I've Decided....

I've decided.

My conclusion comes after reading the candidates' memoirs and campaign platforms, attending both party conventions, interviewing both men multiple times, and watching all primary and general-election debates.

John McCain is an honorable man who has served his country well. But he will not get my vote. For the first time since registering as a Republican 28 years ago, I'm voting for a Democrat for president. I may have been an appointee in the George H.W. Bush administration, and master of ceremonies for George W. Bush in 2004, but last Saturday I stood amid the crowd at an Obama event in North Philadelphia.

Five considerations have moved me:

Terrorism. The candidates disagree as to where to prosecute the war against Islamic fundamentalists. Barack Obama is correct in saying the front line in that battle is not Iraq, it's the Afghan-Pakistan border. Osama bin Laden crossed that border from Tora Bora in December 2001, and we stopped pursuit. The Bush administration outsourced the hunt for bin Laden and instead invaded Iraq.

No one in Iraq caused the death of 3,000 Americans on 9/11. Our invasion was based on a false predicate, so we have no business being there, regardless of whether the surge is working. Our focus must be the tribal-ruled FATA region in Pakistan. Only recently has our military engaged al-Qaeda there in operations that mirror those Obama was ridiculed for recommending in August 2007.

Last spring, Obama told me: "It's not that I was opposed to war [in Iraq]. It's that I felt we had a war that we had not finished." Even Sen. Joe Lieberman conceded to me last Friday that "the headquarters of our opposition, our enemies today" is the FATA.

Economy. We face economic problems that are incomprehensible to most Americans, certainly they are to me. This is a time to covet intellect, and that begins at the top. Jack Bogle, the legendary founder of the Vanguard Group, told me recently that McCain's assertion that the fundamentals of the economy were "strong" was the "stupidest statement of 2008." In light of the unprecedented volatility in the market, who can dispute Bogle's characterization and the lack of understanding that McCain's assessment portends?

VP. I opined here that Sarah Palin demonstrated the capacity to be president in her speech to the Republican convention. Sadly, there has been no further exhibition of her abilities, and she remains an unknown quantity. We are left questioning the judgment of a candidate who bypassed his reported preferred choices, Lieberman and former Gov. Tom Ridge, and instead yielded to the whims of the periphery of his party. With two wars and a crumbling economy, Palin is too big of a risk to be a heartbeat away from a presidency held by a 72-year-old man who has battled melanoma. Advantage Joe Biden.

Opportunity. In a speech delivered on Father's Day, Obama lamented that too many fathers are missing from the lives of too many children and mothers. Look no further than Philadelphia for proof that the nation has a fatherhood problem at the root of its firearms crisis. And no demographic is affected by this confluence of factors like the black community. Among the many elements needed to address this crisis are role models, individuals whom urban youth can aspire to emulate. Little more than a year ago, Charles Barkley told me: "I want young black kids to see Barack on television every day. . . . We need to see more blacks who are intelligent, articulate, and who carry themselves with great dignity." Obama can be that man.

Hope. Wednesday morning will come and an Obama presidency holds the greatest chance for unifying us here at home and restoring our prestige around the globe. The campaigns have foretold the kind of presidency we can expect from each candidate. Last Friday in Lakeville, Minn., McCain himself had to explain to a supporter who was "scared" of an Obama presidency that those fears were unfounded. Another told McCain that Obama was untrustworthy because he is an "Arab." Those exchanges were a predictable byproduct of ads against Obama featuring tag lines such as "Too Risky for America" and "Dangerous," and a failure to rein in individuals at McCain events who highlighted Obama's middle name, all against a background of Internet lore.

Last Saturday at Progress Plaza, I heard Obama say: "The American people aren't looking for somebody to divide this country; the American people are looking for someone to lead this country."

This originally appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer

Comments

[ChucklesfromPA]

Michael,

I have been listening to you for quite a while now and respect your opinions on most topics, so if you can endulge me for just a moment...

Electing a President, to me, is all about TRUST. Can I trust the candidate to fulfill the promises made during the campaign. So, can you tell me what Barack Obama has ever done that would lead you to TRUST that what he says he will do, he will actually do or even knows how to do?

People on both sides have said about McCain that what you see is what you get? That sounds dependable, even if you don't agree with him, you know you can TRUST him to do what he says.

Broken promises already, by Obama, have caused me to doubt. The first one that comes to mind is his promise not to use public funds during the campaign.

Sometimes you can tell a person's believability by their associations and by the money trail (like the old adage, follow the money), who funds you and who gets your money. As for associations, if it were just an isolated case here and there, but if you connect the dots with those associated with Obama and there are lots of dots, it just seems like they form a pattern that I just can't TRUST. As for the money, money trails with Fanny & Freddie, with Tony Rezco (sp?), and many others.

