There are times in ministry where you have to be very careful how you present your personal opinions in public arenas. I am very concerned that all of our Christian Community votes. It is our responsibility as a Christian and as an thankful American citizen. God has blessed us to live in America. He also holds us responsible for what happens in America under our watch as citizens.
For those who know me I am unapologetically a conservative Republican. I have wonderful liberal democratic friends whom I deeply respect and love. We will obviously disagree on certain issues. This week I was privileged to receive a “point of view” paper from a dear friend Elbert Smith. His persuasive views reflect my own. I am grateful for his ability to voice in an organized and clear fashion the issues that burden my own heart as we face Election Day 2008.
Thank you Mr. Smith…
Reasons Why I Must Vote For John McCain
Many political conservatives are displeased with John McCain being the republican nominee for president. Moreover, some of this group have said they will not vote for McCain due to some liberal views he holds. This means that Barack Obama, who is the most liberal of all the senators, will
gain an advantage in his bid for president. McCain is not my choice for president, but I shall not help Obama defeat McCain by denying McCain my vote. An Obama presidency is almost certain to do irreparable damage to our country. To refuse to vote for McCain is a way to express our ire for him, however I think it unwise for me to do damage to the liberties of my children, grandchildren, and other young Americans, even though it may feel good to vent my spleen in 2008. I believe I should vote for McCain, and against Obama if I am to be responsible. Listed below are some reasons why I cannot do otherwise.
I call on fellow conservatives to Join me even if we do hold our noses in this election. Holding our noses will be less regrettable in the long run, than living with the chaos that will result if Obama does what he vows to do.
1. During the next president’s term it is expected that two maybe threeSupreme Court Judges will be appointed. This is crucial. There are two philosophies held by Supreme Court Judges. Strict constructionists
believe their judgments should be limited to the exact wording and intent of the words in our constitution. There are now 4 judges whose judgments reflect this view. Activists judges believe they have the liberty
to go beyond the exact words and intent of the constitution, even drawing on foreign laws to render judgments. There are now 5 such judges on the court. So, there is a 5 to 4 disadvantage on the court now
on cases having to do with abortion, homosexual rights, affirmative action, criminal rights, religious expression, etc. Obama has let it be known that his appointments will be of the activist mind set. McCain
has committed to appoint strict constructionists. This would result in an advantage for traditional conservative values. President Bush has appointed two very fine judges to the court. Getting democrats to
confirm them was gut wrenching. Our lower federal courts have a gross shortage of judges. Bush has appointed numerous judges to fill these slots. If they were given an up or down vote they would be confirmed by the senate. Democrats have blocked their getting an up or down vote by procedural moves. This is being done so they can stall until a democrat president can be elected, who can appoint liberal judges. This way they can force changes in our society that would never be passed by the legislature. To deny McCain our vote will play into this evil plot.
2. Obama has promised to double taxes on capital gains. This means if you have a home and sell it you will pay more taxes. If you have any money invested and it earns anything you will pay more taxes. Obama and
democrats have vowed to do away with the Bush tax cuts you are currently enjoying. Obama claims after he does away with the Bush tax cuts he will give some tax cuts to middle income folks. He claims he will increase taxes enough on upper income earners enough to cover some other tax cuts, and yet pay for all his wild eyed socialistic agenda. Do the math its not possible. The upper 5% of income earners are already paying over 50% of all taxes. The bottom 50% of all wage earners pay only about 5% of our tax burden. Obama says Bush’s tax cuts favor only the rich so they have to go. That is a flat out lie. I have benefited from them and I am not rich. Multiple millions of lower wage earners were removed from paying any taxes in the Bush tax cuts. Every tax payer gained benefit from those cuts. Obama and democrats want to increase the estate taxes on property you own when you die. Republicans were responsible for lowering them, and want to eliminate them, but democrats have stood in the way. Expect Obama to look here for funds for his socialist plans.
McCain has pledged to fight for maintaining the Bush cuts in effect now, and further pledged no new taxes.
3. We are engaged in a war with radical Islam. This war didn’t begin on Bush’s watch. He did declare war on Islamic terrorist in 2001 after they had declared war on us as far back as 1979. For all those years we
would not face the threat militarily. We are weary of the war now, but weary or no it will not go away if we decide to do nothing again in retaliation, as Obama and democrats seem determined to do. A review
Islamic terrorism since 1979 should convince any thinking person that this is not a war Bush started.
O Iran took our embassy and held our hostages 1979
O Bombing of our embassy Beirut Lebanon 1983
O Bombing of marine barracks ” ” 1983
O Bombing of Pan Am flight Lockerbie Scotland 1988
O Ist Trade Center attack on our soil New York 1993
O Attack on Khobar Towers military complex Saudi Arabia 1996
O Attack on our embassy Nairobi Kenya 1998
O Attack on our embassy Dares Salaam Tanzania 1998
O Attack on our embassy Aden Yemen 2000
O Attack on World Trade Center New York 2001
O Attack on Pentagon 2001
Obama says it’s Bush’s fault. Bring the troops home. He will sit down with our enemies and make peace, and the world will love us again. Consider this from a person who has no experience in war or foreign policy. He is a first term senator, and began running for president after only 143 days in the senate. Who isn’t tired of this war? Could it have been waged more effectively? Sure. However war is never easy. Fighting world wide Islamic terrorism while trying to limit the death of innocents, and while doing battle with democrats obstructionists every day in our own country, certainly has made it very difficult. No matter what the cost
this is a war we cannot afford to run away from. I don’t trust the glib tongued, inexperienced, neophyte, Barack Hussein Obama to deal with Islamic terrorism. I do trust McCain with this burden.
Now, as previously stated McCain was not my choice for president. Yet, the issues named favor him vastly over Obama. There are other issues that make McCain more acceptable but space and time caused me to omit them. I believe wisdom dictates that I must vote for McCain. I hope you agree. Let’s elect him and keep up the fight on our differences, while we support him completely in the areas where we are in harmony. Let us also pray that he grows in his understanding of the essential issues and in his ability.
13 But his servants caught up with him and said, “Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So why not this simple ‘wash and be clean’?” 2 Kings 5:13
