Web Letters: Loving John McCain

John McCain is indeed flipping and flopping his way through some policy platforms versus what he signed on to in the past. But the all time bell-ringer for flip-flops is Senator Obama's back-turner on government-funded campaigning. Obama was unmistakable in his high-road desire to "aggressively" pursue matching government funding. But that was when he calculated that he would need the money and could lead a moral browbeat of his GOP competitor that the campaign-reform-obsessed popular media would willingly ride home for him. Today, Obama doesn't need the cash!

I suppose one could also suggest that Obama's cite of prominent economists to bash McCain's gas tax holiday is a flip-flop of sorts. After all, he doesn't query the same economists about his enthusiastic vote for the farm bill! Senator McCain bravely voted against it and undoubtedly won the day with economists everywhere.

Hugh Maguire

New York, NY

What is going on with the MSM is the same thing that happened during the Democratic primary; where they continued the "suspense" of "if" Hillary Clinton could somehow find a way to beat Barack Obama, although some would explain it was mathematically impossible for her to get enough votes to reach the delegates needed.

Now with John McCain v. Barack Obama the MSM would prefer to keep the suspense of a neck-and-neck race to further their ratings and highlight Obama's flip-flops versus McCain's unexplained flip-flops and compare them side by side. The MSM recognize that if the voters are hammered with all the facts and how each candidate's policies would affect everyday people (as opposed to the 1 percent), voters would make up their minds now and ignore the pundits constantly spouting off new verdicts 24/7 including reruns.

I've been a lifelong Republican, but this campaign season I've spent much more time and energy researching our political process and the politicians' words and records. I've gotten my information from many resources not just campaign ads, debates and brochures or the MSM. I recognize that this country is in a shambles and I do not agree with continuing the same policies. The last seven years since 9/11 have seen a steady decline in our standing in the world, and the US really has no friends left--we stand alone and it is lonely here. Fear and trickle-down economics have not worked except to keep those in power, in power. The MSM tend to gloss over how insulated we are and act as if the rest of the world and its opinion doesn't matter.

I don't expect Obama to perform miracles, but I do see him pointing all of us in a different direction. He is a leader, and that pesky "vision thing" is important to attempt to lead us to a better and, yes, a more "Christian" (read caring and tolerant) world where everyone is my brother and I care about what happens to them, the world and not just myself.

Becki Jasinski

Saginaw, MI

Fabulous article. It should be required reading for every member of the media. It's probably too much to hope for but maybe just a few of them would be thoroughly embarrassed by how they have let all Americans down with their biased and untruthful coverage. This particular election is far too important for the whole world to let the media distort the truth.

Sharon Bond

Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you for this very informative article.

As an outside observer of the American political process, it has been a continuous mystery to me why some candidates are pilloried for actions and statements on which others are given a free pass.

I well remember John Kerry’s Vietnam war record being trashed and his being labeled a coward and a war criminal by people who never once served in uniform. Yet Bill Clinton was equally excoriated for failing to serve in uniform during the Vietnam war--often by the same people.

To non-American witnesses, it sometime seemed as if the entire US MSM suffered from a form of schizophrenia or moral relativism. Obama is charged with “flip-flopping” on the issues, while John McCain’s serial flip-flopping is ignored or “clarified.” McCain’s army of lobbyists in his campaign staff are overlooked, while Obama has to deal with unending criticism over the past history of one vetter. McCain can refuse to disclose his service records, medical records and family tax records while still being called open and transparent.

This article explains goes a long way towards explaining this relativism. Hopefully, the US MSM will recognize their uncritical adulation of one candidate over another serves no one’s best interest. The stakes in this election are too high and the potential cost too great to allow any candidate a free ride or to gamble that their “real” beliefs are somehow just hiding out until the election is over.

Sean Doolittle

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada