Our endorsement: John McCain for president

The Savannah Morning News ^ | October 19, 2008 | The Editors

[2ndDivisionVet]

John McCain shines with experience, not star power, and will provide the leadership that America needs.

THE NEXT president of the United States must be able to build a consensus, unify a divided country and tackle an uncertain economy, two wars and national security.

It's a job for someone with a proven track record, not untapped potential. Substance matters more than style. The next president must make tough decisions for the good of America, not get cozy with the special interests.

We believe the candidate who's best equipped to be our country's next chief executive during these difficult times is John McCain. We recommend his candidacy to voters.

The Republican nominee is a man of principle and courage, a man who has been tested on the fields of battle and in the trenches of politics. The veteran Arizona senator is wise in the ways of Washington, but he's not controlled by Washington.

Indeed, his long record in the Senate paints him as honest, independent and tough - characteristics that the nation's 44th president needs more than ever.

Earlier this year, this newspaper endorsed Mr. McCain in Georgia's Republican primary and Barack Obama in the state's Democratic primary. Both men won. Then, they went on to capture the nominations.

Since that time, however, their campaigns have lurched along unimpressively. As the days tick down to the Nov. 4 general election, the candidates have done little to inspire greater trust or confidence, especially as world financial markets imploded.

Still, this is an important election and voters have a choice to make. We hope they focus on what the candidates have done and will do if elected, not on which man seems cooler on camera or is better at soothing, siren-like rhetoric.

A tax-cutter

Take taxes, a critical issue as the nation tries to rebound.

Mr. McCain will fight to keep the Bush tax cuts from expiring. This will help working Americans and their families keep more of their hard-earned money.

Just recently, he promised to slash taxes on capital gains from the current 15 percent to 7.5 percent for two years. He pledged to cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent (one of the highest rates in the world) to 25 percent.

Mr. Obama, however, will let the Bush tax cuts lapse, which means higher taxes. Taxes on capital gains would rise to at least 20 percent, and possibly higher (but not more than 28 percent, the candidate indicated this summer).

While he promises tax cuts for 95 percent of Americans, he will unleash government so it can take more from those who earn more and produce more. This is exactly the wrong antidote during a time of business closings, job losses and shrinking 401(k)s.

Mr. McCain's 26 years in Congress taught him a valuable lesson. He understands that the best way to create jobs, stimulate growth and put more people on the road to prosperity is by implementing a tax policy that encourages investment, not one that chokes it off.

He also knows it's critically important to stop runaway federal spending, which has gotten worse during the Bush administration and under the Democratic-led Congress.

A fiscal conservative

When Mr. McCain says he's not George Bush, he speaks the truth when it comes to spending. He's one of the few lawmakers in both parties who have eschewed earmarks and voted against pork-barrel giveaways. He wants to freeze spending for a year on discretionary programs - a good idea. His military background will help him take on the Pentagon and fight waste and build strength.

Mr. Obama, however, has proposed $800 billion in new spending, although he has conceded some expenditures may have to be postponed until the economy improves. Good luck on that.

With the big-spending Nancy Pelosi-Harry Reid team running things on Capitol Hill, the liberal-leaning, freshman senator from Illinois will be pressured to keep his veto pen in his pocket.

Indeed, unlike Mr. McCain, Mr. Obama has been a go-along guy within his party. Such lock-step loyalty has helped him get ahead during his short political career. But America doesn't need a rubber stamp in the White House. It needs someone with the guts to occasionally say "no."

A consensus-builder

Mr. McCain, however, has often opposed his own party, which shows grit and integrity. Unlike Mr. Obama, he has reached across the aisle to work with those who disagree with him, liberal Democrats such as Sens. Ted Kennedy and Russ Feingold.

Both candidates have competing health-care plans - Mr. Obama wants the government to do more, Mr. McCain wants more people covered by insurance. Mr. McCain's direction makes more sense, given the budget deficit. Neither candidate is specific on how to address looming Medicare and Social Security challenges, but Mr. McCain has the skills to build a necessary consensus.

On national security and defense, Mr. McCain has said he'd rather lose an election than lose a war. He may get his wish, given the polls. But he has his priorities in the right order. He supported the surge in Iraq, which has been a success. Mr. Obama opposed it.

Mr. Obama's meteoric rise has been impressive. All Americans can take pride in his historic candidacy. But America needs a president who shines with experience more than star power. That's John McCain. We recommend his candidacy

[2ndDivisionVet]

Well written endorsement.

