A Letter for McCain Supporters' Eyes Only

If you're voting for McCain and you've clicked to read this I promise this will be pain free and fast. First off, I respect you for voting tomorrow. Right away you've set yourself above the apathetic millions and clearly you care about this country.

Before you punch, click or fill in your ballot for John McCain I would like to have a small one sided non-argumentative conversation with you as a person who also cares whether this country continues to grow and flourish or not.

If you're not going to vote for Barack Obama because of the emails and rumors that he is a terrorist or hangs out with criminals or is a Muslim please do not let that be the reason.

This begs the first question: why in the hell should you listen to me? Well my answer would be, why not? I have no tax breaks or corporate interests to be supported by Barack Obama. In fact, as someone who makes over 250k a year I will pay more. So why would I lie or shill for him unless I truly believed he is the right choice?

And remember, there were a lot of us who said very early on that Bush was up to no good and that the Iraq war would be a mistake. If you voted for Bush in the past why not at least listen to another point of view? If you're one of the twenty something percent who still think Bush has done a good job then I'm guessing you aren't reading this anyway.

The bottom line is that I believe no one wants a bad leader on purpose so clearly you were given some bum information if you voted for Bush. That's okay. You were doing the best you could. But don't rely on that very same information all over again. Whether it be FOX news, emails or friends or family.

Which brings me back to the rumors and emails about Obama. They are false. Not only are they false, they're crazy false. They are. And it would be a tragedy for anyone to make a decision based on those kinds of dark ugly lies.

It's also possible you are voting for McCain because he is "pro-life." I ask you to please remember that there is not one person in this country who thinks abortion is a "good" thing. The only reason any of us think that it should be open as an option to women is because if it wasn't, then people would do it anyway and they be hurt and assaulted by creeps offering illegal abortions. That is literally the only reason. The way to stop abortion is to offer sex education and protection. For that reason there were fewer abortions during the Clinton administration then during the Bush tenure.

If by chance your religion is against protection or sex education then I ask you to question that stance and any group that resists educating kids about how easy it is to have a baby. After all, is there anything more precious than a baby? Nope.

I'm almost done. Stay with me (or stay against me but please keep reading).

If you are a person who is voting for McCain because you think Obama is a communist who wants to redistribute the wealth, I know you are smarter than that. Bush already gave obscene tax breaks to people like me and Warren Buffet and we are saying it's not fair. Why would we work against our own interests? The answer is simple: because fair taxation makes the whole country stronger and if the country isn't strong our money ends up disappearing anyway (see massive stock market crash currently in progress). Bush redistributed the wealth and McCain has been very clear that he will continue to give tax breaks to big corporations and the wealthy in the name of trickle down economics. He really truly has. It's a big fat fact.

I also know that from years of Corporatists and fundamentalists turning the word "liberal" into a code word for gays and hippies and commies you think that blue staters all want to corrupt our country and have people marrying dogs and smoking crack and burning Christmas trees. Here's the real truth we're pretty much just like you. We really, truly are.

And finally if you are not voting for Barack because of the color of his skin, then there may be nothing I can say to you. But I just ask that you really consider this decision. Can anything good come of a backward way of thinking like judging someone based on skin color? No way. And I think in your heart of hearts you know that is very true. The world is changing and if we think and act like it's the 1600s then America will slip hard.

That's it. Thank you for reading. Now let's send a message to the world and our children that the United States learns from it's mistakes and can change when necessary. Remember, you're alone in that voting booth. You don't have to tell your McCain loving friends who you voted for. And chances are one or two of them will secretly vote for Obama. And as a reward for reading this a 30% off coupon for Dave & Busters is being sent to your home.

On a separate train: anyone from California looking for help with how to vote on the Props, check this site out. It combines the stances of six different organizations.

Comments

[popizzy]

For every person who is voting for McCain or already voted for him....can someone please enlighten me on how he will be different from Bush? Or is it the goal to keep the country on the same track for the next 4 years? I have asked this question numerous times and nobody seems to be able to answer how McCain will get the economy back on track, fix our healthcare system, get our educational system up to par, make college more affordable for students, etc. Please can someone answer this for me?

