I wholeheartedly endorse John McCain for President of the United States and encourage all those who care about the future of this country to do the same.

McCain’s background, personal integrity, his ability to communicate in a direct and honest manner, and his proven ability to attract a broad coalition of support makes him not only the ideal Republican candidate to face the Democrats in November, but the ideal person to lead our nation through the challenges to come.

McCain’s Background – Leadership and Integrity for America

McCain’s background, his service and sacrifice to America, is unparalleled. The story of his years as a POW in North Vietnam is often glossed over by detractors who say “he’s a great American, but…” This is unfortunate, and I doubt very many of his detractors have taken the time to read his biography and fully appreciate what this man has done for us, and how essential it is to have that kind of experience in the White House.

McCain spent five and a half years as a North Vietnamese POW.  At first, he was denied medical treatment and was given up for dead (sound familiar?), but he survived.  When it was discovered he was the son of an admiral, McCain was offered freedom, which he refused unless those captured before him were also released.

For his integrity, McCain was rewarded with regular beatings, torture and abhorrent prison conditions for years.  When he returned, he was left with permanent injuries.  Ever notice how his hand gestures are always out in front, toward the audience, instead of up?  That’s because his injuries left him unable to raise his hands above his head.  (To this day he’s mocked for this gesture by people who gratuitously use the “he’s a great American” throwaway line, yet who are largely ignorant of who McCain really is.)

McCain continued his public service first as a Congressman and then a US Senator.  While some would like to lump his public service in with all the other politicians as part of the problem, Senator McCain has distinguished himself as a man of unique integrity and honesty.  Dick Morris named him as one of only two senators who he would consider “good,” the other being Joe Leiberman.  It’s convenient to bash politicians, but America needs good public servants.  McCain has been a great one.

On the issues, McCain is conservative.  His lifetime ACU rating is 82.  He has consistently fought against earmarks, against tax increases, for the line item veto, for conservative judges, for gun rights, for the death penalty and, most importantly, for an aggressive, proactive policy toward the War on Terror.

It is this position in particular, McCain’s unwavering stance on Iraq and the War on Terror, that makes me confident he will be the kind of President America needs.  While the Democrats and many Republicans talked of withdrawal, McCain stood alone in promoting the “surge,” long before it became popular.  He risked his campaign on the surge.  He has been steadfast in promoting an aggressive military and foreign policy that strikes at the terrorists before they strike us. 

The only other candidate who came close to McCain on this issue was Giuliani, and even Rudy didn’t have McCain’s credentials.  With Rudy now out, there is no candidate who even comes close to McCain’s steadfastness and abilities.  If I disagreed with McCain on everything else, I would still vote for him because of this.  There is no other candidate out there, Republican or Democrat, who is trustworthy, steadfast, and dead-on right when it comes to fighting the War on Terror.  Frankly, the rest of the candidates are so inexperienced or just plain wrong on this issue that they scare me, and this issue is paramount. 

I’m confident with McCain in the Oval Office.  He’s earned that confidence.  Nobody else has come close.

 McCain is a Man of Integrity

I don’t always agree with McCain, but I trust him.  I can’t say that about anybody else.  In fact, with Romney, it’s the opposite – I agree with the positions he’s taken today, but I don’t trust him at all.  Since we’re electing a President who we have to trust to handle issues we don’t see today, I need to know the man in the Oval Office is going to act in America’s best interest, do what he says and say what he means.  That’s McCain.  Romney and Clinton would bend with the wind to get approval; McCain would stand steadfast, even if it meant suffering disapproval.  Huckabee and Obama don’t have the experience to be trusted and would need a lot of handling and on-the-job training (Obama even admitted he asks his staff to wait to the last minute to hand him things or he’ll forget them – that’s FRIGHTENING!); John McCain is ready to lead, and he’ll stick to his guns, even if it’s unpopular.

America Needs “Straight Talk”

You’ll undoubtedly disagree with something or other McCain says, but there’s no doubt he means what he says.  In an era where politicians are expected to lie, isn’t that refreshing?  In a way, the fact that McCain’s “Straight Talk” is so popular is as much an indictment of Washington politics as it is a testament to McCain’s communication style.  I mean, shouldn’t EVERYBODY be honest?  They’re not, which is why McCain is such a breath of fresh air.  But seriously, shouldn’t honesty be a requirement and not a luxury?

I love how McCain didn’t back down on his “Bomb, bomb Iran” joke.  He told Iowans that Ethanol subsidies are a waste of taxpayer money (they are), making him the ONLY candidate who didn’t pander to the farmers.  He told Michigan he wouldn’t bail out the auto industry, and we shouldn’t.  Those are all examples of McCain standing up for conservative principles in the face of shameless pandering and anti war hysteria.

We deserve a President who will look us in the eye and tell us the truth, even when it’s unpopular.  McCain stands alone in this regard.  Like I said, it’s disappointing that he is alone, but if the rest of the field has chosen to cede candor to McCain, then that makes the choice all the easier.

McCain Can Win

McCain is the ONLY Republican candidate who can beat the Democrats.  Romney is personally disliked by even most Republicans for many of the reasons that McCain is respected.  While people might agree with Romney’s positions, they neither respect nor trust the man.  With McCain, the opposite is true.  People disagree with his positions on this or that, but generally trust him and have tremendous respect for the man.

I would submit that, in the end, voters do not vote for a platform, they vote for a President.  Therefore, who the candidate is becomes far more important that what the candidate says they’ll do.  Voters trust and respect McCain, far more than any other candidate in the field.  Voters can see McCain leading our nation.  McCain’s honesty and steadfastness makes people feel safe with him as a leader in troubling times.  Contrast this with Romney’s and Clinton’s shameless pandering and negative attacks, or Obama’s and Huckabee’s glaring inexperience and gaffes on important issues.  In times of uncertainty, people go with the person they trust, and that’s McCain.

McCain also has credibility as someone who will listen to all Americans and not be blindly beholden to an agenda or interest group.  He’s demonstrated, often to the consternation of his own supporters, that he’ll do what he thinks is right, not what his base tells him to do or what is necessarily popular.  He’s a conservative who can bridge the gap with disenfranchised Democrats and Independents and bring them into the process, not through empty rhetoric a la Obama but through actions and honest dialogue.

McCain is the ONLY candidate who can keep the GOP from falling off the cliff with regard to Hispanics.  Karl Rove warned the GOP was “dancing on the edge” of the cliff and risked losing the Latino vote for generations.  McCain can keep Hispanics in the GOP, as he showed in Florida.  Republicans need to take a deep breath on immigration and consider the effect the tone of this debate is having on those who might vote Republican but don’t feel welcomed into the party.  I’m not saying we should give away the farm, but perhaps we can approach the issue keeping in mind that we’re trying to bring people into the party, not shut them out forever.

Bottom line, McCain is the right man at the right time and will be a great President.  I proudly and confidently support his candidacy and pray the Republican Party will unify behind his nomination.  This consequences of a Democratic Presidency are far too dire for us to continue with the “my way or the highway” attitude.  If we step back and look at the big picture, I’m confident we’ll see the McCain will continue the Reagan legacy, and maybe even strengthen it, and strengthen America in the process.

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