I must admit that in the fevered pitch of this campaign, just four days away from Election Day, with so much at stake and so many hours spent with each of us pulling our hair out in frustration at the other in front of our computers at different points on the maps, I was genuinely surprised and later touched by how graciously you summed up our informal chats here, AlRight. You are certainly without exaggeration in concluding that we disagree on issues and the direction we want to see our country move in as we advance deeper into the twenty-first century. But I am so glad you acknowledged the fact that we can disagree without being disagreeable.

You know, my second grade teacher called my mother last night to tell her how proud she was of my writing (teachers should always get the credit, or blame, depending on whose side you’re on). She happens to agree with almost everything I have written (which not even my mother can say), but she said what she was most proud of was that I had tried to be a gentleman in our discussions. It is in the interest of full disclosure that I admit that I have tried to maintain a certain level of integrity and self awareness, to stay focused on the issues and not get carried away by the ugliness and heightened tenor of the campaign season. I have not always lived up to the standard I wish to see in our politics. I have not been above reproach. But the effort is everything. If we try to maintain our sense of decency and honesty while still preserving a much needed passion for the fate our country, good things will inevitably follow. If we seek to find common ground and check the pride with which we defend our positions, and our candidates, solutions are within our grasp as a community. It is with that in mind that I thank you in return, AlRight, because you have been my teacher in allowing me to articulate my beliefs and hold them up for scrutiny. You might not like to hear it, but my convictions are stronger for our discussions, as is my thirsty for respectful politics.

And for anyone who has been visiting our little digital debate hall for the last few months, let me encourage you to remember what Justice Brandeis said; that the role of citizen is the most important in a democracy. Let me encourage you to test your own beliefs and find facts that support your positions and facts that cause you to rethink them. The world is a complicated place, and thinking can evolve over time. There needn’t be a rush to define yourselves by party affiliation or by a single issue. There are disagreements in our society, but we share far more in common and can find compromise beyond the 24 hour news outlets and red-and-blue divides. Let your politics reflect your highest ideals and work for what you think is right. Find facts. Investigate. Ruminate. And then act. Please, please, please, get involved and take responsibility for the choices our nation makes in the years to come. Too many lives have been lost so that we might exercise our right to be heard. Vote. Vote. Vote. And on November 5th, no matter who wins, we’ll face a new day together.

I have been asked why I support John McCain for President of the United States.I am honored to have this opportunity to tell you.

But,before I get into that I would like to thank College News for the opportunity to share my point of view with all of you. I hope I have helped inform you in some way -and taught you something you may not have known before.

Most importantly, I would like to say thank you to Chapin. Though we obviously disagree on the issues I have really enjoyed our time together. I have also enjoyed you helping me show people that we can in fact disagree without being disagreeable, because even though we disagree whole-heartedly about the direction in which we want to lead our nation, there is no doubt we both share a love and passion and want only the best. I wish you only the best in your future and hope we have the opportunity to work together again.

I am doing something different this time. I have decided to speak to you directly- via a podcast. I am no technological wizard and the sound quality may not be best. I apologize for that in advance. So, turn down your speakers, hit the play button and listen as I tell you, in my own words, why I will be voting for Senator John McCain as President of the United States.

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Here, let me help you out Chapin. I will go ahead and provide the LINK to Obama’s “accomplishments” as provided by his campaign.

Tomorrow, I shall be discussing all of these and exposing them for the lies and misrepresentations and exaggerations they really are - and I shall be telling our readers why I believe they should be voting for John McCain.

But, it is late and I am going to have a nice dinner with my family and relax a bit.

Have a great evening.

If I had only known you were waiting for my listing of Obama accomplishments before making your decision of who to vote for, I would have gotten to it much sooner. So, here we go:

1) Health Insurance: In 2003, Obama passed legislation to expand and make permanent Kidcare, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, extending health care coverage to 70,000 additional children. It also expanded FamilyCare, a program providing health insurance to uninsured parents whose childrenare insured under Medicaid or KidCare, to an additional 84,000 Illinois parents.

2) Welfare Reform: Despite the Republican’s characterization of Obama as a crazy socialist and welfare czar, as an Illinois State Senator he actually sponsored Illinois’ welfare reform law that combined work requirements and time limits with significant investments in child care, job training and transportation. This led to the state of Illinois (my home state!) leading the nation in the biggest reduction in welfare caseload. He also sponsored a bill that called for Illinois to share date with researchers so they could study the law’s effects.