So, Michael, why do you TRUST Barack Obama?

[rockyersocksoff]

McCain was against Bush's tax cuts before he was for them.

McCain was against "agents of intolerance" like Falwell, before he was for them, and kissing their butts.

McCain was vehemently against the USA torturing terror suspects, until he sold his soul for the GOP Base that wants to waterboeard every swarthy middle-easterner it can get its hands on.

The question is this: why would anybody trust that John McCain actually believes in anything more than wanting to top his daddy and grampa, like W?

[ChucklesfromPA]

You didn't answer my question.

I didn't say that McCain was perfect. All I said was what his colleagues on both sides of the aisle have said about him. Sure he has made mistakes, but he has done some good as well over his many years of experience. You get the good with the bad with McCain. So, back to my original question, what has Obama done to earn your TRUST?

(I find that no matter where I ask that question, no one has been able or willing to answer it and I have been asking it for months.)

[court99]

I know this question wasn't directed at me, but I will state why I trust Obama over McCain. You are right, many people that know McCain say that what you see is what you get....however many people that know McCain also say that this McCain is not the same guy that he was when he ran in 2000. I honestly, have more issues with McCain than I had before primarily because he was a center-right conservative in 2000 and now he is a far right conservative. Today, he seeks the support of those that he repudiated in the past. Today, he espouses the beliefs and tactics of those that he was against in the past, even those that were used against him. In short, McCain seems to have sold his soul for the Presidency and that is something that I cannot trust at all. If he can't keep his own self identity to run for the Presidency, then I can't trust him to keep his word when he becomes President. So, in my opinion, when I don't have a reason to trust either candidate, then I go for the one that I hope will do the best job.

[ChucklesfromPA]

But surely you must trust one of the candidates for President, for the highest office in the land. Since you don't trust McCain, why do you trust Obama? Surely you aren't voting for the lesser of two evils. Is there no other reason to vote for Obama, than it be a vote against McCain?

[luziannagirl]

Chuckles

Re your comment about McCain: "What you see is what you get"

What I see is someone with an admirable war record, an occasional step across the political isle, life of the backyard bbq, quick with an expletive, and maybe even likely to throw a sucker punch if crossed.

No thanks, had enough, ready for something more.

[rwt1138]

The campaign funds pledge to me shows exactly why Obama is a qualified choice for president: When he made the pledge, it didn't make a lot of news precisely because it wasn't news. Of course he would take matching funds, what chance would he have raising enough money without them?

As his campaign fundraising exceeded everyone's wildest expectations, the facts on the ground changed. Suddenly, a no-brainer decision from months earlier no longer looked like the strategically sound path. Faced with these new conditions on the ground, Obama changed course wnd refused public financing.

If we'd had that kind of leadership for the past 8 years, we wouldn't be in this mess. It's the "I said I am gonna do this so by golly I will do it whether it's a smart idea or a stupid one and no amount of reality can change my mind" mentality that got us here, remember?

[moodpost]

Why trust John McCain? Based on what he's done recently, I see no reason. John McCain blatantly disregarded the public trust in selecting Sarah Palin as his VP choice. I never really thought he was qualified before the selection of Sarah Palin, having discovered that he was always a poor student, and other facts like his admission that he doesn't understand the economy or know how to use a computer. Why would you trust Sarah Palin? Really. Be honest. What would be the basis for that trust? Because John McCain picked her? Because she is a Christian? That is not enough to satisfy me. If you say you trust John McCain, I wonder if you're being informed.

[ChucklesfromPA]

You and everyone else who has replied to my blog has not answered my question. Everyone instead talks about McCain, but my question is what has Obama done to earn your trust? Why do you trust him?

[greggegregg]

Want to send John McCain a vote of "No Confidence"?

If so, go here and sign this petition:

http://www.McCainPetition.com

Gregg

[brooklyncitizen]

I guess it's good if you are a Lifelong Republican.

[cdmattison]

"Doc the Vote!" = Protect Your Vote

Document your vote on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30206463663

Here's the idea:
When you vote, either on the 4th or before, just bring a camera. Take a friend, take a picture of your vote.

Post your pictures, video, and comments here to encourage others to "Doc the Vote".

They can't steal it, if we record it.

[imfedup]

Sure they can. They are already doing it.

[FrankFurter]

Yeah it's stating to look that way.
Again.
Help America Vote Act my butt.

[Balzac]

I don't intend to diminish the the value of your endorsement, but I can't help but wonder if some of the Republican pundits who've supported Obama are doing so because they'd rather be Obama's critics than McCain's defenders for the next four years. Well, that's still a smart choice, any way you look at it.

[RamonBackwards]

No. Political calculation is all. Being associated with Bush/McCain(PALIN, LOL)ism is a career killer. It's a dying brand.

