DNC Ad uses lies, soldiers under fire

Howard "The Scream" Dean and the DNC have created a major smear campaign targeting John McCain's Iraq policy. To be honest, I expected lies, but this clearly crossed all lines of decency and integrity. The video is disturbing and violent, see for yourself here.

First, the selective memory. They quote McCain as being "fine with 100 years" in Iraq, a claim refuted by nonpartisan Factcheck, and other reliable parties. Here's what the AP said over *two months* ago:

The Democrats leave out a vital caveat. When McCain was asked about Bush's theory that U.S. troops could be in Iraq for 50 years, the senator said: "Maybe 100. As long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed, it's fine with me, and I hope it would be fine with you, if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where al-Qaida is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day."

A troop presence that does not involve Americans being harmed is, by definition, not a war.

This is like snipping a movie review which said "definitely not THE BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!" So already we have violated high school newspaper level ethics.

But even MORE disturbing is the use of images of American soldiers being blown up - on screen - and the implication that McCain endorses or perpetuates this. The Republican National Committee is calling shenanigans on the ad which "features 'an IED blowing up near US soldiers,' an image ABC confirms that was used in "Fahrenheit 9/11."

The disturbing images in question are, according to ABC News, stock footage which Uber-jerk Michael Moore saw fit to use in his R-rated movie - obviously NOT suitable for a commercial which may be seen by children, military families with loved ones in Iraq, and thinking citizens who deserve better.

PLEASE take a moment to speak out against this ad. Contact the FCC, your local cable provider or local stations and demand that they not subject American audiences to violent lies.

UPDATE 4:30pm PDT !!  GOP.com has a petition to sign in protest of the DNC's distortions.  The ads will be shown on (big surprise) CNN and MSNBC, please click to complain!

  

Thanks to Matt at Blogs 4 McCain and Hot Air for backup sources.

Health care: One size does NOT fit all

Hillary and other Democrats have already spent millions of dollars and hours attempting to force a one-size-fits-all health care plan through Congress. It was a bad idea then, it's a bad idea now. In a country that prides itself on the diversity and individual freedoms of its citizens, it makes no sense to put life-and-death decisions into the hands of a federal bureaucracy. We don't all speak the same language or share the same values or priorities - why should we all be forced into a lowest-common-denominator system?

John McCain has reformed allegedly hopeless causes on a regular basis (perhaps that's why St. Jude still has a place in his campaign). See McCain's comments on health care priorities here.





Thanks to the ever-vigilant Mad Irishman for the tip.

Andi in NH: John McCain is the Best Man

New Hampshire is a small state, but its hearty voters play a crucial role in continuing American election traditions. Andi, 61, of Goffstown, NH is a Mom, grandmother, local historian, and true-blue McCain supporter for al seasons. She has spoken of greeting the McCain volunteer staff before they even got set up for their events - Andi is as true a fan as you'll ever meet!

Here are her thoughts on why John McCain is the Best Man for America's Commander-in-Chief. Thanks Andi for sharing!

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John McCain has served his Country with Pride for many years. After spending over five years as a POW during the Vietnam War, he has learned to deal with many of the tough issues that will in fact face him during his Presidency. I have no doubt in my own mind that John is the man I want to be answering that telephone when it rings at 3 a.m. or any other time day or night. He has the experience, knowledge and above all the courage to stand up and do what is right for the American people.

Living here in New Hampshire I am one of the lucky ones as I had the chance to make the rounds attending as many of his town hall meetings as I chose to attend. Each time I attended one I learned something new about John McCain.

John McCain - as is written on his bus - does in fact give you the "Straight Talk." This is just one of many things I admire about him. If he thinks that there is a problem that something is not working as well as it should be, he speaks about it, along with how he'll make changes for the better. As he has often stated himself, we may not all agree all the time, however he is willing to listen to what you have to say.

While attending these town hall meetings, I found it very interesting that he never once shied away from any question someone thought to ask him. John answered any and all questions put to him with the utmost intellect he shows all the time. He is one very smart man.

I have heard that he himself has admitted that he 'may not know much about the economy.' Why so many have to make a big deal out of one minor detail is beyond me. So what - does everyone know all there is about everything? I doubt it, at least John has the courage to admit it. Like the rest of us, John McCain is human. He is intelligent and sensible enough to know he knows he needs good people working for him in the White House, I have no doubt he will do it.


One thing I'm sick and tired of hearing about is his age. 'Big deal' that he will in fact turn 72 in August, and be the oldest person elected President. With age comes wisdom - knowing all he has to know to keep our Country running as it should, while also tending to our troops, securing their safety, and more importantly bringing them home when the time is right. John will not rush into bringing them home without first securing all that needs to be. He knows enough about war to know that we can not in any way just 'hit and run off' leaving those people to fend for themselves.

John McCain will make sure that the United States of America is kept safe throughout his Presidency.

A Clear Choice in Just 5 Questions

On The View this week, Cindy McCain commented that her husband is "very different" from the Democratic contenders - a good thing, she said, because "voters will have a clear choice.” Yet I still encounter a large number of Moms who are just plain undecided. They see explicitly conflicting stories and just don’t trust the media to make this important decision for them.

If you (or a friend) can’t decide whether to vote for Obama (or Clinton) or McCain, ask yourself these questions (and watch for more detailed commentary next week).

If each candidate is in the White House in 2009…

Would your family’s taxes be higher than they are now? McCain is the only candidate who would maintain the Bush tax cuts, among other low-tax solutions. (Alan Greenspan and other financial experts agree McCain has the best economic plan for America.)

Would your Congressman’s bills requesting $5 million for grizzly bear research be signed into law? John McCain had zero earmarks last year, and has vowed to veto any pork-barrel bill which crosses his desk.

Would you have the chance to choose your own doctor, hospital, or even medical procedures? McCain opposes a taxpayer-funded Big Brother system and supports consumer choices.

