September 2008
No. 14
2008 Presidential Campaign Heats Up
John McCain (R) vs. Barack Obama (D)
by C. Paul Smith
The 2008 presidential campaign is already a year old, and we are less than 90 days from Election Day (November 4, 2008). Regardless of the outcome, this election has already proved itself to be one of the most interesting and intense of any in recent history. A year ago, we were already anticipating the election of the first woman president; the big issues seemed to be who would Hillary select as her VP, and what would Bill be doing in the White House. But, a year later, the Democrat Party has rejected Hillary and embraced Barack Obama, who may become the first black president. And things were just as tumultuous on the Republican side, where a year ago former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was the front runner to obtain the nomination. John McCain had dropped out of sight in the polls, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (who hoped to become the first Mormon president) was emerging from the crowd of candidates, making a concerted effort to apply his business skills to win the nomination. But in a matter of months, Giuliani faded into oblivion; Romney quickly took a lead in the early primaries; former Arkansas Governor Huckabee came from nowhere to play a prominent role in the primaries; but John McCain raised himself from the dead, won a couple of primaries, and then in February, he staged impressive wins in several states that catapulted him to a lead that he never relinquished.
The one “first” that is still up for grabs is whether Obama will be the first black president. This certainly looks possible. However, for my part, electing Obama would be a mistake. Race and color and religion have nothing to do with my views—my positions are issue-oriented, and here they are:
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
McCain, who proudly proclaims himself to be a foot soldier under President Reagan, will employ an approach to foreign relations that will mirror that of President Reagan—Peace through Strength. McCain’s personal courage and bravery is legendary. The Democrat Party’s nominee doesn’t bring either the personal resume nor the principled philosophy to qualify him to lead the nation in international dealings. Merely proclaiming peace and decrying war is not an adequate foreign policy, and it does not appear that Senator Obama has learned the lessons from world history, that evil will not just magically disappear through the appeasement approach. Those who understand world history recognize that during World War II millions of people were innocently killed by the Nazis and the Communists, and that America played a key role in liberating the world from those evil powers. Over 400,000 Americans gave their lives in World War II to suppress the evil powers and to liberate millions of people. Failing to appreciate this, the Democrat candidate echoes the naïve pacifist approach of Neville Chamberlain in the late 1930’s, who sought to avoid confrontation in the guise of championing peace. That flawed approach was a failure then, just as it would be today in dealing with terrorists and insurgents. He will return the nation to the touchy-feely international relations policies of Clinton, thinking that talks and negotiations can solve any and every international crisis, all the while alerting terrorists that open season is here again.
The WAR in Iraq and Afghanistan—McCain insists that we must not leave Iraq
prematurely, for this would invite a blood-bath of thousands of innocent people who had been friendly to us, but who would be left to suffer abuse, torture and death at the hands of evil terrorists. The “surge” has worked, and is enabling us to withdraw from Iraq successfully, leaving a new government that appears capable of maintaining an acceptable level of peace and stability in Iraq. This is a tremendous accomplishment! It could be a tremendous benefit to that region and to the entire world. Now that the surge has proved successful, most Democrats (including Senator Obama) have become resigned to victory in Iraq. But “during the times that tr[ied] men’s souls,” Obama showed himself to be a “sunshine soldier” whose resolve wilted under pressure.1 Obama’s position on the War has mirrored the changing popularity of the conflict. When the war was unpopular, Obama insisted that we set immediate time-tables and get out immediately. When the going got tough in Iraq, Obama led the call for retreat.
The contrast between McCain and Obama could not be more stark. McCain refused to give in to the demands of Obama and his followers, who urged precipitous retreat when we were on the verge of securing victory. McCain called for the surge, because he saw that it could obtain victory for us and stability and peace for the Iraqis. The U.S. did not go to Iraq for oil or to nation-build; we went there with 70 % national approval to eradicate an evil dictator who fomented and sponsored terrorism in Iraq and abroad; Hussein offered monetary awards to families who would sponsor suicide bombers to kill Israelis. He harbored those who sought to destroy America. And once Sadaam Hussein was taken out, we owed a moral duty to help the Iraqis form an operable government that could protect its people. In retrospect, it appears that many Americans now regret our intervention in Iraq, but a majority continue to recognize our moral responsibility to leave Iraq better than we found it. That is why the premature withdrawal option would have been a mistake.
Senator Obama has begun to flip-flop on multiple issues recently, now that he sees the need to move from the left to the center. Now he’s trying to distance himself from himself when he was the spokesman for withdrawal and defeat in Iraq. Obama does not possess the courage and resolve of McCain, who has and will steadfastly stand up against the evil terrorists, regardless of the fickle and politically correct cat calls of those who can’t stomach the cost of liberty and who lack the backbone to take a brave stand for the defense of our own nation and for the liberty and freedom of our brothers and sisters around the world. McCain has the backbone to do this, whereas Obama repeatedly shows that he does not.