[Tennessean67]

You don't really believe McCain is like Bush do you? I guess you would if you believe every word you hear out of Obama's mouth and everything you read in the liberal media. Of course John McCain has voted with Bush 90+% of the time over the past couple of years. Primarily b/c the Democratic party controls the Senate. Do you really believe that Harry Reid is going to bring up bills that are supported by Bush unless they are noncontroversial and can move quickly? Do you really think Reid is going to use precious Senate floor time on a major agenda item for the President of the other party?

Well, he did do that with the Energy bill....re­member, the bill that Obama voted for while McCain voted against it ....The same bill that had huge subsidies for the oil companies.

That is one thing that will be different with McCain, Bush's energy policy. He opposed Bush on the 9/11 Commission. Now, almost every one of the Commission's recommendations have been implemented. McCain opposed Bush on torture and Iraq.

He opposed the Bush tax cuts which he now supports to keep permanent. Now that those tax rates are in place, you would actually be raising taxes to allow them to expire. Such an increase is bad idea in a bad economy. If you aren't going to vote for McCain, at least have the intellectual integrity to base that decision on things other than Obama's talking points.

[popizzy]

thank you for that......

Its interesting that when someone asks a question about McCain's policy proposal his supporters instantly go into the Obama/Pelosi/Reid rant but noticebly missing from your statement were the differences on education, economy, and healthcare.

I'm guessing there is no difference?

[WIpatriot]

How is he different, you ask? He waffles all over the place even more and doesn't portend to hear God talking to him.

[ChucklesfromPA]

Barack Obama has made a lot of promises during the campaign. So has John McCain. McCain has a track record that you can use to test whether or not he will live up to his promises. Maybe he will or maybe he won't, but you can pretty much tell what a President is going to do by what he/she has done in the past.

So, having said all of that, please tell me what Obama has done in the past that would make you believe he will, first, live up to his promises, and second, being anything more than the most liberal President in history (since he has been the most liberal Senator)? Please tell me, what has Obama done to earn your trust?

(btw, voting "present" doesn't count.)

[IHIRB]

It's impossible to live up to the promises that politicians make. Now if you want to discuss judgment, we have another topic entirely.

[ChucklesfromPA]

I agree, politicians never fulfill their promises. SO, why do you trust Obama? What has he done to earn your trust?

[boophus]

There is a web site where they tell who is the most liberal and who is the most conservative senator. Obama, Clinton and Biden are moderates. McCain is ranked far to the right. I assume you got this talking point from McCain or Faux News or the rush clones.

I actually went to the web sites that list what each has done. Have you? No I think like many of you in here tonight you are really phone bank trolls on a lst desperate attempt to convert voters. I am sorry I have responded to any of you because I think it is hopeless and you have been provided with your prepackaged sound bites and that is all you need to feel you are informed. I guess asking anyone to read a real history book or a book of any kind is elitist.

[ChucklesfromPA]

What I really wanted was an answer to why do you trust Obama. I shouldn't have brought up the liberal point, as I see you got side tracked by that. Why do you trust Obama; what has he ever done to earn that trust?

[cornflower]

Repubs have never been able to figure out why we pay taxes. Look at the deficit! Now think really hard about how we might have gotten to this point. Then vote Obama!

[UnBiaSedVoiCe]

We have goten to this point because the government spends too much money, not because we don't pay high enough taxes. And remember, the president spends very little money that congress doesn't approve.

[QuadEagle]

The deficit means nothing...­it is a snapshot in time and a minuscle fraction of our GNP. Of bigger significance is the growth of entitlements under the Democrat Congress and the explosion of these future obligations that will occur if Obama is elected.

[Cornelius Danger]

So we shouldn't judge Obama based on his friends, skin color, ideology, support for abortions, our feelings on his economic plans, or on our religious beliefs?