Would military decisions - affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands at home and abroad - be made out of strategic necessity or for political gain? As the only veteran in the race, with two sons serving on active duty, McCain’s military policy is based on years of experience, respect for the judgment of the front-line leadership, and awareness of the high personal price military families pay.

Would an abusive boyfriend be able to take your 14-yr-old daughter to another state for a taxpayer-funded abortion without your knowledge? McCain has consistently voted for parental consent and is the only candidate who doesn’t support taxpayer funding of abortion.

If you still think there is no difference among the candidates on these issues, I invite you to share your questions at McCain Now or the Yahoo McCain HQ. These are both diverse groups featuring Democrats, Independents, and Republicans from all across the country who have discovered John McCain *is* the clear choice for President.

Comic relief: His and hers

As I joined several male McCain bloggers for a post-primary live chat, it occurred to me that I do have some male readers and every now and then should throw them a proverbial bone. So today I have two funnies for you!

For the gents: Johnny "Pilot of Pain" McCain introduces the WWE (I for one would love to hear him talkin' like this on CNN!

And for the ladies: From SNL a few years back, don't bring around a cloud to rain on HIS parade....

Giving Earth its Worth

Despite allegations to the contrary, both Republicans and Democrats live on the same planet Earth. Yet environmental policy and priority is largely seen as a 'blue state' issue. You know the stereotype: we Republicans pollute the air smoking our large cigars while we count our bags of non-recycled paper money and drive our Hummers over baby seals.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn at the recent convention that conservation has, appropriately enough, a conservative Republican legacy - everything from national parks to the EPA occurred under Republican leadership. The Democrats get 'brownie points' (greenie points?) for environmental concern because of the aggressive campaigning on this point, but my generation's lasting legacy won't just be about regulations affecting light bulbs or spotted owls.

Responsible environmental policy stems from responsible individual behavior, not the other way around. Free markets allow common sense, and not bureaucrats, to incentivize fuel-efficient cars or funky lightbulbs. McCain comments on this market-driven change, and shows willingness to consider real solutions to the problem:

"John McCain believes that America's economic and environmental interests are not mutually exclusive, but rather inextricably linked...

He has offered common sense approaches to limit carbon emissions by harnessing market forces that will bring advanced technologies, such as nuclear energy, to the market faster, reduce our dependence on foreign supplies of energy, and see to it that America leads in a way that ensures all nations do their rightful share."

See more about McCain's priorities for protecting our earth here.

News flash: toddlers get upset!

The Washington Post got bored this weekend and turned to a topic I am an expert on: temper tantrums! Mommy readers in need of a belly-laugh will enjoy this 'expose' on John McCain's temper. Michael Leahy writes of McCain:

"He recalls in his writings how, as a toddler, he sometimes held his breath and fainted during moments of fury."

This sentiment was published in a front-page story in a major national newspaper. Folks, I am not a professional journalist. But I know news when I see it. And this clearly does not qualify. My own wonderful kids have recently dunked the remote in yogurt, flushed beads in my toilet, and kicked baby sister in the face. But I pray that the American media will deem this irrelevant *seventy years from now.*

Being serious, real people - whether they are 3 or 71 - mess up sometimes. McCain was tortured for 5 1/2 years in Vietnam, challenged from all sides in 25 years in Congress, and elected successfully numerous times without providing any earmarked funds for his local constitutents. Is this *really* insufficient proof of his character and competence?

To the journalists who continue to dig for nuggets of dirt on McCain - please show a little faith in your fellow Americans. With plenty of worthwhile facts available , there is no excuse for this pitiful non-story taking up valuable real estate. (Please DON'T make me blog about anal-retentiveness stemming from the potty-training years with Nana McCain.) I can do better unpaid and untrained with a fussy toddler in my lap.


Thanks to Brad at McCain Victory 08 for pointing out my opportunity to blog about toddlers and stay on-topic.

Religion Redux: Faithful *less* bitter

Obama’s ‘bitter people clinging to religion’ comments yielded some interesting discussion in the media (and, I might add, in our household). Many pundits (and Americans, especially Democrats) defended the remarks, claiming that there was a lot of truth to his comments, that people were turning to religion and other traditions out of bitterness or disillusionment, financial and otherwise.

Rasmussen, not to be outdone, asked 1000 adults how important ‘faith and religion’ are to their lives. 80% said very or somewhat important, only 8% said ‘not at all important.’ Interestingly, the financially-secure, content people were MORE likely to be religious (so much for the theory that religion is the last resort of bitter, government-neglected losers.)

	Finances improving	Finances getting worse
How important is religion?	67% very important	55% very important
Attend church/worship?	51% attend once/week	31% attend once/week
Read Bible	58% read weekly or more	56% rarely or never read
	Not worried about job loss	Worried about job loss
How important is religion?	58% very important	47% very important
	Employer growing	Employer shrinking
Attend church/worship?	45% attend once/week	22% attend once/week

I'm not out to convert anyone (except, perhaps to McCainism!). But Americans deserve to know that their religious compatriots are actually more upbeat than less observant neighbors. Maybe Obama should start attending his church after all.

St. Jude: Hope of the Hopeless

I stumbled on this tour with Campaign Manager Rick Davis, who with his multiple computers and Girl Scout cookie stash is a man after my own heart. (This brought back waves of nostalgia for the cubicle I traded in to raise my two children at home.)

I almost dropped my laptop when 6 minutes in, the interviewer asks about a St. Jude statue on Rick's desk. While we Catholics don't 'pray to statues,' the tradition of saints is an important one - both I and my mother have this same statue in our homes. St. Jude is known as 'Hope of the Hopeless', relegated to desperate causes because of his coincidental name. Jude was so similar to Judas (Iscariot) that superstitious early Catholics sought his intercession only when all else had failed. I have indeed known non-Catholic and even agnostic friends to call on St. Jude in a pinch.

I love the St. Jude metaphor for the allegedly-dead campaign, the unsinkable Senator who took flak from the right and the left, but rose like the Phoenix from which he hails. Just goes to show great things can happen for those who believe.

