Pete Abel, a former co-blogging friend, today made an unusual appeal via The Moderate Voice…
“…to non-BDS Democrats, whom I believe are still grounded in reality and who, at the end of the day, are not that much different than their moderate GOP counterparts like me.
Those Democrats should support McCain – if not in votes, then in dialogue – for two key reasons.
1. McCain raises the ire of the contemporary Republican establishment because he rejects their meaner instincts. As I’ve written before, McCain decries torture while the Establishment excuses it. He fights pork-barrel spending while they enable it. He calls for policies to combat global warming while they deny it. He seeks reasonable compromises on immigration policy while they stoke fear and prejudice.
2. McCain represents for Republicans what Obama represents for Democrats: a meaningful step away from the last 15-plus years. I’m not saying either man will revolutionize partisan politics as we know it, but both promise (at a minimum) evolutionary progress toward a different America. And if we truly believe country is more important than party, then we owe it to ourselves to boost the two candidates who (among all their peers) represent the best hope for moving us in a post-partisan direction, regardless of our individual party loyalties.
So okay… Pete’s not talking directly to me. I’m not a Democrat, but an Independent who has voted both parties (and thirds), variously. But I do see his point.
I agree with the McCain positions Pete outlines in #1 above, and I have great admiration for John McCain’s courage in the face of his party’s “meaner instincts”. Furthermore, I wholeheartedly agree that for the Republicans, John McCain has the best hope of moving the country away from the poisonous partisan abyss.
But while I don’t suffer from BDS (or CDS, or any other PDS variety), I am supremely unhappy with the Republicans. From where I sit, in fact, that’s the biggest minus in McCain’s column at the moment. The fact that he has to fight against his party on such issues tells us a lot about the GOP today.
They’ve run right off the rails, and they’re due — past due — for some soul-searching and rearranging. America needs to allow them a bit of time to do that… if only for their own sakes.
There are two conditions, though, under which I would throw my support to John McCain:
1. If Mike Huckabee continues to draw support
2. If Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination from Barack Obama by continuing the nasty tactics she and Bill are currently using.*
In the meanwhile, this is probably as good a time as any to say that I’ve come down off my own personal fence, and have decided to support Barack Obama — because while I can agree the John McCain represents the Republican’s best hope for moving beyond two decades of animosity, I believe Obama represents America’s best hope.
Any Independents care to join me?
:>
*I’m thinkin’ I’m not alone with this thought…
I so agree that Obama is the best candidate for unity but if Hillary manages to steal the election I too will vote for John McCain. I’m a purplish blue democrat and simply can’t see my way to supporting Hillary. so if she somehow manages to get the nomination I will have to vote for McCain. I too share your opinion about Huckabee. He would not be a good president at all.
Still sittin’ on the fence. Although a registered Democrat, I will vote for the candidate who supports my issues: smaller government, a responsible foreign policy that gives primacy to US interests and, an immigration policy that responds to the demands of the majority of U.S. citizens. Mr Obama, if you can deliver, you’ll get my vote. Tell me, Mr Obama, as an informed adult, about your proposed fiscal policy. Talk to me, Mr Obama, about national security (and no, you’re not “leaving” Iraq by the close of business your first week/month/year in office). I don’t need the pander; I require the truth.
Obama has yet, in my opinion, to flesh out the “feel good.” It will probably come as a surprize to many for them to learn that “change” is not an absolute and unadulterated good. I do admit, however, that it’s “buzzwordiness” gives it tremendous potential as an adornment for t-shirts, bumper stickers and idealistic campaign slogans.
On the subject of the Clintons and political dirty tricks, I’m old enough to recall when the paradigm for electoral sliminess was “Tricky Dick” Nixon. Nixon (despite Watergate), played by Marquis of Queensbury rules compared to the Clintonistas. Nixon faced a hostile media throughout his public life, which acted as a brake on some of his darker instincts. The Clintons, however, have been routinely enabled and facilitated by the press. Hopefully, due to the drug innuendoes and the blatant stuff in Nevada this past week, that is about to change.
DebraAnn, welcome to my blog and thank you for your comment! You have lots of company in this purplish-hued world, both in the blue and red color families.
belloscm — Has your state held its primary yet? We don’t participate here in Texas until March 4, and I have no idea what the status of the candidates in either party will be. I wonder whether it will still be crazy-close then…?
Re: fleshing out positions. Hopefully you’ll have the chance to listen to / view the various discussions he’s had. That’s where I found the depth I was looking for.
Interesting observation about Tricky Dick and the hostile media. Looks to me like the blush is off Bill’s rose now, for sure…
Polimom,
We’re waiting for Super Tuesday out here in the Golden State. While it appears that Clinton has the edge (due to the strength of “the machine”) out here, it will be exciting.
I didn’t watch the video attached to your post of a few days ago. Sorry. I do, however, pay fairly close attention to each candidate’s daily media events.
About the Clintons, the media and dirty pool: Above the level of the punditry, the media will have a hard time coming clean about the Clintons and their ethics after having looked the other way for the last 16 years.
I predict: If it gets any worse, the Obama supporters might start asking themselves: “What really happened to Vince Foster?”
Funny — Dear Husband just said almost exactly the same thing to me.
It’s probably important that I point out (since you’re pretty new here to my blog) that prior to this moment in time, I’ve never had much of an issue with Bill Clinton, much less Hillary. I need to get a post up about what’s changed, and why, I think.
Speaking of that video — interestingly, I had an email from someone who said they hadn’t watched it either, but were sending the link to a friend to evaluate. I realize it’s 49 minutes, y’all, but jeepers! LOL!