Fair enough.

I'm gonna go ahead and judge him on experience, decision making skills, and achievements AS a State Senator...­.. hmm, lets see here.... googling: obama... ok, done, he's done nothing.

Still voting for McCain

[CharlottesvilleVA]

Makes sense, unless "decision-making skills" encompasses things like picking the best possible Vice-President, picking spokespeople who won't go off script at the drop of a hat, NOT shoving them under the bus when they do, and not voting with the Bush Administration over 90% of the time."

If you're okay with those things, then by all means you're SUPPOSED to vote for McCain.

[Cornelius Danger]

""decision-making skills" encompasses things like picking the best possible Vice-President,"

Oh, you mean picking Joe Biden? He was clearly the best possible pick, better than Hillary, right?

It's funny to see people voting for Obama criticize Palin's experience when she still has more than the man himself, and he's at the top of the ticket.

[FedUp60]

Sorry but you didn't look very good. Go to obama.sena­te.gove/is­sues/educa­tion and it lists quite a bit of what he has done as Senator. I bet if you were asked what Palin did, you'd have a long list which is quite amusing. Cornflower tells it right -- you Republicans have been brainwashed that Democrats are higher taxes. It's getting old. None of us want to pay taxes but...... It's funny that a lot of Christians are Republicans which is a party of greed and not wanting to help anyone. Is something wrong with that picture? Obama's speeches have indicated that he would like to see unity in the parties. Get rid of blue and red states. Let's get away from old politics and build a better America!

[Tennessean67]

If you are getting all of your information from Obama's website, then you are not looking very good. Go to some more objective places like www.thomas.gov. You can do a quick search at all of the legislation that was introduced by Senator Obama, and which bills actually became law (my recollection is one bill that he cosponsored). I listened to his infomercial the other night and the one thing, as a legislative accomplishment that was mentioned by Senator McCaskill was that he "passed" the Senate ethics legislatio­n....that is not true. He was a cosponsor. That ethics legislation has loopholes that Senators and their staffs can run a Mack Truck through...­.

You keep talking about the information you are getting from Obama. Watch his actions...­.he loves the "little guy" but lets his aunt live in public housing in Boston. I am sure you have heard of the saying that "charity starts at home". I guess if he gave her money, it would have hurt his image as a politician­....

[JulieSA]

Palin has accomplished more as a governor than Obama has as a senator. And Obama is running against McCain--between them there's no contest. Obama has always gone a long with his party and the Chicago machine, and rarely done anything that took any political courage.

McCain has bucked his own party many times to do what was he thought was right, like disagreeing with Reagan on Marines in Lebanon, helping Clinton with normalizing relations with Vietnam, and many many more.

Also, studies say that conservatives give much generously to charity. This is all voluntary. If leftists really want the government to have more money, they can voluntarily give extra to the treasury. Seriously, they do take donations. For some reason, no leftist ever does this. They just want everyone else to be forced to do it.

[Cornelius Danger]

"you Republicans"

Who said I was a Republican? Well besides yourself.

I'm all for helping people, I'd just like to be able to choose who I help.

It's sad that some people are less fortunate, don't have health insurance, can't afford their house, etc. But you forget that all of these people are adult men and women who are responsible for their own lives and actions.

This is America, if you aren't making enough money, you have every right to attempt to make more.

Don't know how make more? You can go to school.

You can't afford school? Apply for a scholarship/grant.

Can't get a grant/scholarship? Get a student loan.

Can't get a student loan? Save your money to go to school.

Don't have a job to save up some money? Get one. (i.e. mopping, sweeping, cleaning, lifting, digging, whatever it is, as long as you get a little bit of money.)

Anything worth doing is going to be difficult, but then again, anything is possible with hardwork and determination.

Sadly those seem like 2 traits that are becoming less common with some Americans these days.

