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

[LiberalDemIda]

Thank you for your wonderfully insightful, intelligent post, Mike. You, like General Powell and many other Republicans like Chuck Hagel and Senator Lugar are the REAL Republicans - always country before party.

Although I'm certain our views on many domestic U.S. policies are different, there's no doubt whatsoever in my mind that you love the United States as much as I do and that's why we can come together to give our support to Barack Obama.

Once again, thank you. I enjoy watching you on MSNBC when you're on. You're always truthful and very deep and it's a pleasure to listen to your views that have earned my respect.

[kutkreata]

Her Mr. Smerconish. Thanks for your endorsement! I used to watch Race For The WH & you always seemed to have a reasonable, objective and independent view of the election. I really appreciate that & I'm happy that you decided on Obama. Much respect due!

[PinkMartini]

Smerc!
I always knew I liked you! I watch you when I can catch "Hardball" and you're on. I haven't always agreed with you in the past, but I've always respected you, because I felt that you were being honest about your positions, not just repeating the conservative line verbatim.
I have a tremendous amount of respect for Republicans who are supporting Barack. I know that it's hard to cross your party line, but it takes courage to really "put your country first" and cast your vote for the person that you think can really do the job.
Thank you Michael Smerconish!

[aOsO]

Wonderful, thanks Michael.

[Hopeington]

I think people didn't like it when they found themselves getting caught in the web of negativity McCain and Palin were spinning and,like me, decided spinning made them dizzy and kinda sick.
By behaving the way they did, McCain/Palin actually forced many people to make their choice for president based, not on race or even party affilatiion, but on human decency and hope that
through positive and intelligent dialogue and interaction, we can uplift our nation together.
We needed to know that no matter what the policies were, they would be implemented with honesty and integrity.
Obama/Biden 2008......­For me an easy choice
Thanks People! We are the UNITED States of America!
.

[dtd]

Thank you for your courage and conviction!

[waters96]

Hi Michael,

Welcome to the good guys. Glad you saw the light.

[boltaflex]

Kind of a backhanded comment, waters96. Perhaps you were being flip, but this is not the way to applaud the endorsement of a respected journalist and writer.

Mr. Smerconish is always at least thoughtful and considered, whether you agree with him or not. I've actually agreed with a few of his earlier posts, like his support of lifting the Cuban Embargo for the good of both of our nations. He is not a Limbaugh or a Hannity or a Coulter. He's been a good guy all along.

I'm hoping that one of the first things we heal in an Obama era is the polarization of America.
If we don't, then this election won't really do us very much good.

[Sloane7]

Congratulations Mike, welcome to the club!

[BiGnBulKY]

Im just woundering , why 99% of republicans choose to go down with the sinking ship that McCain is captain of....... LOL most will be out of a job soon if they continue to peddle what McCain is pushing...­.

[SayNoBHO]

Thank you Mr. Smerconish. I have watched you on MSNBC and it is obvious that you are a Republican. I am a Democrat and I can understand why you felt Mrs. Palin was capable of being POTUS after you saw her convention speech. Through all of the SNARK, she showed a combination of nerve and aggression that I thought WOULD be appealing.­...... to Republicans.
Up to that point, all that I had seen of her was a clip of an interview where she asked what exactly it is that the VP does. I thought that she was not capable of rational intelligent thoughts. She proved me right after the Couric and Gibson interviews.

McCain has flip-flopped on almost every issue. There are lots of videos of him making statements then sometimes in the same interview saying the exact opposite. He can literally have a lengthy debate with himself. These two are not fit to guide us through our dire situation. I feel that like GW Bush, their advisors would be running the show. The people who are in charge now would still be in charge if McPalin was elected. Nothing would change. You said this is the time to covet intellect. I agree with you 10,000%. We deserve better than a guy who graduated 5th from the bottom of his class and a Journalism major who refuses to do interviews because she considers every question a "gotcha" question.

[tbrnotb]

Thank you for your post. We welcome you as one of those Americans who has seen a new dawning in the land. I think often about what it will be like on that Wednesday morning in November..­..

[AngryLefty]

Mike,
Philly is now the "City of Brotherly Brains"
Thanks for the courageous pick.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Undoubtedly, George Will will note that, like Colin Powell, this is another racially based endorsement.

[wakeup804]

Hey Mike......

I am a philly girl and although I have not always agreed with your views, it does my heart proud to have watched the transformation in you during this campaign. Hopefully you will not be the only one to see beyond party and do what is best for our country. GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!

[habajebe]

Your decision and comments exhibit an admirable understanding of the situation. For rational, thinking people on both sides of the aisle, there is only one choice.