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.
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Ive already voted Mccain... Why? well none of your reasons in the article apply to my selection other than the mention of taxes (Clinton promised lots there too... and delivered null) I simply dont believe in the democratic party, From Clinton lying to congress to Barney Franks claims about Fannie Mae, to Pelosi and her NO Drilling B.S. Nothing wrong with Barack other than his lack of experience, heck probably a very nice guy to talk with too... but not my choice for a leader. I dont think the fix for health care comes from washington, I do think we need to drill to get oil sooner and stop saying how "it will take years" It might but had we started 10 years ago we'd be 10 years closer now.
Anyway IF he does win, I expect each of YOU who voted for him to demand he come thru with what he promised you, and to measure each failed promise against him and his party. Bush caught no breaks, lets see if the same standards apply.
bush caught no breaks???? Do you remember 2004?
In 200 years there have been 700 proposals to abolish the electoral college... Im assuming you believe the fact that the electoral college still exists is Bushs fault too?
No breaks? A Supreme Court deciding he was to be president is not a break???
Really, you are going to cite NY Post as a source of real news? Please tell me you are kidding.
10 years ago oil was dirt cheap so drilling would be about as smart as your presidential choice, or your talking point for that matter.
My friend, believe me...I'm going to hold a potential President Obama to the highest standards, and I have no doubt that the rest of America will as well. It's one thing to run a campaign on politics as usual -- if you win, the bar's fairly low. But if you run a campaign that appeals to people's hopes and dreams, their higher selves, if you will...the
Have no doubt that Obama will be under the greatest magnifying glass of any president in the modern era. Not only is this the age of the Internet and instant news coverage..
But he still gets my vote. He's very smart. He's inspiring, I'll admit. But I also get the sense from interviews and whatnot that he understands his position. He has to deliver. And I really believe he will.
So, you must make over a quarter million dollars a year and believe that women shouldn't have the right to choose. Those are the ONLY 2 reasons to vote for McCain. And even then...
Bush caught a huge break on 911 and how his administration utterly failed to act like they knew a thing about air defense. that was one of the worst performances in a military situation in our history. we didnt even fire an antiaircraft round at the plane that hit our military command center, after 2 air attacks 40 minutes earlier. Study air warfare. We mastered this stuff in 1942. 40 minutes and no defense of our command center. Miserable failure. You make me laugh with that nonsense. I could make a list of stuff where Bush was treated as above criticism by the press. Sure some individuals have pointed out his many failures and almost indifference but the press and media have given him almost every break. it was only once there were so many and so much comment from citizens that the tide began to turn in the press.
A really thoughtful, good post Adam. Thanks a lot for taking the high road and talking like an adult to other adults. We need a lot more of this.
Speaking of which, where DID all of the adults go? I have a friend (a forty five year old lawyer none the less) sending around the phony email snopes.comm) about Michele Obama spending $500 at the Waldorf on room service for lobster and Champagne, with the title 'Is this the CHANGE we need"? I thought to myself: A lawyer and a father emailing this crap friends and family....
Good post Adam. Well written. Already did the overseas vote thing for Obama.
(Was it you I stood in line behind at passport control in Tarifa from the Tangier boat last Sunday? T'was a rough ride.)
Keep up the good stuff!
I freakin love Dave and Busters
"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."
What is not true? Would it be he sat in a church for twenty years with a racist pastor,buddies with Bill Ayers(more than just served on a board with him) or spreading the wealth with our hard earned money.Plea
He sat in a church for 20 years with a Patriotic American who served his country as a United States Marine, and made a few speeches denouncing the racism that he saw from white to black.
You mean the same Bill Ayers that ONLY SAT ON THE BOARD WITH OBAMA!?!?!
And as far as spreading the wealth. If it IS your money, then you are obviously one of the top 5% of wage earners in this country, and can EASILY afford to part with a little more of your money than you currently are, ESPECIALLY since Democratic (or, as you call them, "socialistic") policies will be adding more money back into your check than the taxes will be taking out!
I can't believe you read his entire post??? You got absolutely nothing out of it but the chance to denigrate a thoughtful post. I mean we can go into John McCain and Gordon Libby as well as Sarah and Todd Palin and the AIP. I think any of Obama's connections or McCain's and Palin's are about as honest. This is simply smut. An educated person looks at the whole of the candidate and it is actually good to look at the other viewpoint often. You don't have to agree but looking helps with your perspective. I mean I read your post and found don't agree but will respond and can possibly gain some insight. If you don't listen at all you remain ignorant.