If you are a person of faith, please take a moment to share John McCain's vision for America with your spiritual community. (See McCain comment on the role of his faith in his life.)

McCain VP poll results

In a VERY non-scientific poll, Moms for McCain readers liked Condi Rice or Mitt Romney for VP. I'll comment on strengths & weaknesses of each candidate in the future. For now, Romney has expressed interest but will have to fight public resistance, Rice insists she doesn't want the job but there is lobbying to encourage her to consider it. There is an excellent article about some VP-selection criteria here.

I did want to mention that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who I've heard mentioned numerous times as a possible VP candidate, gave birth today to her 5th child, a boy named Trig (4 weeks early, she went into labor during a Governor's conference!). Palin gained notoriety for her 'maverick-esque' commitment to fighting pork barrel spending in a state notorious for it. She also was featured in Vogue and has been a media darling in a party (and a state) known for being male-dominated. Governor Palin, if you or someone from your office will send me your address we Moms will chip in for a fruit basket!

Stay tuned...and please participate in our NEW poll about important issues in this campaign...

McCain on MSNBC Hardball at Villanova

John McCain is definitely Young at Heart. This is not the entire video but gives a sampling of how well he was received by the college audience. What a sense of humor too!

Johnny's Angels: The McCain Women

I've been hoping to hear more from the campaign about the incredible McCain women, and it appears my wish is being granted!

I loved this piece in the Chicago Tribune. Cindy conducts herself with poise and grace even under stressful circumstances, I think she will be an outstanding First Lady. Cindy has a sub-site on the official campaign site, you can sign up as a 'Woman for McCain!' . The younger woman in the picture is daughter Meghan of the revealing and visually-stimulating McCain Blogette. And don't forget John's mother, Roberta 'Nana' McCain, in her mid-90's and still as feisty as ever. So much for being too old!)

Please take a minute to sign up, and let the campaign know that what issues you want to hear about as a female voter. More women voted in 2004 than men, and we have the grassroots influence to get our guy in office. Our voices must be heard!

PS - UPDATE (4pm): Looks like the Clinton campaign is reading my blog and stealing my ideas!!

McCain's View From the High Road

Watching the Democrats debate tonight, I was somewhat surprised that both candidates mentioned McCain and his candidacy in their first 15 minutes. Considering that this was their night to differentiate themselves from each other, it seemed ironic to hear talk of party unity while refusing to unite on a shared ticket and giving unsolicited airtime to their shared opponent.

Whether or not you believe in a liberal media bias (more on this later), you can't deny that John McCain has had less "buzz" lately than either hard-campaigning opponent. But fortunately in the long run quality matters too. In a week full of incendiary comments, John McCain's campaign team asked bloggers to avoid the (nearly uncontrollable!) urge to deingrate either competitor, but to focus on facts and take the high road.

So for everyone's edification, here is how I, a relative newcomer to the political fray, see the 'high road':

The high road means your strengths are more compelling than your opponents' weaknesses.

The high road means telling people what you think, not what you think they want to hear.

The high road means you are accountable for the money you spend, the people you befriend and the decisions you make.

The high road means admitting when you're wrong, and even when your opponents are right.

The high road means keeping your promises - and apologizing proactively and completely if circumstances make that truly impossible.

The high road means not selling out your family or friends to make a political point.

The high road means doing your homework before you open your mouth.

The high road means your constituents deserve to see and hear facts so they can judge for themselves.

The high road means you tell Americans the same thing face-to-face in a town hall meeting that you tell reporters on your plane and small cadres of admirers.

The high road means you have the ability to laugh at yourself and not your opponents (unless, of course, they're laughing too).

The high road means you are campaigning the way you would lead the country.

If you value the high road, I urge you to put your full support - time, talent, and treasure behind John McCain.

Barbara in GA: Women and the Maverick

This is an outstanding post by Barbara in Georgia, an Democrat-leaning Independent, Mom, Grandmother, and business owner, who supports John McCain. Thank you for sharing!

See more from Barbara and other pro-McCain resources at the new Ning forum.

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Women are the newest kids on the block when it comes to voting, and that’s a historical fact. Women weren’t given the right to vote in America until almost mid 20th century, and now in the early 21st century the political arena is replete with women to include a woman running for President, and as my granddaughter might say, how cool is that for our side. As a woman myself, I swell with pride at the very thought of how far we’ve come in such a short time, because we earned it! But I won’t be voting for her – this woman running for President - because my country is about more, a lot more, than pride in my own gender.



My country is about our husbands and sons voluntarily shipping overseas to war with a distinct possibility of not coming back home. It’s about the price I pay for gas to travel 50 miles one way to take care of my 90 year old Mother who lives on social security and can’t afford a new Easter dress. It’s about my government spending more money than I can make for ridiculous causes like studying the DNA of bears because someone slipped a check into the right hands on the senate floor. It’s about the fact that we can’t afford health insurance premiums that present more like extortion payments than health coverage, and even if you pay the extortionists God help you if you actually file a claim. No, the problems of my country transcend any personal pride I may have in the gender of a candidate in this 2008 Presidential Race.



I need a President who will fight for me, not just stand behind a podium and tell me they’ll fight for me, but really bust in on day one and get the job done. I don’t need a President that says I have to buy health insurance – excuse me, what I have to buy is groceries for my family and I could do that more easily if I weren’t paying $3.50 a gallon for gas at the pump. I have to pay my home mortgage, and I could do that a lot more easily if I didn’t have to pay more taxes to finance more pork barrel spending for the government. I need a President that understands my need to feel secure in my own home, and on the streets. I need a President that’s not afraid to go against the grain on Capitol Hill and do what’s right for me.



