Time for Voters to Rally Around McCain

Originally published March 14, 2008.
As we watch Sen. Hillary Clinton, Hill, Hillary Rodham, or whatever politically advantageous nickname she wants us to call her today, and Sen. Barack Obama fight for their party’s nomination, I must admit that both of them are showing their party’s true identity.

Much like John Kerry in 2004 both of these candidates are not sure where they stand on most issues, when they should take a stand on any issue, and in which state they should take any stand at all.

This year alone we have seen Hillary oppose the surge in Iraq, support the surge, support North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), oppose NAFTA, call for Democrats to support the Rules of the Democratic National Convention, and now, push to overturn the rules so she can get the delegates from Michigan and Florida.

Her supporters aren’t much better. Hillary’s husband has used the race card, another supporter Congressman John Lewis is trying to have it both ways by supporting both Democratic candidates. And Howard Dean is starting to scream again.

Why would anybody want either of these candidates to pick up the phone at 3 a.m.? If they don’t know what they stand for the other twenty-three hours a day don’t think their mind becomes crystal clear and decisiveness after midnight.

As for Obama, he may be even more indecisive then the Clintons. The day he became Senator he started running for President and even though our country is in the midst of a two-war front Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on European Affairs Barack Obama has not convened a single policy hearing since he took over as its chairman last January (this Committee includes Afghanistan).

Obama’s favorite donor is on trial and he has voted “present” more than eighty times while in the Illinois State Senate. Let’s be clear on this, the Obama people are trying to tell us that a “present” vote means that Obama didn’t have enough information to vote a bill up or down. But if he can’t do a little research and make a decision on which pot hole to fill in his Senate district, just four years ago, why would you want him picking up the phone in the White House at 3 a.m.?

Democrats, you are on the cusp of nominating either someone who will usher back into the White House an impeached President or an inexperienced nominee who could not decide on prioritizing pot holes during a Chicago winter.

Next November, John McCain will be the only candidate for President who has worn the uniform, served his country and made tough decisions. A real hero among us, McCain has not always made decisions we Republicans have supported. But he is the one candidate for President that will not take a poll when our country is threatened. He will not take a poll when it comes to supporting our troops in the field and he will not take a poll when it comes to the safety and well being of every American.

It is time not just for us Republicans to rally around John McCain it is time for Independent voters and even some of you Democrats to do so as well. Decisive leadership is what America needs and John McCain is the man who will provide it.

Shawn Hanley is chairman of the Fulton County Republican Party