My hard earned money goes to McCain's need to have his 8 house and 15 cars protected with police services. Cant he afford to protect his own properties? My money goes to many people's need to feel more secure, to insure that rights largely based on government recognized ownership is enforced and protected. I tire of my money going to what the owners want and think is important.
Nicely said, Adam. It was short enough that many McCain supporters will be able to get all the way to the end before their lips get too tired.
Thanks for such a reasoned and sane argument Adam. I voted Obama but I had to peak.
When I hear local Republicans (Orane County, CA) shilling for the GOP about the evils of "spreading the wealth" I want to lose it. They are the ones who will benefit the most from Obama's tax breaks, they aren't the wealthy who will just have their tax rates reverted back to before Bush enacted the largest redistribution of wealth from the bottom up in our history.
I don't understand why people consistently vote against their own best interest and also get very angry if you point out that might just benefit more from Obama's tax plans.
Thanks again Adam for some sane and respectful reasons to vote Obama.
This was a really nice piece and I agree with you. Had been a life long registered Republican until I watched John McCain shift his positions on issues after every primary debate take particular pleasure in making Mitt Romney uncomfortable at the one at the Reagan Library ,and noticed that he actually had no plan for the country, only to become President. McCain just continues to misrepresent the policies of the Democratic party & doesn't offer a plan of his own. McCain demostrated alarmingly poor judgement in the economic crisis which went on to confirm the Senate Ethics Committee comment about McCain having "poor judgement" over the Savings & Loan fraud scandel in the 1980's. McCain's judgement has not improved. He has been an advocate for deregulation of the financial institutions all along and his poor judgement is further evidenced in his selection for Vice President.
It is sad that a United States policital party cannot run a campaign on the merits of their platform and have to stoop to such dishonorable rhetoric, misrepresentations, misdirection, and fostoring fear in the population who would benefit the most from the Obama/Biden plans which include TAX CUTS, a valid health care plan, development of alternative fuel industries, infra-structure development, creation of green jobs, promotion of better and affordable education, and on and on. The Republicans just don't have it and to allow this party into the White House again after the devastation they have caused in this country would be tragic.
McCain-Palin = MEDIOCRITY
Hey Adam,
here's some news for you. I am voting for McCain because I am a Hillary Clinton supporter and saw what Obama, his campaign and stupid democrats (Kennedy, Kerry, Carter, Edwards, Pelosi and others like them) did to both Hillary and Bill Clinton.
Obama, not yet, not now.
McCain, not as good as Hillary, but definitley better than Obama.
Obvious that you haven't been paying attention. There is nothing that McCain stands for that Hillary and Bill Clinton stand for.
are
you
kidding
me.
you call yourself a hillary supporter? by voting for the candidate whose policies and ethics are the exact OPPOSITE of hillary? whoa, with supporters like you, who needs enemies?
This has to be a joke. First, Clinton and Obama are fairly close ideologically. Their positions are basically the same with only differences in details. There is no way an educated Clinton supporter could possibly switch to McCain.
Next, what did Obama/Dems do to the Clintons? Beat her in the primaries by using less aggessively negative ads? Oh no, I sure hate it when that happens. I could see you getting pissed at media outlets for sexist coverage, but Obama can't be blamed for that.
In all honesty, I don't believe you are real. If you are real, then I don't believe you are honest. If you are honest, then I am sad for you.
Believe it pal. I have many Dem and liberal friends here in MA that feel McCain is a better choice than Obama. The polls showing Obama in MA leading 60/30 will be proven way off on Tues. Tonight we all are having a wine dinner, a very liberal couple and a very conservative couple are voting for the same person, and it ain't Obama!
Please explain what Obama, and Kennedy, and Kerry, and Carter, and Edwards, and Pelosi, and any others did to Hillary...
And one more thing, if you were a real Hillary supporter you would know that McCain is opposed to EVERYTHING that Hilary is for!
You're voting for McCain because of what Obama's campaign "did" to Hillary and Bill.
That is what you just said.
You won't forgive one campaign for running against another, which is what campaigns are supposed to do. But you're willing to elect McCain, who expects the Iraqis to forgive US for staying in their country as long as it takes until McCain feels he can declare victory, no matter how many of their houses we bomb, and no matter how many of their teenagers we shoot in the street in fear and self-defense? Which forgiveness would be easier to grant?
McCain is the lesser of the two evils. I'm for McCain.
