Well,what a political race it’s been so far…I thought it’s about time that I weigh in on what I think about what’s going on here. This is probably the least excited I’ve ever been about an election,not that I’ve been able to participate in that many. However,looking at this from a conservative point of view,I don’t really see a big win in either candidate. However,I sill have to vote for McCain I think,because I am frankly scared of what could happen if Obama gets elected.
As it stands,there are a number of problems with him as a Candidate. First off,he has no experience. He has not produced any significant legislation. As we’ve seen him come up through the ranks of the Democratic party,I think that it’s easy to see how everyone was so easily swayed. He definitely has a charisma that we haven’t really had much of for a while. I’ll admit,though Bush does have a few highlights,his speeches are more ridiculed then any president in my lifetime. However,if you see Obama speaking without a prepared speech and teleprompter,then you might be surprised to find his speaking skills are not what they’ve been said to be.
Aesthetics aside,the main reasons I fear an Obama presidency are because of issue conflicts. However,I can’t be too sure that he really is in conflict with me,since he’s changed positions so many times on virtually every important issue since the primary battles. Fortunately,though,most of his switches have been to positions I still didn’t like,so it’s easy for me to dislike the guy. This shouldn’t surprise anyone that knows that the best description of my political beliefs is “Capitalist”,because for all intents and purposes,Obama is a socialist. Let’s take a look at words right out of the mouth of the man himself,spoken today in Berlin:
This is the moment when we must build on the wealth that open markets have created,and share its benefits more equitably. Trade has been a cornerstone of our growth and global development. But we will not be able to sustain this growth if it favors the few,and not the many. Together,we must forge trade that truly rewards the work that creates wealth,with meaningful protections for our people and our planet. This is the moment for trade that is free and fair for all.
Does that last statement sound contradictory to anyone else besides me? I mean,to me,fair means you get what you deserve. If there are people in the US that have the ability or clout to make millions of dollars,isn’t it fair that they keep the money that they earned for themselves? I mean,if I got to be well off,I wouldn’t want someone to come in and say,I’m glad you did good,now give me more of your hard earned cash. But that doesn’t sound like what he wants when he says things like “share its benefits more equitably”or “favors the few,and not the many”.
What has always united us —what has always driven our people;what drew my father to America’s shores —is a set of ideals that speak to aspirations shared by all people:that we can live free from fear and free from want;that we can speak our minds and assemble with whomever we choose and worship as we please.
There’s one thing about that previous quote that bothers me,and leads to the very heart of what Democrats these days believe - that we can live free from fear and free from want. Free from want? Granted,we live in one of the most prosperous nations in the world (don’t tell the democrats that though,they’d have you believe that poor people are really poor in this country). The democrats believe that we all deserve what we want,whether you worked for it or not. They want you to believe that the government is the solution for all of your problems,from the economy to health care. Let’s not even get started on the concept of socializing health care. All in all,my favorite political commentary of all today was in an article on Politico.com:
McCain 2008 spokesman Tucker Bounds said in response:“While Barack Obama took a premature victory lap today in the heart of Berlin,proclaiming himself a ‘citizen of the world,’John McCain continued to make his case to the American citizens who will decide this election. Barack Obama offered eloquent praise for this country,but the contrast is clear. John McCain has dedicated his life to serving,improving and protecting America. Barack Obama spent an afternoon talking about it.”(Politico)
I think Obama had to be reminded two or three times this trip that he wasn’t the President yet and couldn’t make foreign policy decisions. The fact of the matter is that there are somethings that you just shouldn’t do,even as a charismatic “change-monger”with presidential ambitions. He might be willing to do anything to get elected,but if he starts making “policy”in foreign nations,there is a word that we might start considering: Treason. The only person that has any business making foreign policy is the President. And in case someone didn’t tell Obama,for a few more months at least,that’s not him.
I just saw his interview with Candy Crowley on CNN which was more of the same;him speaking about changechangechange as he consistantly changes his stance,and Candy,star struck,acting like a 14 year old girl with a crush…the media’s lovefest with him is gross. McCain can’t get a minute of airtime because everyone is gushing over Barack.
Of course,McCain never flip-flopped,no sir. In fact,just this week he changed his mind about not imposing new taxes. In fact,a McCain aide recently said that you can’t even trust the words that come out of McCain’s own mouth. Source
Of course,as an avid captialist you probably should know that one candidate is accepting government money for his campaign,and one is doing it on his own- and McCain’s the one taking the federal money.
And Obama’s critics were lambasting him for not going abroad and talking to the rest of the world,then they blast him for doing so. Catch-22.
All through the Bible,scripture admonishes those who ignore the cry of those in need,and rebuffs the rich who do nothing. Christians frequently lament the lack of faith in government but also seem most against some of the bible’s most fundamental rules about how society should work.
Jesus also doesn’t say to sit on your ass and do nothing,as evident in the parable of the talents- he wants us to do our best with what we have. But what we have is never truly ours.
I have not heard about McCain flip flopping on new taxes. However,your other mentions I can comment on.
First of all,I was under the impression that the “Federal Funds”for campaigns mostly came from that box that you tick on your income taxes that says I’d like such and such dollars from my return to go to campaign finance. These measures were in place as campaign finance reform to make elections more fair. Also,even after Obama backed out of it,he stuck with it even though it limited the amount of money he could spend. I think that says more about his character then the fact that he’s getting money from the government.
As far as Obama’s tour of the foreign countries,I didn’t hear terribly much criticism that he should have gone there more,but that he hadn’t gone there more. That is more of an indication of his inexperience rather then a lax in something he should have been doing. After all,he hadn’t been a senator for 200 days when he started running for president,and I can’t imagine a community organizer needing to go to foreign countries much.
Yes,the bible admonishes those who ignore the cry of those in need,but that means there are religious repercussions for our actions,not state repercussions. While your convictions and mine might lead us to generosity,that same generosity should not be forced onto others through government policy,especially in a country that was founded on the freedom of religion. As much as we like it or hate it,Americans should have the right to be as generous or as stingy with their own money as they wish.
Jesus said we should give to Caesar what is Caesar and give God what’s God’s. He didn’t say give Caesar what’s Caesar’s and God’s,and let Caesar sort it out.