[zorongeeko]

ethics reform bills, GI bill with webb, found those thanks, headed up some senate comitees oh jeez looks like he has some academic achievements of serious note, oh wow, look here says he took down the clintons by using incredible organizational skills, hmm. Wrote two honest and detailed books highlighting his character, beliefs, political idealogy. If Barack wins tomorrow he will have ended Rovian politics, and defeated another political machine. He will be president of the united states, and you dont need to google that to know that that is a major accomplishment

[gypsysoul111]

of course you are.....

the author gave mccain supporters too much credit...(­no pun intended)

you just simply can not educate those unwilling to be educated. they can not be tied down with things like facts, and data. they have deer, beer, and black people to hunt down.

[demigod]

See how useless it is to appeal to the Right ? They are hopeless. They need their own country that they can drive into the primitive ages as a theocracy. We need to be done with them. They simply are not like us. Anyone who can say Barack Obama has poor decision making skills and has accomplished nothing - and then vote for McCain/Palin, is willfully ignorant, and proud of his/her bigotry.

[reallyred]

Pretty weak arguments Adam. For the record I have never seen these emails you referred to, but I do pay attention to the news. All I get from your post is that I should vote for Barack because he is going to collect more in taxes and make our society better. This has never happenend in the history of the world. Handing money out to the weak, poor, or disenfranchised only makes them more dependent. You liberals are such dreamers. Clinton was smart enough to govern from the center. Obama is so far to the left of Clinton he is off the map.

[greeniefromOH]

Hm. Seems to me that I remember hearing similar comments made about.... what was his name again.... Clinton! That's it!

"Handing out money to the weak, poor, or disenfranc­hised...." -- Is that a part of Obama's plan that I missed? Intriguing. And you seem to fancy yourself an intellectual. Interesting.

[LDS50]

Yeah, we shouldn't be giving money to those who don't work for it. I'm telling my 80 year old gramma to go get herself a job if she can't pay her bills with that nice social security check. She can eat or take meds - does she really have to do both? And those disabled kids, I tell you. Look at the kids in mexico washing car windows and selling gum. Now THEREs a great society for you. No slackers there.

[ConservativefromOH]

What do you call giving a tax break to people who don't pay taxes? The only other federal "payroll tax" as Obama euphemistically refers to is Social Security/Medicare (7.65%). It's a sneaky way to hand out welfare. Basically, some people (40% of the population) will be paid with other tax-payers money to underachieve in life. As we all know (or should know), these "taxes" aren't really taxes at all. They help pay for your retirement and future Medical needs and not part of the general fund. Basically, he's taking money from this program and dropping it into the general fund. Jeez, I'm embarassed we share the same state.

[FedUp60]

There are too many of you that are brainwashed. You don't think GWB took a lot of our hard earned money because of his administration's greed? Give Obama a chance. I am ashamed of some Americans making the statement "handing money out to the weak, poor, or disenfranchised only makes them more dependent.­" Did you ever think it would give them an incentive? Crime is on the rise because there are no jobs. I have NEVER had to pay the IRS at the end of the year with any other president but guess what, I did last year. Aside from my husband being laid off, it was a hardship on our family to pay over $1,000 to the IRS. I even claimed 0 and don't make over $70,000/year. I had medical deductions and own a home. They hide their tax hikes whereas we don't.

[jlgcox]

It seems to me anyone that had cast a vote for Bush in the last two elections and still plan to vote for McCain is a few a bricks short of a full load! WAKE UP and truly put country first!

[packerfans]

For the Hillary supporters that are voting McCain...
As a third generation Democrat, I can tell you as a fact, you may have called
yourself a Democrat, but you never truly were. A true Democrat would never
be proud to be associated with the campaign that McCain has waged.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

Who said we are Democrats or Republicans? We are Americans first and for your information this is not a primary anymore. Country is more important than party and I care more about the content of the character than the affiliation of the party.

[JoeSausage]

So you'll be voting for Obama, based on your criteria.