3) Tax Relief For Working Families: Obama created the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income working families in 2000 and successfully sponsored a measure to make the credit permanent in 2003. The law offered about $105 million in tax relief over three years.

4) Weapons Smuggling: Obama worked with Dick Lugar to expand the successful program that has destroyed Soviet nuclear warheads and to help stop the smuggling of nuclear material and keep conventional weapons out of terrorists’ hands. Martin Schramm of Scripps Howard wrote, “This is a homeland security sort of bill that America urgently needs to become law.” The initiative was signed into law in 2007.

5) Military Families: In 2007, Obama passed a bill in the Senate to relieve the strain on the families of service members, by providing 12 months of job protection when families need to leave to care for loved ones with injuries.

6) This Campaign: I know you already negated this point, AlRight, but it’s still worth mentioning. Senator Obama started his campaign 21 months ago and has over time built a multi-million dollar organization in 50 states that many consider the greatest political organization in history (I’m not just saying that because I work in it!). Of course it’s just my opinion, but I’d say that building such an organization and running it with cohesion and consistency is pretty relevant experience. But Obama’s detractors are right in one regard, Senator Obama has held exactly the same number of executive positions as Senator McCain-zero.

Now, I have more examples of Obama’s accomplishments if anyone needs them. I’m more than happy to share. You know, perhaps this was a good exercise, answering direct requests, because I’m still waiting for one entry from you, AlRight, explaining why Senator McCain’s vision for America is superior or what he’ll do to take us in the right direction. To spend so much time attacking McCain’s opponent does little to support his bid or ideas. To spend so much time on the abhorrent and misleading suggestion that anyone, let alone a presidential candidate, supports infanticide is beneath both you and this website. Let us hear about why we should support Senator McCain, and leave the fear-mongering and hate speech to Rush Limbaugh.

Friday, September 26, 2008 John McCain and Barack Obama had their final debate. McCain said Obama voted for raise taxes on those making $42,000 a year. Obama denied it.

At Friday’s Debate, Barack Obama Said It Was “Not True” That He Voted To Raise Taxes On Those Making As Little As $42,000 A Year.

JOHN MCCAIN: “But again, Senator Obama has shifted on a number of occasions. He has voted in the United States Senate to increase taxes on people who make as low as $42,000 a year.”
BARACK OBAMA: “That’s not true, John. That’s not true.”
MCCAIN: “And that’s just a fact. Again, you can look it up.”
OBAMA: “Look, it’s just not true.”
(Presidential Debate, Oxford, MS, 9/26/08)

FACT CHECK: “McCain Was Right” That Barack Obama Voted To Raise Taxes On Those Making Just $42,000

Barack Obama Voted Twice In Favor Of The Democrats’ FY 2009 Budget Resolution That Would Raise Taxes On Those Making Just $42,000 A Year.
(S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 51-44: R 2-43; D 47-1; I 2-0, 3/14/08, Obama Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #142: Adopted 48- 45: R 2- 44; D 44- 1; I 2-0, 6/4/08, Obama Voted Yea)

· In March 2008, Obama Hailed His Vote For The Budget As Making “Significant Progress In Getting Our Nation’s Priorities Back On Track.” Obama: “The budget passed by the Senate tonight makes significant progress in getting our nation’s priorities back on track. ... We need change in this country, and this budget is an important step in helping bring it about.”
(Sen. Barack Obama, “Obama Statement On The Senate’s Passage Of The FY 2009 Budget,” Press Release, obama.senate.gov, 3/14/08)

FactCheck.org: Barack Obama Did Vote For Higher Taxes On People Making $42,000 Despite Saying The Opposite. “Obama denied voting for a bill that called for increased taxes on ‘people’ making as little as $42,000 a year, as McCain accused him of doing. McCain was right, though only for single taxpayers.”
("FactChecking Debate No. 1,” FactCheck.org, http://www.factcheck.org, 9/27/08)

· “Yes, As We’ve Said Before, Obama Did In Fact Vote For A Budget Resolution That Called For Higher Federal Income Tax Rates On A Single, Non-Homeowner Who Earned As Little As $42,000 Per Year.”
("FactChecking Debate No. 1,” FactCheck.org, http://www.factcheck.org, 9/27/08)

Yesterday I mentioned Barack Obama’s support of infanticide. Chapin made a snarky comment telling me to “stay classy.”

