Political Crossroads

I've said repeatedly that I'm going to vote for John McCain next week. But despite the imperturbable political front I've displayed for the past few months, there's been a sort of political panic in my mind. John McCain is not the candidate he used to be. Democrats make fun of his use of the word "maverick," but he really was a maverick once upon a time. Now, it seems that's not as true anymore. I am a Republican, and I am a moderate, too. I belong to the party but think independently. I feel like John McCain's been pushing me away.

Perhaps most significantly this election, I do not want to be associated with the far right, extremist conservatives that McCain and Palin have been catering to lately. The choice of Palin as the Vice Presidential candidate clearly signifies this dire shift to the right. I also do not want to be remembered for supporting their negative politics. Yes, Obama is just as guilty as McCain when it comes to negative campaigning, but in a way, McCain started it. I support the original ideology of the Republican party, but I'm finding that I'm supporting less and less McCain and Palin.

On the other hand, perhaps there is an element of bullying at work here. When people learn that I’m voting for McCain, they give me dirty looks. Or, they seem to suggest there's something wrong with my brain. Now, I’m not making accusations here, but let’s face it- McCain isn’t exactly the most popular candidate in this election, and his supporters often draw quizzical looks. Maybe that’s a result of his shift right. Or maybe it’s the result of our liberal media. Or maybe I’m just imagining it. Anyway, I digress…

I almost want to free myself from the McCain-Palin campaign by not voting for them. I am sympathetic to the Libertarian candidate, Bob Barr, and even tepidly support Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party. But, remember, I am a conservative, and I am not voting for Barack Obama. Quite frankly, I'm afraid to. Not because he's black, or a "Muslim," mind you, but because he himself is a leftist extremist. Just look at his voting record- he's the number one most liberal Senator, and his number two man, Joe Biden, is number three on the liberal-o-meter. I would honestly be terrified to have a far left president and a Democrat-controlled Congress. To me, that is a recipe for disaster, especially when we're stuck in a war and a financial crisis.

In addition to the leftist disaster Obama could very possibly deliver upon America, he'd also be responsible for appointing several Supreme Court justices and scores of federal and circuit court judges. These judges are the safeguards of American law, and I'd much prefer McCain, even if he isn't perfect, be making those appointments than Obama. I'd also trust McCain to make better decisions about the war, energy policy, and taxes, but he himself is just not a "good" candidate. Barack Obama, while I don't think he's "good" politically, is a "good" candidate- he talks the talk, and makes us all feel good about ourselves. He's also, in a way, "holier" than McCain. He's got a better personality. But, I think he'd take us down the wrong side of the road.

However, if I vote for, say, Barr, I'd be helping to split the Republican Party, Ralph Nader-style. McCain is going to need every last vote he can get come election day, especially in Pennsylvania. I'd be partially responsible if Obama became the President in a close election. I will not allow that to happen. To be honest, maybe Obama would be a possibility for me, if our Congress wasn't starting to fall over to the left. But that's not the current political reality.

So, I have a serious problem- something like the "Quandary of the Independent" I blogged about previously. Here I am, standing at a political crossroads, just over a week until Election Day.

Well, as it turns out, the negatives of an Obama presidency outweigh the negatives of a McCain candidacy, in my opinion. I wish McCain had stuck to his original principles, the same principles he held when, during the primary campaign, his top aides left him and he was on the verge of political death. A person's true personality comes out when they're dying, and at that point in McCain's political career, I liked what I saw. But alas, like I said, he's different now. Still, there is no other viable option in our two party system. Looks like John McCain got lucky.

So, Mr. McCain, don't worry about me. You've (or rather, Obama) secured my vote for you, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Sorry, you're just not the same candidate anymore.