[packerfans]

Exactly my point. You never were a true Democrat.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

Clearly, CLEARLY you know very little about John McCain's character then. You might be well-advised to reconsider the conventional narrative about him, for it is deeply flawed and erroneous. Not one word of this article has been dispelled (and Rolling Stone, frankly, has an excellent reputation for investigative journalism - equally the better of most mainstream sources): http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

[FedUp60]

And you think McCain ran an honest campaign? In many instances, it seems to many of us that he was pretty much guilty of what he accused Obama of. Having Palin as VP is a strong thorn on my side. I would rather vote for an independent than vote republican.

[schniffy]

the content of BO's character is exactly what allows him to not be afraid of being in the same room with Ayers, Wright, etc. You simply CANNOT make the statement he made in Philadelphia about race without character. It could never have been done.

[VivaMariaElena]

AMEN.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

hey Dave and others that think my post isn't real....I have more news for you....wat­ch out for some of the blue states to suprise you tomorrow..­..
for the first time in 24 years this democratic leaning independent is voting Republican. I am really, really disapponted with democrats and their backstabbing and name calling of Clintons. Democratic party does not deserve Hillay or Bill Clinton. Stick with your Carter and Kerry types...
The democratic super delegate in my district who is up for re-election is not going to get my vote this time.

[atombee]

thanks. we don't need you.

[popizzy]

What in the sam heck are you talking about? You call yourself a Hillary supporter but you are not committed to her ideas because voting for McCain is a vote against everything Hillary and Bill stands for. Do yourself a favor and lookup her speech at the DNC and pay attention to what she said.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

There were more than a few Hillary supporters who supported her either because she was a viable female presidential candidate, or because she was the White Democrat most likely to get in Obama's way. When she lost, they had nowhere else to go. They couldn't vote for a woman and weren't really Democrats in the first place, or wouldn't be caught dead voting for an African-American.

I know a lot of Hillary supporters, and not one of them is not supporting Obama. Not a one.

[libsRchildren]

Actually, we all do need you, and more like you that have a mind of their own. Good on you, mate!

[greeniefromOH]

OK. Watch out for some of the red states to surprise YOU tomorrow. Then we'll be even.

Only we won't. Because blue states will not surprise us. They will vote Obama.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

And Obama will win.

[LDS50]

Gee, what would Hillary do? (hint: NOT vote McCain just for spite). But just wondering, It you're voting for a Republican for the first time in 24 years, why do you call yourself an independent?

[Brogers101]

Obama never took a stand for issues he "Saw" coming. Even in the bailout package he never came out and openly opposed or supported the Bill. He played it safe, and while that may work for winning the election, it won't work when running a country. He was in Congress when all this was building up, and he never gave a charismatic speech to sway fellow congressmen or initiated a bill to try and stop it. Why? Because it would be politically bad if it went sour? I don't know, but McCain takes a stand and puts his name on the line. It may not always be right, and I disagree with many of his policies and ideas, but at least you know where he stands and can see the record.

That's why I'm voting McCain. And FOCA isn't about making sure people have an option with abortion. It is about overturning state laws and making sure anyone can get any kind of abortion

And Union Votes not Being Anonymous? If that is such a good idea why don't we vote for President's that way?

[Puzes]

excuse me brogers101 ... McCain is a noted flip flopper. check the record.

[laocoon]

His biggest flip flop was on the experience is paramount thing. Ran on it for months then he nominated Sarah. Then he continued to run on as if we were all too naive to notice the inconsistency. I found that insulting. He works hard at having the image but when he needed to attract the base he began moving off his positions on the religious extremist, torture and the tax cuts.

[LDS50]

Gee, do you think it's better to jump around and take "stand" after "stand", or give matters some thought and make an informed decision?

[kcmookie]

I seem to remember Obama pretty much being against the war from the start. I would call that a pretty strong position to take. Stop listening to Fox News and Rush, and do some research on your own.

[Kwanyang]

Wha??? I remember Obama laying out 10 protections and criteria to be included in any bailout, most of which were to protect the people's investment and many of which were ultimately included. If you are only informed by Fauz News then you are not really informed.