Honestly, and in my own defense, I’ve never voted for a Republican in my life, and I’ve been voting for 35 years. However, I’ve never considered myself a Democrat, either. I’m one of those American voters that try very hard every four years to strip all of the candidates of their labels – republican, democrat, liberal, conservative – and judge them simply for who they are today, who they were yesterday, and what I believe they’ll be tomorrow. I try to judge their abilities knowing that I’m not voting for the King of a Monarchy here, only someone who will fight with Congress and the Senate to try to make my country more solvent and user friendly for the next four years.



John McCain really comes off as a quiet candidate with very little to say lately. That may be because he can’t get a word in edgewise between Clinton and Obama, but I digress. I had to really search out his record and his policies because there are many and span a lot of years, but when I did, of course, I found he isn’t really such a quiet man and never has been. He’s been quite the “Maverick” on Capitol Hill for decades now, and how odd is it that during an election year when everyone is screaming “we need change” we’ve overlooked something in John McCain - you don’t get a reputation as a “Maverick” for wanting to implement the same old thing. No, the very definition of a Maverick would be one that not only talks change, but sets about to create change. While “the kids” promise and hope for change, the “old man” has already earned a long standing reputation for fighting for and bringing about change. It doesn’t matter to me if he crosses every aisle in the world to accomplish that, and I’m not offended that he would unite with a Democrat or an Independent or a liberal to do that. After all, isn’t that an example of the unity that we are seeking??



I don’t agree with all that John McCain says. If I did, I’d worry about myself. But I’m smart enough to know that I’m not qualified to debate him about some of the issues we disagree on. Thus, I bow to his expertise in those areas, as he is far more credible and knowledgeable on certain issues than I. The war issue, for example. As I’ve said in previous posts, we can argue the principles of war all day long, but the magnitude of realtime military knowledge and strategy it takes to wage a successful campaign in Iraq or anywhere else would absolutely boggle the minds of the vast majority of us. And if I have to place my trust in anyone concerning these very sensitive matters that our sons and daughters very lives depend upon, you can bet I will place it with the man who knows the most about it. No question that’s John McCain.

How do you spell relief? M-C-C-A-I-N.

I'm not a coffee drinker, so few things perk up my morning like John McCain saving me money in front of a dozen bright American flags.

Some ideas include a 'vacation' from gas tax this summer (good), doubling the tax exemption for each child (better), and suspending non-military discretionary spending for one year (best - similar to the moratorium that over 70 of your Senators, the same ones who are ranting about recession, voted against).

A few highlights from McCain's remarks:

• "We know from experience that no serious reform of the current tax code will come out of Congress, so now it is time to turn the decision over to the people." (if you're reading, that's us!)

• "In so many ways, we need to make a clean break from the worst excesses of both political parties...somewhere along the way, too many Republicans in Congress became indistinguishable from the big-spending Democrats they used to oppose."

• "Both [ Democratic opponents ] promise big 'change.' And a trillion dollars in new taxes over the next decade would certainly fit that description....All these tax increases are the fine print under the slogan of 'hope:' They're going to raise your taxes by thousands of dollars per year — and they have the audacity to hope you don't mind."

To borrow a phrase, Bully for you, John McCain. Bully for you!!

April 15, 2009

Attorney General Rob McKenna spoke this weekend about the resurgence of ‘Red Pride’ here in Washington State. He praised John McCain as a war hero and gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi as a ‘fiscal hero’ (at which point there was a palpable murmur among us die-hard McCainiacs, who suppressed the urge to yell “he’s that too!”)

Today millions of Americans will groan and moan as they pay their taxes. The reality is a McCain presidency is our only option to avoid a dramatic, abrupt increase in taxes right as our economic belt is its tightest. The repealable tax cuts disappear in 3 years and the Democratic Congress has a vested interest in making them go away for good. The spectre of higher taxes on small and large businesses makes it harder to compete and easier to outsource or eliminate jobs. High taxes are the dam that keeps economic waters (and money) from flowing.

Despite humble assertions that he’s not an expert, McCain’s common-sense approach to taxes will put more money in the pockets of virtually all Americans. See the major bullet points of his plan here. Top business leaders like Steve Forbes, Carly Fiorina (formerly of HP), and Meg Whitman (formerly of EBay, fellow Tiger) all agree that McCain is the best financial choice for individuals and businesses. Before you rush to the post office tonight, punch your numbers into this spreadsheet by leading economist Ted Frank and think about who you want in office on April 15, 2009.

Thanks MadIrishman and TaxProf for the info…

Faith of our (Bitter) Fathers?

In my 31 years, I have lived in Red, Blue and 'Purple states. In college I had to explain to people with Ivy League educations that yes, we did have cable TV in Ohio and no, we don't drive tractors down the streets (which, by the way, are paved). Living in Washington State now, I endure eye-rolling when I don't shell out 50% more for organic baby food for a child who has repeatedly tried to eat the escalator handle at the mall (ewwww). Yes, sometimes people in different parts of America just don't understand each other at all.

Over the weekend, despite being from Illinois (a state with both plentiful big-city and small-town voters), Barack Obama decided the best way to court the 'flyover state' voters was to insult their intelligence.

"And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." -Barack Obama

Are people in America today frustrated and disillusioned with government? Yes (although moreso with the Democrats in Congress than with Bush). Are all of people's beliefs built from bitterness? No (unless, perhaps, you're Pastor Jeremiah Wright). Should we rely on the government to solve our emotional (or other) problems? No.

Senator Obama, rather than apologizing (ahem), decided to dismiss critcism of his remarks as politically motivated. To that I say this: Senator Obama, I take my 'religion' very seriously. The reason there *is* an America is because a group of intrepid pilgrims 'got bitter' and 'clung to their religion' when their 'government failed them.' Those 'frustrations' created our country, NOT the other way around.

Faith and freedom to disagree are not 'last resorts', but rather the underpinning of everything in America. If you believe that too, please speak up on Facebook, on pro-McCain sites, and most importantly, in the voting booth.

Thanks to Adam Schmidt at Blogs for McCain for the heads-up.

Light side: Little Miss McCain II

Fellow McCain Mom Summer in Tampa Bay, Florida was kind enough to give me the scoop on her sweetie's new song (see the Original here).