The ECONOMY
The WAR in Iraq and Afghanistan—McCain insists that we must not leave Iraq
prematurely, for this would invite a blood-bath of thousands of innocent people who had been friendly to us, but who would be left to suffer abuse, torture and death at the hands of evil terrorists. The “surge” has worked, and is enabling us to withdraw from Iraq successfully, leaving a new government that appears capable of maintaining an acceptable level of peace and stability in Iraq. This is a tremendous accomplishment! It could be a tremendous benefit to that region and to the entire world. Now that the surge has proved successful, most Democrats (including Senator Obama) have become resigned to victory in Iraq. But “during the times that tr[ied] men’s souls,” Obama showed himself to be a “sunshine soldier” whose resolve wilted under pressure.1 Obama’s position on the War has mirrored the changing popularity of the conflict. When the war was unpopular, Obama insisted that we set immediate time-tables and get out immediately. When the going got tough in Iraq, Obama led the call for retreat.
The contrast between McCain and Obama could not be more stark. McCain refused to give in to the demands of Obama and his followers, who urged precipitous retreat when we were on the verge of securing victory. McCain called for the surge, because he saw that it could obtain victory for us and stability and peace for the Iraqis. The U.S. did not go to Iraq for oil or to nation-build; we went there with 70 % national approval to eradicate an evil dictator who fomented and sponsored terrorism in Iraq and abroad; Hussein offered monetary awards to families who would sponsor suicide bombers to kill Israelis. He harbored those who sought to destroy America. And once Sadaam Hussein was taken out, we owed a moral duty to help the Iraqis form an operable government that could protect its people. In retrospect, it appears that many Americans now regret our intervention in Iraq, but a majority continue to recognize our moral responsibility to leave Iraq better than we found it. That is why the premature withdrawal option would have been a mistake.
Senator Obama has begun to flip-flop on multiple issues recently, now that he sees the need to move from the left to the center. Now he’s trying to distance himself from himself when he was the spokesman for withdrawal and defeat in Iraq. Obama does not possess the courage and resolve of McCain, who has and will steadfastly stand up against the evil terrorists, regardless of the fickle and politically correct cat calls of those who can’t stomach the cost of liberty and who lack the backbone to take a brave stand for the defense of our own nation and for the liberty and freedom of our brothers and sisters around the world. McCain has the backbone to do this, whereas Obama repeatedly shows that he does not.
The ECONOMY
McCain seeks to cut taxes and to cut government spending. Obama promises to raise taxes and to add multiple new government programs at a cost of billions. Apparently there is no limit to the size of government that Obama seeks to build. Obama has the most liberal voting record of any U. S. Senator.
It’s not that Senator Obama opposes having a strong economy—it’s just that his commitment to left-wing special interests put him on a course that would severely damage the economy. Specifically, he wants universal health care, he wants to stop global warming, and he wants to stop drilling for new oil in America. His radical loyalty to the left-wing fanatics on these issues would lead the nation into full blown socialism and would hamper and destroy the businesses that have been the foundation of our economy—the strongest economy in the world. Senator Obama does not recognize how the environmental special interest groups have already weakened our economy based upon biased science and hysterical threats that the sky is falling. For example, the cost to build roads has skyrocketed because of the environmental impact studies and ever-expanding procedures that have multiplied since the Interstate Highway System was initiated in the 1950’s. This lunacy has got to stop, and adjustments must be made in our laws—some must be repealed. But Barack Obama will not be the one to do this—he supports increased environmental laws, increased bureaucracy, increased red-tape, and of course, increased taxes to pay for the bigger bureaucracy.
The increased governmental programs Obama is calling for amount to socialism. Obama feels everyone’s pains, and he intends to expand government to solve all problems. But this undisciplined approach to government leads to excessive government, which can survive only by increasing taxes. This approach must stop! We cannot continue to act like government has to solve all our problems. Obama does not recognize this, whereas McCain does. McCain is clearly the better choice on economic issues.
SOCIAL ISSUES
It’s not that Senator Obama opposes having a strong economy—it’s just that his commitment to left-wing special interests put him on a course that would severely damage the economy. Specifically, he wants universal health care, he wants to stop global warming, and he wants to stop drilling for new oil in America. His radical loyalty to the left-wing fanatics on these issues would lead the nation into full blown socialism and would hamper and destroy the businesses that have been the foundation of our economy—the strongest economy in the world. Senator Obama does not recognize how the environmental special interest groups have already weakened our economy based upon biased science and hysterical threats that the sky is falling. For example, the cost to build roads has skyrocketed because of the environmental impact studies and ever-expanding procedures that have multiplied since the Interstate Highway System was initiated in the 1950’s. This lunacy has got to stop, and adjustments must be made in our laws—some must be repealed. But Barack Obama will not be the one to do this—he supports increased environmental laws, increased bureaucracy, increased red-tape, and of course, increased taxes to pay for the bigger bureaucracy.
The increased governmental programs Obama is calling for amount to socialism. Obama feels everyone’s pains, and he intends to expand government to solve all problems. But this undisciplined approach to government leads to excessive government, which can survive only by increasing taxes. This approach must stop! We cannot continue to act like government has to solve all our problems. Obama does not recognize this, whereas McCain does. McCain is clearly the better choice on economic issues.