By your logic then, where does McCain stand? Did he author any bills relating to banking? What positive role did he play in the bailout? (HE sat silent at the whitehouse when asked for an opinion--at a meeting he called for)

[almas58]

Unfortunately all I've learned about the Democratic party is that they are easily emotional and permanently blindfolded. They are gaga over a salesman because he can convince them, emotionally, that he has their best interests in mind even though he can't support it or prove it by his voting record or the choices he's made in life. The only thing I regret about McCain is that he's not black (yes, I'm white). I vote according to my values (I have quite a few that the founding fathers would approve of) not on color and McCain's promises most closely follow them. I think the only reason Obama will win is because of the move to make history. That's a crazy reason to vote a president into office. What has this country come to? Has anyone ever thought that we might be floundering and failing because we're rebelling against the tenets this country was built on? No, of course not; we're apparently too shallow for that.

[Puzes]

Almas58 ... what tenants are you closly following. Everytime I hear someone make a statement like that one ... they can never back it up with issues or facts.

[MaryHuff]

Almas58 - you vote according to your values? Then you should vote for Obama, clearly.

The values I see McCain/Palin representing are: Divisiveness, dishonesty, character assassination (based on lies and misrepresentation), hypocrisy, two-facedness (hypocrisy).

They claim to be "pro life", but those lives don't seem to include the tens of thousands of innocent lives lost in the middle east.

Obama truly represents good Christian values, and the values of our Founding Fathers - truth, justice, and the American WAy. That's why I, a good Catholic girl, will be voting Obama.

[LolaP]

we're floundering and failing because of bush. and mccain is.. oh yeah, more of the same. and WORSE with palin in tow

[CharlottesvilleVA]

Good points, because no Republicans were blindfolded when they voted for Bush in 2004. 2000 is excusable, but not 2004. I've never seen so much "overlooking of obvious character and performance flaws" as there was in 2004.

[sisterdebmac]

O.M.F.G! Are you kidding? You call people who want to vote for the guy with real plans shallow, and exhault the guy who picked a brainless twit for a running mate? I've seen a lot of really funny stuff on HuffPo today.

[vegas9999]

The hatred for Bush is going to cause us to end up like this http://www.nypost.com/seven/11022008/postopinion/editorials/out_taxing_europe_136450.htm

[aHamilton]

Thank you for a great article. I appreciate everyone's opinion or else I would not be here.

I work in the real economy. I am well educated, hardworking NYC middle-classer which means my wife and I make enough to be taxed by Mr. Obama.

What I do believe in is small government and little intervention in the pursuit of the American dream. People for 200 years flow across our borders to pursue that dream. That dream is compromised by large gov't, heavy personal and business taxes. I want societal benefit for my tax dollars not a refund check to the bottom 40% of earners, some with a very similar quality of life as me. That is unfair!

Politicians are corrupt on both sides of the aisle. They help their constituents, pet lobbies in unappealing fashion equally. Therefore, I say empower the individual. Conservatives do, liberals prefer the gov't ‘make it fair’. Putting government in more control of more money can only lead to cronyism, and at worst decrease reward and motivation for high energy brilliant people to spend years on education. Gov’t should focus on reduced spending.

Many attain huge success here with nothing to start from because the system empowers individuals to succeed. Barack is an example of the type of opportunity available to most people here, but he is not the right choice for me. Everyone should have the same opportunity but the individual’s energy and talents should differentiate the outcomes.

[1099]

"The answer is simple: because fair taxation makes the whole country stronger and if the country isn't strong our money ends up disappearing anyway (see massive stock market crash currently in progress).­"

Mr. McKay - I love how Obama's plan to lower taxes for 95% of the country includes the 40% of people who don't pay any taxes. How can he lower taxes for people who pay $0 each year? Quick answer ;he can't. But he seems to have no problem giving these folks a so-called tax credit which in essence is a welfare check garnered from the wages of others. The money he takes and redistributes to the bottom 40% will disappear anyway. At least if that money was in the markets it might have a chance at creating jobs or boosting the economy.