Please note, despite Senator Obama's obvious expectations, this McCain supporter is neither bitter nor gun-toting. Perhaps there really is a vast right-wing conspiracy...

Developing story: Republican vs Democratic Convention

Today I spent my sunny Saturday at the King County Republican Convention. Some inspiring speeches and encouraging words from Rightful Washington First Lady Terry Rossi, Rep. Dave Reichert, Attorney General Rob McKenna and others. Unfortunately the rather arcane application of Roberts' Rules of Order stalled discussions and the relatively low turnout of elected delegates prevented meaningful discussion of platform issues. But overall it was exciting, got to meet some interesting and diverse people, and I have a renewed sense of pride in my Republican principles. (My fellow blogger Michael commented on his local convention experience here.)

A rather dramatic contrast was the recent Democratic meeting, reported on by a very liberal local paper and discussed this morning. As Republicans, we may disagree on issues or candidates, but voting DOWN the Pledge of Allegiance?! Ouch.

Interesting side-note: there was a brief standing recognition for veterans (hear, hear) - I would guesstimate about 40-50% of the 800 attendees stood. I'm conducting more research on McCain's support among military families and will report back soon.

America is not a 'guinea pig'

Hillary Clinton's campaign delivered what may turn out to be the most effective pro-McCain ad of the election season - the infamous '3 am phone call' underscoring the need for an experienced President on duty in the Oval Office.

I personally was amused by the uproar, since I've had two babies in the last 5 years and have been up at 3am dealing with a 'crisis' on a regular basis. My firstborn son survived my 'learning curve', but only after a few years of parenting do I know a 'tired' cry from a 'hungry' cry. My daughter (2nd child) has greatly benefitted from and I can identify and meet her needs with more accuracy and fewer tears.

As we consider our options for President, I really believe it is crucial to consider candidates' relevant experience and what impact that would have on their administration. The U.S. Military is a multi-trillion-dollar organization with hundreds of thousands of employees in dozens of countries. Thousands of lives are at stake every day and thousands of families are impacted by every decision of a Commander-in-Chief. Family ties notwithstanding, John McCain is the only candidate with ANY military training or hands-on experience AT ALL. Not if, but WHEN something happens that requires a quick decision, who do you trust to separate a 'battle cry' from mere posturing? Who do you trust to make the right call when lives are at stake?

But it's not just military experience where McCain has the edge. McCain has 25 years of Senate experience, approximately 800% more than Obama and 300% more than Clinton. All three candidates have spoken of uniting across party lines, but only McCain has the experience, endorsements, and record to back up this claim. Not if, but WHEN misguided, potentially expensive legislation arrives in the Oval Office, who do you trust to veto it?

It's been said that good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment. America is not a guinea pig - real change has to be accompanied by good judgment, and only McCain has the experience to bring that to the Oval Office.

Q&A with Summer, Mom to America's Littlest "Patriette"

So much campaign stuff is so serious and negative, it was a breath of fresh air to see this little one singing John McCain's praises.

Imagine my delight to hear from her Mom, Summer, of Tampa Bay, Florida, who found Moms4McCain (!) and took the time to share her reasons for supporting his candidacy.


Q: How did this video come to be and what kinds of responses have you gotten?


A: My mother wrote another song she is working on doing another video. My daughter likes being on "TV" as she calls it! I'm sure that McCain would much rather have a sweet little girl campaigning for him than for instance than the "Obama Girl". But that's pop culture for you.

I have heard some comments about "brainwashing your kids", etc. Am I trying to brainwash her - NO! Really I'm just trying to show everyone what a smart, well spoken and absolutely adorably cute little 3 year old she is. (I know I'm biased but still!)

Q: We know your daughter's views, but what about you?
I am a Republican, but I always look at the issues. No candidate is going to be perfect and in fact they all have many flaws. But what is important to me are the issues and how each candidate will stand on them.

I have a lot of respect for John McCain. He is older, but in my eyes that's a good thing because he has more experience and wisdom. Secondly, my father is a Vietnam Veteran (Semper Fi) and knowing John McCain is a former POW to me signifies that he can stand strong and not back down and be the firm leader that I believe our country needs. Most importantly I like his stand on Human Dignity & the Sanctity of Life.

Q: How do your political views fit into your job as a parent?

A: I think it is very important to teach our kids even at a young age how important it is to vote. I think our kids need to learn to look at the issues, and do research on their own to see who they support, rather than taking the media's word for it, or anyone else's including their parents.

I want my daughter to grow up excited to live in America and excited to be able to vote. I want her to be confident in what she believes and know how important it is to stand up for her beliefs. I see too many young adults today that laugh or joke when it comes to election time. I don't think they know how serious it is and how voting really can make change and affect their lives.

THANK YOU to Summer and her family for lightening the political mood and sharing some interesting insights.

PS – Moms4McCain is now in *21* states across the USA! Spread the word using the link below to email articles, or forward the link to a friend.

McCain Conservativism = Common Sense

As McCain supporters, we have been handed a golden opportunity. The Democrats are fighting like bratty 7th-graders and all we have to do is present a united front behind an outstanding, experienced, principled grown-up.

But headstrong Americans that we are, we demand much of our elected officials, and are quick to complain when they don't suit us 100%. (To quote fellow Republican Abe Lincoln, 'you can't please all of the people all of the time.') So despite months of discussion, I will still encounter people who insist that McCain 'isn't conservative enough' and they are hesitant to give him their full support. Some have even threatened to withhold their votes to send a message (the message, of course, is welcome in, President Obama).

I don't know how each individual defines 'conservative', there is an excellent piece by SC governor Mark Sanford here. In the meantime, here are some key FACTS from McCain's record:

• McCain received an 83% rating from the American Conservative Union, thus even the hardest-core conservatives acknowledge McCain is with them on the overwhelming majority of his votes. (Clinton and Obama were each 0%.)