They need to be right on an issue every once in a while to retain credibility with the sheeple. They've been trying to scrub Bush off of themselves while sticking with the classic partisan rhetoric but it hasn't been working. Going down with the SS GOP would be the end of their own careers in many cases.

If the numbers were reversed, but the actions exactly the same, most would still be supporting McCain and calling Obama a terrorist.

Now is the time when the slightly more intelligent knuckleheads cozy up to the likely winner.

[roshni]

Kudos to your for your well-reasoned endorsement across party lines. I don't always agree with you, but I respect your opinion and this is huge for a republican.

[OhComeOnNow]

Thank you, Michael. With your your thoughtful article, I feel better about the chance that America might be able to heal after an Obama administration is in place. The extremism on both sides of this election have saddened and disturbed me. You are proof that there are people willing to think about the issues and crises facing this country and vote with their brains. Thanks again.

[exhale09]

Thanks Smerc. For all my ranting for the last 8 years about "Republicans" I know that there are may Republicans who have also been disturbed about where our country has been led by those in their own Party.

I am gratified to know there are many Republicans like you who are coming forward at this time and speaking out for what is good for our country in this election.

While we may disagree on many idealogical issues, we can if we are intellectually honest, recognize a disasterous path no matter which Party is leading. As a life long Democrat, (I am 61 years old) I did not vote for the first time in my life in 1996, because I objected to Bill Clinton for several reasons.

Party loyality is one thing...but truly thinking things through and putting our Country First should be the priority for all of us.

Thank you for THINKING.

[MichaelRoss]

Would I have been just as pleased to see Hillary Clinton defeat George Bush? Probably. But could the Clintons in the White House (again) provide the family values leadership by example that the Obamas can provide, particularly to the black community, particularly to black fathers? Not in a million years. Another reason why Obama is the right choice for this time.

[bob8788]

WOW, A NEW DAY, A NEW POLITICS

I LOVE IT, YES

http://www.barackobamacans.blogspot.com/

[mssisyphus]

Thank you sir for admitting that Obama is clearly the best choice for our injured country at this time.

I hope others like you will also be there when the Republican's cry foul and try to say there was wide spread voter fraud, as they have been setting up to do, once Obama wins by a large majority.

[Clavis]

Dear Mr. Smerconish,

I appreciate your sentiments. Let me simply add that I, a 38-year-old "white" humanist New Yorker, am also very much inspired by Barack Obama. Many people are, of all shapes, sizes, ages, colors, religions, etc. He inspires me as a role model from the perspective of his words, his deeds, his dedication, his principles, his attitude and his fatherhood.

Plus, he's going to bring back the Rat Pack style, baby!

[DaOne]

lol

[farfigirl]

Thank you Michael for your example......Hopefully more of our fellow citizens will take the time to actually reaon out their choices this year.

[lindaqqq]

Thank you for stepping away from the dark side.
The McCain version 2000 bears no resemblance to the 2008 version.

[MNmommy]

Very well reasoned Mr. Smerconish, welcome aboard.

I've witnessed a change in you over the last 18 months that has given me hope, I wasn't a big fan of yours, I was very negative about you 18 months ago. But I've been watching you on MSNBC and you've changed so much - you've stopped shouting others down, you listen, stop and think and respond instead of mindlessly spewing talking points. There is always room for differences of opinion, but there is a large difference between a reasoned discussion/debate and a shouting match.

I had written you off as just another neocon, or water carrier for the Bush Administration; lately, I've been referring to you as one of the good ones. Your decision doesn't surprise me at all now, clearly you've been paying attention to where our great country is, and what we need to do to fix it.

[GrainOSand]

It is said Mr. Smerconish that the road is long. On that road of life, we take certain detours that appear alluring. Upon closer examination, we find that what appeared smooth is treacherously rough and hard to travel. Welcome back to the road of a push towards sanity in governance and leadership. That Bush road leads to a blind slippery slope of a curve with a precipitous drop off in altitude, from which recovery may prove impossible.

Mr. Powell used the correct words to describe Mr. Obama. Bush is a dumb terminal, McCain is a workgroup hub, and Obama is an enterprise switch, which is to say Obama makes more connections and allows for more possibilities because he makes the network of individual contributors expansive. He is “inclusive”. Bush and now McCain are of the exclusive set. They are silver spoon candidates. They rose to power not through readiness but by family influence. There is nothing necessarily wrong with nepotism. Some might say cronyism is not a bad thing either. A cabal of evil self-interest makes for a leadership vacuum. Bush could only see what Bush wanted not what country needed. The same is true for the ambitious McCain. It is country first as slogan to render unto what is always first with these types -- Caesar sized ego run amok and scary, hypocrisy may kill democracy and then hope for change will be dead and buried.

Thanks for lending your voice to the idea that we cannot afford hypocrisy.