Regular readers of this blog know that this endorsement was never a foregone conclusion. I have described the match-up between McCain and Obama as "the unacceptable versus the unsatisfactory."
And I know that John McCain will not be a perfect president. I know that as a conservative, I will not be able to sit back and tune out during a McCain presidency, secure in the knowledge that a president who understands me and values everything I value will always do the right thing.
Most particularly, I believe that John McCain is fundamentally wrong on such important issues as illegal immigration, recreational embryonic stem cell research, and reducing the size of the federal government. I have my doubts about his fiscal policies.
Too, we are a nation at war. Reasonable people may debate the wisdom of engaging in this war, and may question the effectiveness of how the war has been prosecuted, but as Gen. Douglas McArthur said, once war is entered, there is no substitute for victory. I believe that John McCain is the candidate best suited to bring us that victory.
But to my mind, the most pressing issue facing America today is the holocaust of abortion. Nearly 50 million innocent dead in the U.S., and their blood cries out to the Lord for satisfaction. Nearly two million more are killed every year.
On the strength of John McCain's long (though imperfect) record of opposition to abortion on demand, his zero rating from NARAL, and most especially his selection of a reliable pro-lifer as his running mate (as I repeatedly demanded on this blog that he do as a pre-requisite of my support) I have concluded that I can believe Senator McCain's repeated promise to be a pro-life president. Senator and Mrs. McCain's own promotion and practice of adoption sets an excellent example.
Too, Senator McCain has promised that he will support a Constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage if it becomes necessary to prevent some states from forcing gay "marriage" on other states.
I also know that Sarah Palin is not a perfect candidate. As governor, she passed a windfall profits tax on oil companies, and is under investigation for having used her office to secure the firing of the ex-husband of her sister, from his job as an Alaska state trooper (an accusation which she denies). But her large family, including a son born this year with Down Syndrome, and her support for her teenage daughter during her pregnancy, sets a good example of the pro-life ethic in practice under real-world circumstances.
She is also opposed to gay "marriage".
I once feared that a McCain presidency would lead to a Republican Party with a weakened commitment to ending abortion. I now have hope that a McCain presidency will strengthen the Republican Party's opposition to abortion, not least as an effect of promoting such a strong proponent of life as Governor Palin to the national spotlight.
Frankly, I was on the verge of bolting the Republican Party, with which I have identified myself for forty years. I would like to personally offer my thanks to Sen. McCain for the selection of Gov. Palin as his running mate, which will have the effect of keeping me in the party for the foreseeable future. I'm sure many others feel similarly.
I hope you will join me is supporting John McCain for President, and Sarah Palin for Vice President.
4 comments:
I am with you Paul for exactly the reasons you cite.
I was in a holding pattern waiting on the VP pick. A Ridge or a Lieberman would have ended it for me.
I will certainly be going into the voting booth eyes-wide-open and knowing both the strengths and weaknesses that McCain brings. If he maintains his pro-life voting record and gives us good Supreme Court picks if he has the opportunity I will be mostly happy.
There are certainly cracks in the GOP as far as the pro-life cause goes and plenty to worry about and fight against. Though it is comforting the strong positive reaction to the Palin pick is mainly that he is fully pro-life.
Definitely! I sent him my first donation ever to a political candidate yesterday!
Good post.
Unfortunately his support of the war and his foreign policy is a deal-breaker for me. But I think Palin is a great candidate, and I'm happy there is a pro-life ticket.
He's getting my support.
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