• In a 25-year Senate career, McCain voted pro-life 125 out of 130 times. He has been endorsed by pro-life leaders such as Gary Bauer, former candidate Sam Brownback and National Right to Life. (NARAL is spending millions on an anti-McCain campaign. I will not deign to include a link to their pages but suffice it to say they do an excellent job establishing McCain as solidly pro-life.)

• McCain is the only candidate who has any military service experience at all. He has two sons currently serving on active duty and military legacy is a crucial part of McCain's character and experience. He has been endorsed by Henry Kissinger, George Schultz, Alexander Haig, Norman Schwarzkopf and over 100 military Admirals and Generals. And his support among military families, despite ridiculously selective reporting by some media outlets, is strong, see one Army Mom's comments.

• In a 25-year Senate career, McCain's bills included ZERO dollars in earmarks ('pork barrel') spending. In comparison, Hillary had $300 million LAST YEAR ALONE. Obama had a mere $80 million in his 3rd year in office.) According to Sanford, McCain NEVER voted for a new tax and supports Bush's tax cuts.

• McCain was offered the opportunity to switch parties. And despite media and political pressure, he declined. At least twice that I can document, in 2001/02 and 2004. (This to me emphasizes that he appeals to liberals enough to get elected, but has been sincerely loyal to Republican and conservative causes.)

Could McCain (or anyone running) legitimately declare themselves to be 100% conservative? No. John McCain isn't running for President of the Republican party, or of the conservative movement. He is running for President of the very divided United States. A country in which a large majority of people disapprove of both the Republican President AND the Democratic-led Congress. A country which right now is up for grabs - we WILL have change under the next administration, we just have to choose the leader of that charge.

Any American who values limited government, responsible spending, strong military and foreign policy should vote for McCain with your head held high. Not merely because the alternatives are morally or logistically repulsive. McCain is the kind of President who can restore dignity to the Oval Office and credibility to the values conservatives cherish - if we show we have the dignity and unity the Democrats don't.

Terrorism: A Disease we must cure

I freely admit I am not an expert on the Iraq war. I don't allow violent TV news around my young children (thus around me), and most of the internet media and news articles I've read left me feeling skeptical and even less informed about what was actually going on. (I learned a lot from Q&A with a military Mom for McCain, and hope to 'chat' with more Moms in the service in coming weeks.)


You don't have to be an expert on war - or on American history - to know that leaving jobs unfinished is never wise. This is the military equivalent of cutting off a course of antibiotics after 3 days because it made your skin itchy, only to discover 2 weeks later the disease has returned with a vengeance and must now be treated by a hospital stay and an IV drip.

Terrorism is a disease that can't be treated with Neosporin or good wishes or greeting cards. We need to have as much information and as much strength as possible to identify as many threats as possible and 'nip them in the bud.' When lives - military and civilian, American and foreign - are at stake, we have to err on the side of caution or the consequences could be disastrous not just for the President but for the entire world.

Commander-in-Chief John McCain may get razzberries from anti-war protesters and frowns from frustrated ideologues. But that's okay. Because he cares less about winning a campaign than about winning a war.

And that's the kind of integrity we should vote for.



See McCain's comments on today's meeting with General Petraeus below.

Thanks to McCain Blogs for the heads-up.



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My Friends,

Today, I had the privilege to hear from General Petraeus and Ambassador
Crocker on the current state of the war in Iraq and the progress that has been made there. We owe these two patriotic Americans a debt of gratitude for their selfless service to our country.

At the beginning of last year, we were engaged in a great debate about what to do in Iraq. Four years of mismanaged war had brought us almost to the point of no return. Sectarian violence in Iraq was spiraling out of control, life had become a struggle for survival, and a full-scale civil war
seemed almost unavoidable. Al Qaeda in Iraq was on the offensive and entire Iraqi provinces were under the control of extremists.

However, rather than retreat from Iraq and face the terrible consequences
that would ensue, we chose to change strategies and turn things around. I was proud to be an outspoken advocate for this change in strategy and endured much criticism from members of both parties. As I’ve said time and time again, I’d rather lose a campaign than lose a war.

“Never despair,” Winston Churchill once said. And we did not despair. We
were tested, and we rose to the challenge. Some political leaders close their
eyes to the progress that the surge has made possible, and want only to argue about the past.

But the question for the next president is not about the past, but about
the future and how to secure it.

While the job of bringing security to Iraq is not finished - as the recent
fighting in Basra and elsewhere vividly demonstrated - we are no longer staring into the abyss of defeat, and we can now look ahead to the genuine prospect of success. Success - the establishment of a peaceful, stable, prosperous, democratic state that poses no threat to its neighbors and contributes to the defeat of terrorists - this success is within reach.

Should the United States choose to withdraw from Iraq as Hillary Clinton
and Barack Obama wish to do; before adequate security is established, we will exchange for this victory a defeat that is terrible and long lasting. Al Qaeda in Iraq would proclaim victory and increase its efforts to provoke sectarian tensions, pushing for a full scale civil war that could descend into genocide and destabilize the Middle East. Iraq would become a failed state that could become a haven for terrorists to train and plan their operations.

We cannot allow this to happen.

The American people deserve the truth from their leaders. Doing the right
thing in the heat of a political campaign is not always the easiest thing. But
when 4,000 Americans have given their lives so that America does not suffer the worst consequences of our failure in Iraq, it is a necessary thing. In such a grave matter, we must put the nation’s interests before our own ambitions.

My opponents’ calls for an immediate withdraw, regardless of the
consequences, is a reckless and dangerous move that would threaten the long term security of our country. Leadership is not about bowing to the political pressures, it is about thinking through the consequences and having the experience and judgment to make the tough decisions.

Senators Clinton and Obama will surely echo the sentiments of their
extreme liberal supporters and call for a pre-emptive withdrawal from Iraq. The American people deserve better. I encourage both candidates to move beyond empty and destructive rhetoric and elevate the debate to a level that the country deserves. There are tough decisions ahead and America deserves leaders that are up to the challenge.