Yeah ... that is exactly what I thought in 2000 & 2004. To do it a third time would be shame on me. I would like to think that I have learned from those mistakes.
So either,
We've had a president who was a greater evil than Bush in the past 50 years, or
McCain is less like Bush than Obama is.
Because otherwise logic would dictate that Obama is the lesser evil.
Assuming we can agree to base what we call evil upon our common experience, what we've both seen and what we've both lived through.
Interested in your response.
...and you likely voted for Bush. How's that workin' for you?
Very well said. You have given me my very own talking points for political conversations with my conservative friends.
Very well done. I've already voted for Obama. But, I read it anyway.
1462 more days to the 2012 Election where the USA rights the Obama wrong.
To many promises, to much mediocrity, I hope for the best for America, but Obama's policies aren't right for us.
Cannot wait when all that enthusiasm turns to scorn.
I understand why a Bush supporter such as yourself would be soooo cynical. You just cannot believe that your hero turned out to be a disaster. I truly believe that you are wrong, and history can prove it. These same warnings were issued about the 1993 Budget Reconciliation Act passed without a single Republican vote under Clinton. They said it was the end of our country, we would see the next Great Depression but instead we saw eight years of unprecendented growth. I know you are hoping for the worse so that your ideology can stay intact but it is flawed, and your economic God Greenspan admitted it last week. I believe in Obama, not in a messianic way but in a human way. He cares, he is commited, he is intellectually curious, and he has the critical thinking skills that have been lacking for eight years. I think you will be surprised by the inclusion of all views, and the centrist vision of Barack Obama. Why not embrace him, try to encourage your policies and avoid "hoping for the best' while secretly wishing for the worst. We look forward to having you join us in reclaiming prosperity throughout our country.
happylib I think you're talking way over "aramos's" head...but well said:)
Dear aramos, after we win, please don't ask for, or, request any of the tax breaks the rest of us want/need, don't apply for affordable, or, congress type health ins, and especially don't keep your job, or, apply for one because they'll probably be getting tax breaks & incentives from President Obama...
If you happen to get any breaks from President Obama, be sure to give it back to our government because knowing President Obama, he'll use it to fix the roads you drive on, fix the horrible budget that your Bush completely blew-up, and fix the schools that kids you know, or, have might go to...
While President Obama gets this counttry back on track, you can sit by yourself and figure out how your Bush managed to reck our country in 8yrs...
You think they care about you? Wait till they move out of the White House, then, look around your neighborhood, and ask yourself, what school, road, bridge, etc, did Bush build/fix in your neighborhood, or, state?...Y
HappyLib: Greenspan served on the reserve during the Clinton years as well, so don't go attributing him to one party. Greenspan did very well overall on the federal reserve, regardless of which party was in power. Laws passed by congress, by both parties, changed how financing works in this country. So his understanding from the 80's and 90's has greatly changed.
Should banks be forced to give risky loans to people that don't pass the calculations? Government thought so, from both parties.
Yikes.
What prey tell, do you like about McCain’s policies? What part of his plan will work any differently for him than it did under Bush? Does he even know what his plan is?
I see in Obama a person that will actually take a good hard look at any problem, get all sides involved in the decision making process and have the guts to pull the trigger when he thinks he is best on target. In McCain I see someone that will, like Bush, depend on long time associates with political or private agendas. He will also base his decisions on knee jerk ‘Feelings’ or perhaps on the last piece of advice he heard. Shoot from the hip is not what we need at this moment and that is what McCain has done all his life, he even said so in his own book.
Way to give someone the benefit of the doubt!
And you've got your Srarah/Joe bumper stickers all ready for 2012. Or maybe Sarah will make Joe Secretary of State.
By the way, too, not to -- yes, I am an elitist. I am trying to protect the English language from further destruction by soon to be former President Bush, Palin, and the rest of the "i am proud to be ignorant" Republicans.
I've voted Republican (or not at all, I'm ashamed to say) in every Presidential election since 1980.
And I simply cannot wait to vote for Obama tomorrow. :)
Can I still have the Dave And Buster's coupon, though? ;)
brilliant!
Bravo!
Handing out Taxpayer Bailout money to weak, almost broke, ner bankrupt
coproation folk who will not pay taxes on their bonus checks will only make them more
dependent.
It is a socialistic responce to a national problem to keep those corp folks from becoming poor, where tdhe would only be able to look up and prey for the 'trickle down' which the super-rich would have to deny them on the basis of not encouraging rampant socialism.
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