I don’t blame him, that is one discussion I would want to avoid or deny at all costs as well. Infanticide is a disgusting, cruel, revolting inhuman act that not even Obama’s staunchest supports can defend - it is indefensible -but, it is true. Obama does in fact support infanticide.

What is infanticide? It is the killing of babies.

There is an abortion procedure called “induced labor abortion.” This is not the same as a partial birth abortion. In induced labor abortion medicine is inserted into the mother in order to make her cervix dilate. Once dilated the baby will deliver. It is assumed the baby will die during the course of delivery. However, 10 to 20% of babies survive this procedure. Some live for a few minutes. Others have lived up to 8 hours without any medical intervention.

When a bill was presented in Illinois to provide medical care for these babies who survive these botched abortions Obama voted “no,” - not once, not twice, not three times but four times- four times Obama voted to not provide any medical treatment to these surviving babies because it would possibly make the mother rethink her decision to abort in the first place, Never mind that once that baby is out of the mothers womb it is no longer a threat to the life of the mother.

Watch these videos and see his actual voting record below- then you decide who lies and who offends. Despite our views on abortion, certainly we can all agree that babies who survive botched abortions are deserving of medical care. Why doesn’t Obama and why does he lie about his own record?

View Senator Obama’s Actual Voting Record

As an Illinois State Senator, Barack Obama opposed the Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act. The legislation defined any infant born alive as a “person” who deserves full legal protection.

The Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act was modeled after the federal version, with the identical definition of “born alive.” The World Health Organization created this definition in 1950. The United Nations adopted it in 1955.

Obama actively opposed the legislation in the Illinois State Senate. In 2001, he voted no in committee, spoke against it on the Senate floor, and voted present on the floor. In 2002, he voted no in committee, spoke against it on the Senate floor, and voted no on the floor. Obama was the sole senator to ever speak against it on the Senate floor.

The U.S. Senate passed the federal bill unanimously, with Senators Barbara Boxer and Ted Kennedy speaking in support of it.

The pro-abortion group NARAL expressed neutrality on the federal bill. On August 5, 2002, President George W. Bush signed it into law.

For four years Obama has said he would have supported the federal version, but that simply isn’t true. In 2003, as chairman of the Illinois Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee, Obama voted yes on an amendment that made the Illinois version identical to the federal one. However, he then voted no on the amended bill.

(Note the first vote under “DP#1” or “Do Pass Amendment #1” was to allow the amendment to be added, making this bill identical to the federal Born Alive bill. The second vote under “DPA” or “Do Pass as Amended” was on the bill as amended. Obama voted to amend the bill and then voted against the amended bill.)

View the Republican State Senate Staff analysis here.

Click here to see a comparison of the final federal version of Born Alive and the 2003 IL version Obama opposed.

I hope all of my links are inserted correctly. To see the original and learn more, please visit Born Alive Truth for Obama’s full record.

A few days ago I asked Chapin to cite for me three specific accomplishments of Barack Obama during his time in office- either as Illinois State Senator or as a U.S Senator. I have yet to receive an answer. I don’t expect to.

Last night Obama ran his infomerical. And like Obama it was all style and no substance. Already the fact checkers are pointing out his lies, his misleading statements and lack of information presented in that 30 minute, well scripted, Hollywood, propagandized, production set with a backdrop set created from a combination of the Oval Office and Camp David – in an effort to make Obama look like something he is not- Presidential.

AP FACT CHECK: Obama Ad Avoids Budget Realities
The Associated Press takes a look at the details in Obama’s prime-time ad

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was less than upfront in his half-hour commercial Wednesday night about the costs of his programs and the crushing budget pressures he would face in office.

Obama’s assertion that “I’ve offered spending cuts above and beyond” the expense of his promises is accepted only by his partisans. His vow to save money by “eliminating programs that don’t work” masks his failure throughout the campaign to specify what those programs are - beyond the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

Calvin Woodward reports that Obama misled viewers on at least five key points in his 30-minute final argument:

Health care costs - Obama claimed his plan would lower costs by $2500 per year per family, but it doesn’t.  In fact, Obama can’t point to any particular cost reductions.  He plans to spend $50 billion over five years on modernization and chronic-disease prevention and presumes that this will lower costs in the future, but in the meantime it raises costs at least in the short run on everyone (the $50 billion doesn’t come out of thin air).