As president, I will ensure that our troops come home victorious in
this war that is part of the larger struggle against radical Islamic extremism
and will continue to make keeping our nation secure my highest priority.

Sincerely,

John McCain

P.S. - Please join me by signing this petition today, calling on
Senators Clinton and Obama to support our troops on the ground and the mission they are carrying out.

John McCain: Common-sense Conservativism

"Common sense conservatives believe in a short list of self-evident truths:

• love of country
• respect for our unique influence on history
• a strong defense and strong alliances based on mutual respect and mutual responsibility
• steadfast opposition to threats to our security and values that matches resources to ends wisely and
• confident, reliable, consistent leadership to advance human rights, democracy, peace and security."

-Senator John McCain

This awesome quote was brought to my attention by a blog announcement that all 50 states have Google groups set up in support of John McCain! Please take a minute to check out these groups to learn more about getting involved.

Light a candle or curse the darkness?

The media is quick to report that our much-maligned President Bush has an approval rating of only 32%. But I was surprised to learn that the Democratic-controlled Congress has even LOWER approval ratings, averaging a mere 21%. A similar margin - about 4 out of 5 people - said our country is headed in the wrong direction and people blame the government more than anyone else for economic and other woes. So the billion-dollar question: what is truly wrong with our government and how do we fix it?

I believe John McCain has shared the missing piece of the puzzle. It is not glamorous and it leaves traditional political media scratching their heads. It's not a magical end to war and terrorism. It's not Uncle Sam paying for Grandma's medications or your mortgage payment. The unpopular reality is this: there is no substitute, no shortcut, for personal responsibility.

Even in the midst of celebrating his unarguably heroic service, McCain has admitted his own mistakes and imperfections, and (gasp) shared what he learned from them. Speaking at the Naval Academy last week, McCain called for a return to responsibility not just in government but in all citizens:

"If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you are disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them."

The good citizen and wise person pursues happiness that is greater than comfort, more sublime than pleasure. The cynical and indifferent know not what they miss. For their mistake is an impediment not only to our progress as a civilization but to their happiness as individuals."

Glamorous? No. True? Absolutely.

To anyone who is unsure if McCain is 100% perfect, I will spare you some legwork: he's not. But he is refreshingly honest, always accountable, unwavering on issues of life or death and willing to make even politically-unpopular decisions. We are handing our next President a complex war, a volatile global and domestic economy, oversight of a divided and ineffective legislature, multiple judicial appointments, and a host of challenges yet unforeseen. Let's hand that responsibility to a man who takes it seriously.

Update: Article on Jimmy McCain

I wrote earlier about McCain's two sons currently serving in the military, but in my research found a distinct lack of information about his youngest son Jimmy, a Marine. I hate to promote anything they do, but the New York Times has a more detailed article on Jimmy and his father's response to his deployment.

Thanks to Moe Lane at RedState for pointing it out...

Leslie in Florida: Why I Support John McCain

Moms for McCain is now in 10 U.S. States! Keep spreading the word ladies!!

This is an unsolicited piece from Leslie in Florida titled 'Why I Support John McCain.' If you agree with Leslie, please take a moment to get involved -tell a friend, make a donation, put a bumper sticker on your car. We have a golden opportunity to elect a great man, let's make the most of it!

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Why I Support John McCain

It is with great interest, and a degree of puzzlement, that I have observed the response of a number of Christian leaders and conservative pundits to John McCain’s emergence as the front-runner for the nomination. Thanks to the 24/7 rumor news mills and the abundance of information available on the internet, I feel as though I am better informed in this election than in any I have ever witnessed.

After much prayer and thoughtful consideration, I voted for John McCain on Super Tuesday. I realize that he didn’t win my state, but if I had to do it again, I would not change my vote. I will most certainly vote for him in the general election in November as well.

I chose McCain because of his leadership abilities, his practicality, his willingness to say what he believes and not just what people want to hear, and his proven conservative (yes, that’s right) track-record on moral issues. I believe he will do the right thing by our military, our economy, illegal immigration and given the opportunity will appoint pro-life judges to the Supreme Court.

Another reason I chose McCain is his ability to reach across the aisle. For too long now, our nation’s government has been grid-locked by the childish bickering and maneuvering that goes on between the two parties. I realize that there are certain core issues that cannot be compromised, but at some point, Congress must grow up and realize that on most issues, there is common ground between the two ideologies. This is what is best for the country. I believe that McCain is best suited for finding this common ground and making us a stronger nation.

Here is where my puzzlement lies with many of the conservative mouth-pieces. For years now, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, et al, have raised hue and cry about the Democrats’ unreasonable attitude and unwillingness to work together. Now, given the opportunity to support a candidate who is capable of effecting this, they choose to withdraw into their corner and pout, threatening to vote for Hillary (what?!?) or Obama (WHAT?!?) or even worse, not even vote at all. Their theory is, “We will let the country have four to eight years of liberal leadership and then they will see why we need a conservative president.”

Ignoring the potential damage that this could bring to the country, they are demonstrating at best a shortsightedness, and at worst an arrogant spitefulness that shows that they value their ideas above their country. In my opinion, this makes them no better than the liberals that they so handily criticize for the same thing. If these individuals wish to sit out the upcoming election, that is their right. I would suggest, however, that if they do so and the true liberals win, they have forfeited their credibility and have no right to complain about the leadership that the Clintons or Obama will bring to the White House.

After weighing all the issues, it is my opinion that John McCain might just turn out to be the best president we have had since Ronald Reagan. Conservative voters need to follow Mitt Romney’s lead and get behind him. Otherwise, we can prepare ourselves for the political and moral nightmare that the alternative will bring.

"The only thing that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Military Mom Speaks Up!

I am *so* honored to have Q&A with Marissa, who is an Army wife and mother in Virginia. I 'met' Marissa through my CafeMom John McCain group. The war on terror is a major election issue, but it's not just abstract for the thousands of families who sacrifice - often silently - for our freedom. Thank you to Marissa and Ken and the many families whose bravery would be truly recognized by a President McCain.