[neurogrl]

This is where you are wrong. He clearly states that his tax cut is for 95% of taxpayers. And this isn't some sort of welfare check that is cut for those tax payers. It is a change in the tax code as it currently stands where money that is made over $250K will be taxted at a higher rate, $0-200K will be taxed at a lower rate, and $200K-$250K will remain in the same tax bracket.

[RTFanatic]

EIC (Earned Income Credit), essentially a handout to those who paid $0 in taxes, was instituted by your hero, Ronnie Raygun.

[happyexpat08]

ahamilton:
First off, we are only as strong as our weakest link. This is just pure common sense. The more people--ie taxpayers-- capable of contributing to society, the richer and stronger we will all be. Again, this is just pure common sense.

You've done pretty well for yourself, good for you. Maybe you truly made your wealth all by yourself. Maybe.

Or maybe you had a leg up from the start-- rich parents, white middle-class suburban education, etc --all those little perks that meant that you hit the ground running. So what makes you so special that you deserved this treatment?

Thirdly, it is a fallacy that 'big government' takes away from its citizens. In fact, a working, functional government fueled by the willing participation of its citizens--­i.e., taxpayers--is a government most able to provide the infrastructure the country needs in order to grow.

Strip away the government, and you will see exactly the result we are now faced with after 8 years of Republican rule.

So vote for McCain. Pay less taxes. Your money under the Bush administration has already lost much of its value. Another four years of Republican rule and your money will be worthless. Who will be able to afford whatever product or service you currently sell in order to earn as much as you do?

No one. You will then become poor. And I guarantee--you're hand will be out there faster than all the rest of us.

[aHamilton]

My Dad worked for NYC...ie. he did not earn much. My Mom was a secretary in the public sector. They now barely get by because of their sacrifices spending for their kids education, which was coupled with loans and very small scholarships. My parents balance their checkbook, live small and somehow remain very generous to their grandchildren.

My parents always stressed education as the path to a better life, yet they were not afforded the same opportunity. We took advantage of the opportunity. In terms of income & success, by sheer virtue of living in NYC I make much more than people not in a major metro area. I do good for NYC but if you want to review my expenses, lifestyle etc. you would agree that the gov't taking my money to redistribute to a "bottom 40% earner" is competely unfair.

I love how all the naysayers immediately assume a headstart. Look at all the athletes, entertainers, immigrants, Barack's, Condi's, Ed Bradley's, Eminem's, Bill Gates', Tony Hawks etc. etc. etc. that started with nothing and have much more than me now. I applaud their hardwork and talent while not begrudging them a single nickel.

We should all learn from them to educate ourselves, find passion, work hard...and we may find the same outcome rather than waiting on governement to provide equal outcomes. Gov't should only be responsible for providing an opportunity and last I checked, we do that better than any other nation.

[LDS50]

Strip away our government services and you will see Mexico. A vast gap between rich and poor, people living on the streets with poor sanitation, no public health systems to speak of, trash and polution everywhere. If you own a small business, you are probably successful because there are middle class folks who can afford to purchase your goods/services. In Mexico, they rely on the tourists for their livelyhood - the natives cannot afford much. I choose to live in a society that does not allow the weak, poor, undereducated to be shoved under the rug.

[SoFlaSingleMom]

I am one of the undecided.­...I really don't care for either candidate. Our political system is so corrupt now that we have to choose between two men who lack character and judgment and do not deserve to live in the White House.
Regarding Obama's race, I do not understand why that is an issue because he is half black and half white! Why don't the Dems point that out more to quiet the racists?
I want to believe that Obama can solve all my problems, but I haven't seen his magic wand yet.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

"Regarding Obama's race, I do not understand why that is an issue because he is half black and half white! Why don't the Dems point that out more to quiet the racists?"

