Ryan ChartrandLike Ian Nachreiner, I am also a conservative first and a Republican second, and for this reason I am wholeheartedly supporting John McCain for president.
John McCain is a patriot, he has sacrificed more for this country than many can imagine and is by far the most qualified to lead our country in a time of war. He is well-respected, not only by Republicans, but also by Democrats, which I see as a good thing. Yes, he may be more moderate then some other Republican candidates, but this is the reason he will be able to accomplish more than any other candidate.
McCain does not pander to special interests of powerful groups; he makes his own decisions and is not always liked by conservatives for it. Frankly, I respect him more for following his heart rather then the votes, unlike some other “more conservative” (or more liberal) candidates. There is never a candidate that will completely represent everything I believe in, but by any stretch of the imagination as a conservative I would rather be burned alive than not vote for McCain, which would be a vote for Barack Obama.
There have been many misconceptions about John McCain, and the division is that the party surrounding McCain continues because of statements and articles like Mr. Nachreiner’s.
Allow me to clear up a few: As far as opposing the Bush tax cuts, I oppose them too. You see, as a conservative I support a balanced budget over tax cuts.
McCain did not support the tax cuts because they did not take money out of the federal budget. We should not be giving back money we do not have, plain and simple. McCain is a strong advocate of lower taxes – in fact, he supports a summer holiday on gas taxes, and lowering the federal corporate tax rate by 10 percent to keep jobs in America and stop forcing companies to outsource because they cannot afford it.
McCain opposes waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques because he felt their wrath when he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. While some of us disagree with it, I think it is very na’ve to judge him for these views, considering very few of us have experienced waterboarding.
Let me introduce you to a concept: “Rush the Vote,” created by Rush Limbaugh, one of the nation’s most popular conservative talk radio hosts. He has mobilized tons of Republican voters to switch their party affiliation for the primary and vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton. This is not because Limbaugh believes Clinton is more conservative, but rather that she is easier for McCain to beat in a general election.
Ann Coulter, who at one point was critical of McCain, has now changed her view quite a bit; in fact, she currently has a link to buy “McCain ’08” shirts on her Web site. Strangely, though, there was no such link to buy Clinton shirts.
McCain is the only candidate who has a record of reducing wasteful spending, something I value highly as a conservative. Citizens Against Government Waste publishes a list every year ranking senators and the amount of wasteful spending they approve. McCain was one of five senators who had zero dollars in wasteful spending. If that doesn’t demonstrate fiscal restraint, I don’t know what does.
After hearing McCain speak at a luncheon last summer, I find him to be powerful, charismatic and inspiring. He communicates with ease and is a true presence in the room. These are qualities that define a true leader, someone I am proud to vote for, who can shape this generation, and build a better future for the United States of America, the best nation in the world.
Jacki DeMarchi is an animal science junior, vice president of the Cal Poly College Republicans and a guest columnist for the Mustang Daily.