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Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
A: I'm Marissa, wife to Ken, mother to Aidan (6), we live in Belle Haven, VA. Ken has been in the U.S. Army for 21 yrs., on Active Duty for some of that time. He is currently NC Nat'l Guard 20th Special Forces Group, Sergeant First Class Senior Medical Sgt. (18 Delta). He has been Special Forces for 12 years, he recently served as Team Sergeant in Iraq for 8 months, and Afghanistan for 6 months.
Q: Can you comment on why he joined the military?
A: Ken wanted to serve his country, he is passionately patriotic. He went to college after 2 yrs active duty on the GI bill. He remains passionate about his service.
Q: As a military wife, do you generally follow Iraq war news and politics?
A: Depends on whether he's over there or not!!!! I wouldn't say I'm glued to it. My husband follows it much more closely. He gets a lot more info than the media gets from inside sources. We don't get a warm fuzzy that the Iraqi people can really run the place effectively without an outside military presence, there's just too much turmoil there.
Q: How do you feel about media coverage of the war? How did it affect the troops from your point of view?
A: The only media coverage that we feel is fair is Fox News. Everything else is totally biased, and sometimes downright traitorous. My biggest beef: Americans who insist that they "need to know what's going on over there". Um, if their husband was embedded with guerillas in the mountains of Afghanistan hunting Taliban and Al Quaida I'm pretty sure they would have a problem with the liberal media highlighting their loved ones exact location to the terrorists!!! I don't feel like we have a right to know everything!!!
Q: As a wife whose husband has been in harm's way, did you initially support the 'surge' strategy? Do you now?
A: I did support the surge, that was the area where Ken was embedded in Iraq, it was overrun with insurgents. We are at war, soldiers will die and get horribly injured. My husband and I have talked about it at length. If something had happened to him, we believe it would have been the will of God, and that it would have been a sacrifice Ken would have freely given for his country, that's how passionate he is.
Q: Who do you support in the Presidential election and why?
A: MCCAIN!!!!!!! How can Obama or Hillary possibly be our next Commander in Chief???? What would they do, hug everyone who wants to exterminate us????
Q: Is there anything else you want us civilian Moms to know about the war?
A: Some 'dos and don'ts':

• DON'T believe everything you hear in the news, (unless you watch Fox News). It often gets totally skewed. Ken would call me and tell me "don't believe what you heard on the news about a bombing...."
• DON'T say "I just wish everyone would come home from Iraq!" It's patronizing and
  unrealistic. We are still in Korea, Japan, Germany, Bosnia, etc, etc, etc.
• DO say you're thinking about her, DO ask her if she needs help with the kids so she can have a moment to herself, etc.
• DO tell her that you won't take NO for an answer!!!! (It was really hard initially accepting help from others.) Sometimes dinner would appear as if by magic in my fridge
  anonymously!! (we live in the boonies and my front door's unlocked.)
• DO sponsor a soldier- our favorite online charity is Soldiers' Angels. My family, friends, and church were incredibly supportive. So were my other Special Forces team moms. Our husbands were with each other over there and we leaned on each other here (mostly online because we were all spread apart). Our Family Readiness Group was an awesome resource for me and for Aidan.

THANK YOU Marissa for sharing your thoughts, best wishes to you and all military families.

Red States, White Men and Navy Blue

Since becoming a full-fledged McCainiac, I've met several military Moms whose families are making the ultimate sacrifice for their country (watch for their perspective on the war and the White House next week). On their behalf, I want to comment about the relevance of military service when choosing a President.

It's no secret that Senator John McCain comes from a long line of military men who served their country with distinction (see NEW YouTube ad here). But many Americans don't know that Senator McCain has two sons currently on active duty - Jack is a navy midshipman currently in the Middle East and youngest son Jimmy bucked the system and signed on as a Marine (just returned last month from Iraq). They don't know because McCain, who is typically Mr. Straight Talk and fully open to the media, has made the subject explicitly and uncharacteristically off-limits.

It would be easy, and perhaps effective, for McCain to respond to Obama's anti-war platitudes and Hillary's misguided withdrawal promises with the image of his brave young sons in harm's way. It would be easy to speak as a parent, to other parents, appealing to their sympathies and schmoozing military parents as 'one of their own.' Meritorious service could be the trump card over the race and gender cards the other campaigns have played to the hilt. But that's not the kind of guy John McCain is - he is, after all, a parent first.

Blogs for John McCain's Victory had an interesting piece emphasizing the Democrats' hypocrisy dealing with McCain and his military record specifically. It is truly impossible for anyone to foresee the military and security challenges our nation may face during the next Presidency. But I know that I want someone in the White House who sees those men and women not as pawns but as heroes.

How to Make an Electoral Quilt

For all but the most committed Seattle-area Republicans, election season means either sudden introversion or spirited debate. But continue east of the Cascades and you’ll find as many conservatives as Seattle has espresso stands. Politically, Washington is schizophrenic, loudly blue and fiercely red, an electoral bruise.

So I was pleasantly surprised to see my home state of Washington leaning 'purple' in new polls, showing McCain ahead of Clinton and within striking distance of Obama (whose mother lived here during her youth). I’ve talked about other potential ‘purple’ states up for grabs, and it looks like we may have a race in New Jersey, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and even Michigan (hey Democrats, vote for McCain and we’ll actually – gasp – count your vote!) Evidently McCain’s message of straight talk, strong military and small, responsible government plays well with practical, patriotic voters across America. I have lived in three ‘swing’ states myself and truly believe it’s the turning out – and speaking out - of regular Moms like us which can swing our country in the right direction.

Make your own ‘electoral quilt’ here.

PS - As of this morning, Moms4McCain has had visits from Moms in 6 different states! Keep spreading the word to friends and family, put us in your email signature and leave comments so I know what issues are important to you and your families! Thanks!!