he refused it. THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY. PLEASE CONSIDER THAT HIS FATHER WAS THE HEAD OF THE MILITARY OPERATION BACK THEN AND THAT MAYBE THAT REFUSAL WAS POLITICALLY DRIVEN. He considered this offer to be a public relations stunt by his captors, and insisted that those held longer than he should be released first. Did you get that part? He was offered his freedom, and he turned it down.. A regimen of beatings and torture began. I KNOW PEOPLE LOVE THEIR HEROS AND IF HE WAS THAT, GREAT; BUT I DOUBT THAT WHAT HE DID IS ALIGNED WITH THE CONVENTIONAL DEFINITION OF A HERO ESPECIALLY IF YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT HE CONFESSED EVERYTHING THE ENEMY HAS ASKED HIM TO CONFESS. BY THE SAME TOKEN MOST OF THE GUANTANAMO BAY PRISONERS QUALIFY TO BE PRESIDENTS OF THEIR COUNTRIES.
Do you possess such strength of character? OBAMA DOES FOR SURE. TRY TO BE RAISED IN THIS COUNTRY AS A BLACK MAN 4O YEARS AGO AND TELL ME WHAT STRENGTH OF CHARACTER IS REQUIRED TO GET TO WHERE HE IS NOW. AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE WHOSE FATHER AND GRANDFATHER WHERE ADMIRALS AND DOES NOT KNOW HOW MANY HOUSES HE HAS. Locked in a filthy cell in a foreign country, would you turn down your own freedom in favor of your fellow man? I submit that's a quality of character that is rarely found, and for me, this singular act defines John McCain.
Unlike several presidential candidates in recent years whose military service is questionable or non-existent, you will not find anyone to denigrate the integrity and moral courage of this man. SEE ABOVE. A graduate of Annapolis, during his Naval service he received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. His own son is now serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq . Barack Obama is fond of saying 'We honor John McCain's service...BUT...', which to me is condescending and offensive - because what I hear is, 'Let's forget this man's sacrifice for his country, and his proven leadership abilities, and talk some more about change.' EXACTLY WHAT THIS COUNTRY AND THIS PLANET NEEDS RIGHT NOW. IT IS NOT ABOUT MCCAIN’S COURAGE YEARS AGO IT IS ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY AND THIS PLANET OUT OF THE MISERY WE ARE IN NOW.
I don't agree with John McCain on everything - but I am utterly convinced that he is qualified HE IS NOT AS QUALIFIED AS OBAMA BECAUSE HE HAS SENIOR MOMENTS, BECAUSE HE HAS RUN A DISGRACEFUL CAMPAIGN FULL OF STRATEGICAL AND TACTICAL MISTAKES – EVEN YESTERDAY HE WAS STANDING ON THE PODIUM TALKING TO JOE THE PLUMBER THINKING HE WAS IN THE AUDIENCE AND INVITING HIM TO THE STAGE – HE WAS NOT THERE AND HE DID NOT KNOW IT!!!!. HOW CAN YOU TRUST A MAN WHO IS NOT BUTTONED UP 6 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS. IF HE WAS NOT DILIGENT ENOUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BIG MOMENT OF BRINGING JOE THE PLUMBER FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE SAME STAGE AS HE WAS WOULD BE A SUCCESFUL ONE. to be our next President, and I trust him to do what's right. I know in my heart that he has the best interests of our country in mind. HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT. I WAS IN A CROWD OF YPOERS IN WASHINGTON DC 4 YEARS AGO AND HE CAME INTO THE ROOM TO TELL US THAT HIS MOTHER EXPECTED HIM TO BECOME A PRESIDENT LIKE ALL MOMS AND THEN HE STARTED TALKING TO 800 PRESIDENTS AND CEOS OF COMPANIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD THINKING THAT WE WERE ALL AMERICANS. HE WAS TALKING DOWN ON ARABIC NATIONS UNTIL A CEO FROM SAUDI ARABIA STOOD UP AND SAID: “EXCUSE ME I AM FROM RIYAD DO YOU REALIZE WHO YOU HAVE IN THIS ROOM? WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MR MCCAIN IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE!!!!” DO YOU SEE THE PATTERN??? HE WAS THEN ILL PREPARED LIKE HE WAS YESTERDAY WHEN HE WAS CALLING JOE THE PLUMBER TO JOIN HIM ON THE STAGE. He doesn't simply want to be President - he wants to lead America , and there's a huge difference. Factually, there is simply no comparison between the two candidates. A man of questionable background and motives who prattles on about change, can't hold a candle to a man who has devoted his life in public service to this nation, retiring from the Navy in1981 and elected to the Senate in1982.
Perhaps Obama's supporters are taking a stance between old and new. Maybe they don't care about McCain's service or his strength of character, or his unblemished qualifications to be President.. Maybe 'likeability' is a higher priority for them than 'trust'. BEFORE YOU GET TO TRUST YOU NEED TO LIKE SOMEONE AND I ASSURE YOU THAT OBAMA IS LIKED BY THE REST OF THE WORLD BUT MCCAIN IS NOT. Being a prisoner of war is not what qualifies John McCain to be President of the United States of America - but his demonstrated leadership certainly DOES. WHAT LEADERSHIP? THE MAVERICK MOVES TO THROW THE PUBLIC LIGHT ON HIM OVER THE YEARS? TELL ME ABOUT HIS LEADRSHIP IN RUNNING HIS CAMPAIGN AND COMPARE IT TO OBAMA’S LEADERSHIP.
Dear friends, it is time for us to stand. It is time for thinking Americans to say, 'Enough.' I AGREE WITH THAT!!!It is time for people of all parties to stop following the party line. It is time for anyone who wants to keep America first, I DO NOT THINK AMERICA FIRST IS THE RIGHT ATTITUDE. WORLD FIRST IS (THAT INCLUDES AMERICA). who wants the right man leading their nation, to start a dialogue with all their friends and neighbors and ask who they're voting for, and why.
There's a lot of evil in this world. That should be readily apparent to all of us by now. And when faced with that evil as we are now, I want a man who knows the cost of war on his troops and on his citizens. I want a man who puts my family's interests before any foreign country. AND THEREIN LIES THE ISSUE. IF YOU ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN YOUR FAMILY THEN MCCAIN IS THE RIGHT CANDIDATE. HOWEVER IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IN SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE FUTURE OF YOUR CHILDREN ALONG WITH THE ALL THE CHILDREN ON THIS PLANET THEN YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR OBAMA. IF THIS LAST POINT IS MAKING IT EASY FOR YOU TO JUSTIFY YOUR DECISION TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN THEN I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE MUCH MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY THAN WE CURRENTLY ARE (INCLUDING YOU RONALD). WE ARE ALL INTERDEPENDENT ON THIS PLANET AND UNTIL WE ALL GET THIS - WITHOUT A SINGLE EXCEPTION - SUFFERING WILL CONTINUE TO BE PART OF OUR LIVES.
I want a President who's qualified to lead.
I want my country back, and I'm voting for John McCain. I WANT THE WORLD TO SURVIVE AND I VOTE FOR OBAMA