[rabscuttle385]

When Mr. McCain says he's not George Bush, he speaks the truth when it comes to spending. He's one of the few lawmakers in both parties who have eschewed earmarks and voted against pork-barrel giveaways.

Pork-barrel giveaways...like the $700 Billion Socialist monster bailout that he just voted for.

Mr. McCain, however, has often opposed his own party, which shows grit and integrity. Unlike Mr. Obama, he has reached across the aisle to work with those who disagree with him, liberal Democrats such as Sens. Ted Kennedy and Russ Feingold.

Working with Democrats? Hell, he's usually working for them!

The Juan McCain Truth File. "I have great respect for Al Gore." —John McCain, October 2, 2008 FR Keywords: mccaintruthfile, mcqueeg, mcbama Please tag all relevant threads with the aforementioned keywords. This can be a very high-volume ping list at times. To join the ping list: FReepmail rabscuttle385 with the subject line add  mccaintruthfile. (Stop getting pings by sending the subject line drop mccaintruthfile.) Republican Commissar’s Warning: By joining this ping list, you may be subjected to the delusional rants and ramblings of McCainiacs, of "moderate" Republicans, of pragmatic conservatives resigned to voting for the lesser of two Democrats, and of countless GOP shills who simply want to meet a new overlord.

[OPS4]

God Bless You ALL. Mccain Palin 2008!!!!
Our only way to keep the commies out!

[John Valentine]

You are wasting your time with this crap unless your intention is to help elect Obama.

If that is the case, please take it down the road.

[1035rep]

Well written endorsement.

Ditto!

[LucyT]

Troll.

[MHGinTN]

Bingo

[AmericanGirlRising]

Troll!

[1035rep]

Barack Obama recently said, ‘The first thing I’d do as president would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act,’ This legislation would wipe out all state and federal abortion restrictions including the partial-birth abortion ban.

Obama on the Freedom of choice act http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR1RD2-fabA

 

 

[1035rep]

I concur.

[word_warrior_bob]

He even has a troll ping list, one of whom has already been banned. The mods have been far too kind with the interlopers and crackpots.

[1035rep]

I saw the post that got jddqr banned. One of the most vile things I have ever seen posted here. He was a stinky troll that got carried away and outed himself.

[word_warrior_bob]

I was on to him early, he was non-stop. I reported abuse on him constantly, JimRob finally took him out. Still, many of his same vein remain here.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Every chance I get, I tell older Democrats: John McCain is a better Democrat than Barack Obama. What’s 0bama ever done?

[HokieMom]

BTTT

[GBA]

What is the point of your posts? The choice is McCain or 0bama and it is obvious from your posts you very much want obama to win the election. As bad as you believe McCain to be, do you really think 0bama will be better? Don't bother to answer that...I already know what your answer will be. “Of course 0bama will be better!” I'm as hard core conservative as you can get. McCain was not even on my list of candidates, but he's definitely getting my vote now.

[GBA]

What’s 0bama ever done? That’s the Billion dollar question and one that the msm will NOT answer.

[rabscuttle385]

The choice is McCain or 0bama and it is obvious from your posts you very much want obama to win the election.

That's funny. How exactly did you infer that notion?

As bad as you believe McCain to be, do you really think 0bama will be better?

Who knows.

With McCain, you get a Senator who willingly and gleefully sponsors leftist bills with folks like Kennedy and Obama. McCain is playing for the wrong team at least half the time, if not more.

With Obama, well, you get Socialism, no holds barred. Of course, you can get that with McCain too on all the occasions that he will let the Democrats run the show...which will be many.

Don't bother to answer that...I already know what your answer will be. “Of course 0bama will be better!”

If I remember correctly, on another thread I told someone that McCain would probably be better but not by very much. They are both terrible candidates from a conservative perspective.

[rabscuttle385]

Thanks for letting me know that fact. jddqr was a recent addition to the ping list but has been dropped off the list roll due to his suspension.

[GBA]

I inferred that notion by your continually slamming McCain during a very close election. What is the point of slamming McCain now if not to help 0bama win? So, no. I don't believe you. If you think McCain would be a better president, then why do your best to torpedo his chances over and over again? Yes, yes, you once told someone McCain would be better than 0bama, though not by much. And I believe all of 0bama's campaign promises, too.

Your posts made sense during the primary, but not now. Go away. Go away at least until after the election or take it to DU where you'll be very popular. They like slamming McCain as much as you seem to.