Because racists only care about the half that isn't White.

[FedUp60]

You can't believe that either candidate can solve all of our problems. You can vote for the one who says he will try. Not once has McCain or Palin used the word "middle class" and that says a lot.

[sisterdebmac]

Um, maybe because hardcore racists hate mixed race people even more than black folks?

[laocoon]

If you make over $200T I dont think you live like the lower 40%. The people who share your philosophy have been in power recently and we have cronyism out the wazoo. your theories bear little relationship to the real world. you espouse theoretical freedom but in the end the lower 40% or so often end up needing to do what ever ownership demands just to stay alive. More like slavery than freedom. the fact that it is accomplished by government giving leverage through property rights to a few does not change what it is in essence. Kings in Feudal times gave what were the essential components of property rights to their lords and then let the dynamic take it course.

[QuadEagle]

Well said.

[Locke1]

Its interesting that the war in Iraq has largely disappeared now as a relevant campaign issue (at least according to the media coverage). Perhaps this is because it's clear that McCain's surge has made both the new Iraqi government and our own nation more secure? (Even Obama admits that.)

[LeftRight]

And yet it failed in its central tenet! Having a "surge" to allow "breathing space" for a govt, which then fails to USE that "breathing space" means that the "surge" failed!

[AZRepub]

Actually, the surge can still be considered a success. I'm a race-car driver. You're my pit crew chief. Not only do you put out a superb vehicle, you come up with revolutionary techniques that allow you to perform the most amazing pit stops ever seen in a race and give me a great chance to win. I fail to win because I didn't execute on the track. Who failed here? Well, the pit crew still did their job and succeeded. Just because I lost doesn't mean what you were doing was wrong.

Just because the government is unable to capitalize on the success of the surge doesn't make the surge a failure. If you want to follow this logic maybe it was a wasted effort, but when you consider the goals it was trying to achieve, it was a success none the less

[davidray]

let's see if i understand surge. i'm driving down the highway and i see a lot of traffic up ahead.
i run the next hundred cars off the road until no one is left in sight.
i call to a friend ten miles back. hey there's nobody left. the surge worked.
duh
the next day, month, year 1000 cars show up and boy are they pissed.
and this time they're ready but they're on your street this time. some surge. some country.

[popizzy]

we should have never gone to Iraq.....c­ase closed!

[1099]

Typical Dem/Obama nonsense with your "case closed" concept.

The case isn't closed. We have troops there and a job to finish. Sitting back and arguing over whether or not the war should have been started and pointing fingers solves nothing. You have to deal with the now not what happened 6 years ago.

[Puzes]

? are you kidding?

[moonflowerjewelry]

When look back on the Obama Presidency and we have a balanced budget, we have productivity up, we have stopped funneling money we can't afford to Iraq, and the quality of life for the middle and lower classes have improved..­. that is when McCain supporters will realize they were wrong. Hope, not hate, will have won the day. We will be more competetive in the global marketplace, and we will have ceased to give corporate welfare to companies who ship american jobs overseas. Our children will be proud that they stand for acceptance and tolerance, rather than hate and divisiveness. I am an American, just like you.

[AZRepub]

They're both wrong on border security. They're both wrong on global warming. They're both wrong on the bailout (whatever happened to responsibility?) McCain is at least right on the military and national defense. Tomorrow I'll vote against Obama not because of his skin color, his radical friends or his statement to tax people that make way more than me. It will be because I don't agree with him on a single substantive point. Between Obama and McCain, both of whom are wrong for the country, maybe I'll take Bob Barr. Or maybe I'll take McCain just because Obama really is the worse of two evils.

[LeftRight]

If McCain is the right one on the military and national security, then I'm the freaking Queen of Sheeba! Trust me, I'm a veteran of the United States Navy, and this man is worse on military and national security than BUSH was, and he's the worst since..... Well, EVER!

[almas58]

And Obama is better? How? To quote someone well-known: McCain spent more time serving his country as a POW than Obama did in the senate.