SOCIAL ISSUES
Senator McCain supports traditional marriage as the preferred unit in society for the rearing of children, and he is pro life. But Senator Obama does not stand up for traditional marriage, and he champions a woman’s right to choose death for her unborn child. It is critical that the presidential candidates take a stand on these most important social issue—Will you support the continuation of the traditional family as the bedrock of our society, OR will you support the causes of those who will destroy marriage by redefining it to be available to any and every adult relationship that one can conceive (pardon the double entendre). And as for abortion—anyone who supports partial birth abortion is either ignorant of what it is or else his judgment is so fundamentally impaired that he must not be elected to lead a civilized nation. Partial-birth abortion kills the unborn baby in a painful, gruesome manner for no valid purpose. The theory that such a procedure is justified to preserve the life and health of the woman is a fiction. And it was Barack Obama who, in the Illinois State Senate, blocked legislation that would require the participating parties to attempt to save the lives of children who were born alive after abortions. This was a barbaric and disgraceful position—and demonstrates a total disregard for those humans who are least capable of defending themselves.
PERSONAL LIBERTIES
John McCain fights to preserve the right to bear arms. Obama sided with the minority in D. C. v. Heller. Obama does not believe that the right to bear arms is an individual right. McCain believes it is.
McCain fights to preserve the nation’s heritage of being a God-fearing nation.
And while the Democrat Party gives lip service to love of God, they are the party that interprets the First Amendment to require “freedom from religion,” as they regularly champion the causes of those groups whose stated goal is to eliminate God from government. Conversely, the Republican Party recognizes that government can and should accommodate God and religion because they are vital components of a good society. The First Amendment’s prohibition from the establishment of any one religion does not mean that all references to God must be excised from government.
McCain fights to preserve the nation’s heritage of being a God-fearing nation.
And while the Democrat Party gives lip service to love of God, they are the party that interprets the First Amendment to require “freedom from religion,” as they regularly champion the causes of those groups whose stated goal is to eliminate God from government. Conversely, the Republican Party recognizes that government can and should accommodate God and religion because they are vital components of a good society. The First Amendment’s prohibition from the establishment of any one religion does not mean that all references to God must be excised from government.
Except for his lapse in judgment in sponsoring the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act, McCain is an advocate for freedom of speech.2 But while McCain has been shaky on this issue, Obama’s position is no better.
THE SUPREME COURT
Finally, one of the most important issues in this presidential campaign is what direction each candidate would take the Supreme Court. We must expect there to be 1 – 3 vacancies in the Supreme Court in the next four years. Right now the Court is pretty much evenly divided between four strong conservatives Justices (Scalia, Thomas, Roberts (Chief Justice) and Alito), and four strong liberal Justices (Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg and Breyer). The ninth Justice, Kennedy, is mostly conservative, but he is clearly the swing vote in many close cases. As this issue of Constitutional Law Updates will demonstrate, the next appointments will indicate whether the Court turns either to the left or to the right. John McCain and Barack Obama are clearly on opposite sides of this issue. Obama will take us to the left—towards bigger government and more socialism and fewer individual rights; and McCain will take us more to the right—limiting the size of government, cutting government expenses, and standing up against those who seek to expand the right to abort the unborn. I have hope that McCain will stand firm for traditional family values, that he will recognize the need to protect our borders, and that he will back off from his mistake in championing campaign finance reform (at the expense of jeopardizing free speech rights). But I have no hope with Obama on these issues; so once again, McCain is clearly the better choice.
CAN OBAMA PULL IT OFF?
Up to this point, Obama has been the Houdini of politics. He has magically, masterfully proclaimed that we need to change Washington, and that he’s the man to do it. His followers have hypnotically nodded and given their support—although he has escaped being pinned down to state exactly what it is that he intends to change. Now that he has won the Democrat nomination, he has had some time to figure out some specific changes that will go into his platform. Until now, most of his supporters have not really cared much about most of his positions—he won the nomination based upon his charisma and his style, not based upon the substance of his positions. Whether Obama can continue to pull-off this political magic show through November 4th, remains to be seen. As for me, I see his recent move toward the center to be merely a political expediency, which I suspect he will abandon upon election. In predicting what Obama really stands for, one must go on his previous voting record (albeit a short record). Obama will increase the size of government, raise taxes, encourage abortion and same-sex marriage. He will heap increased burdens on our economy in a mindless fanaticism to stop global warming.
I do not know whether this nation will awaken from the hypnotic sleep that has hoisted Obama to front-runner status in the presidential race. And while I differ deeply with John McCain on several issues, there are more than enough issues on which McCain is in the right, and on which Obama is wrong. Therefore my support is unequivocally for McCain.
1 These phrases are taken from Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense, that encouraged the patriots during the Revolutionary War.
2 Perhaps Senator McCain sees the light now, since The New York Times refused a few weeks ago to print his response to an editorial by Senator Obama. McCain must recognize that the mainstream news media, especially The New York Times, has a blatant liberal bias. And as liberal as he may be at times, Senator McCain is far right of where Senator Obama is. This is why the Campaign Finance Reform law was so bad—it empowered the liberal media to have increased power and influence in the days just prior to elections, at the same time it blocked others from speaking up on current issues.
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