The Pay-Go of his plans - No, he hasn’t demonstrated that he’s found the revenue for his spending, despite his claims last night.  Non-partisan analysts believe that his spending programs will add at least $428 billion to the deficit in his first term, and that’s if you accept his non-specific pledge to cut spending in other areas.

Tax cuts for working class families - Before the commercial aired, he had already begun backing away from that idea because of the financial crisis, although Obama didn’t acknowledge it in the ad.

The “right” to affordable health care - Obama doesn’t guarantee coverage in any of his plans, at least not for adults.

Getting out of Iraq - Obama noted that the US spends $10 billion a month in Iraq and talked again about “bringing that war to a close” — but he’s backed away from his previous pledges to get out on a strict 16-month timetable, which is as fast as the remaining units can be properly withdrawn.

In other words, we didn’t miss much, except for the usual evasions Obama gives on the campaign trail.

Again I ask, list for me three major legislative accomplishments of Barack Obama. Maybe the readers can help you out.

What has Barack Obama done? What qualifies him to hold the highest office in this country and the most powerful office in this world? Nothing. Running for an office does not qualify you to hold that office.

More about this later. I’m going to enjoy me a morning cup of Joe.

Better yet, just watch tonight’s special. . .THEN give me your opinion, readers.

Spoken like a true conservative pundit, AlRight! You made up your mind before even watching. That’s exactly the attitude we need less of in America today. When Obama is done dodging his stance on infanticide (you keep it classy, AlRight), his secret Muslim religion, his pally-pal-pal relationships with washed up Educator of the Year terrorists, his secret radical socialist agenda, and every other attack that demonstrates clearly how the rabid conservatives have come to scraping the wood at the bottom of the barrel, we will be left with a message different very different from any other we’ve heard before. Take a moment to watch the following and remember what Barack Obama actually believes in.

For a break from the intellectual dishonesty and a real assessment of the challenges our next President will face, please read this op-ed by David Brooks from the NYT October 14th. He lays out the real choices an Obama administration would have to make, namely the choice between a return to tax-and-spend liberalism or a more moderate 21st century model. Although I agree completely with his analysis, I don’t agree with his predictions. More on that later. For now, let’s understand that the battle will take place on the following fronts:

1)The Bush Tax Cuts will expire in 2010 (so, Obama won’t be raising taxes in an economic crisis because taxes will stay the same for his first year in office). Obama (if elected) will have to make good on his pledge to cut taxes for small business (you’re welcome, Joe the Plumber), as well as honor his commitment of tax cuts for 95% of Americans. Both Obama’s and McCain’s tax plans are going to run up the deficit (that’s the truth, sorry), the real challenge for Obama will be in separating policies and spending we need now from a permanent spending spree. He’ll have to say “no” to Congress the way John McCain claims Ronald Reagan did. But about that spending. . .

2) Obama (if elected, mind you) will have to run up the deficit for all of the things that went neglected in the eight years under President Bush’s watch: Energy, Infrastructure, Health Care (will it be paid for by raising taxes on those making $250,000? Will that be enough?). He will have to decide how to spend efficiently and effectively. Again, running up the national credit card can sometimes spur the economy and address pressing issues. But a responsible leader will tell us (and Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid) that it’s only short term, that we need to pay it back eventually and get a grip.

3) Obama (if elected) will inherit Big Government. That’s something that’s not said much, but it’s true. Obama can’t create Big Government when George Bush expanded the federal government more than almost any other President in history (save probably, FDR). Will he be able to reign in a Democratic Congress that has been itching for the power to approve their pet projects in waiting? David Brooks says that he’ll side with the liberal camp, while I think having Robert Rubin as an advisor is a pretty clear indication that he will keep the deficit in mind.

At the end of the day, it’s true that we campaign in poetry and govern in prose. Barack Obama’s ultimate challenge (if elected), will be to continue to inspire the American people to reach our greatest potential with a resounding ‘Yes We Can’, while simultaneously addressing the potential recklessness of a Democratic Congress with a firm ‘No We Can’t’.