In reading through the news today, I have come across many comments of McCain supporters, some are very disturbing. Most I find to be a little humorous, even over the top. I especially like the ones that a few of my friends have used, regarding cutting checks directly to the American people in an effort to cut out the middle man. Obama’s plan, is only a plan, who knows how it will really turn out. Taxes are one of those things that we know will go up. No matter who is in office, we have a deficit and the first two ingredients to makign the deficit disappear are increase taxes and cut spending. In the grand scheme of things, somehow or another all of us, from all spectrums of the earnings scale including corporations will need to give a little to help out our economy. Politics, the market, it is cyclical, nothing that is done in 2009 can’t be un-done. I don’t make enough money to be impacted by the $250,000 and I also live in NJ, where federal income tax is the least of my problems. So go ahead my conservative folks (the fiscal ones, the republican ones, and the ones making over $250,000), make your jokes, but in the end I know that everyone one of you can appreciate the major milestone in American history of electing the first African American to the White House.
My real concern are the comments that make statements about how he will handle the war, our troops and veterans. I think any rational person knows that an immediate withdrawal is not in the plans. He does support our troops, and wants to significantly improve healthcare for wounded soldiers and veterans. Something the current administration has been seriously lacking. Most comments and people I have heard make these references, do appreciate and applaud the people of this country breaking down yet another barrier.
What I can get past or understand are the comments about the US going to hell; Obama being the anti-christ or a terrorist. Here is a quote from the Philly Inq that particularly startles me;
"I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I'm scared. Just the idea of Barack Obama as president of the United States scares me. It does not embody the idealism I grew up with and am passionate about. We're Americans. We're resilient. We'll bounce back. Our government's idiot-proof. There's nothing he can do that we can't fix in the end."
I was shocked and stunned when I read this. What ideals exactly did this guy grow up with, the ones about only one race can get ahead, where people don’t help their neighbors, would rather see someone suffering in the streets then not be able to max out their credit cards so they can try to keep up with their neighbor they don’t want to help. Yes, we are Americans, and are resilient as seen by surviving the past eight years, but certainly the government is not idiot-proof, if it were we would not be in the crises we are currently in. I am not sure where this guy lives, so he is scared, scared of what exactly? I have seen this line used over and over again by McCain supporters. Ok, you make a lot of money, work hard and should not have to give up more than do right now, I get it, I don’t agree but I get it. Maybe you are concerned for the wars and our troops, absolutely so am I. But what I think is really at the heart of comments by people who say they are scared, or think Obama is somehow going to ruin this country. Those are the ones, who are just trying to say, I cannot vote for a black man. Instead they should at least appreciate and celebrate what happened last night, not because you support Obama, but because you are proud to live in a country where a person, regardless of race can make it to the highest office in the nation.
We are all lucky to live in a country where we are granted the right to say what we want. Be proud of your country and it citizens for speaking out and breaking barriers; if you want to be a loser, just don’t be a sore one. John McCain went out last night which as much dignity, respect and resilience as he had at the start of his journey and througout. Respect him, and respect what an amazing first for this country and the world! Nothing is out of reach!
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As a McCain supporter and reader of your blog, I too am upset about some of the outrageous reactions by both McCain supporters AND Obama supporters. The quotes from the Philadelphia Inquirer are unfortunate and I'm sure were immediate heart-felt reactions to the election recorded that evening. Most of those Americans probably woke up the next morning and could agree that history was made and be proud of the record-breaking election-day turn-out. On the other hand, please remember that if McCain had won the election, we would have seen quotes from Obama supporters that would would be equally or even more disturbing. Many people devoted a lot of time and energy to this election and their immediate reactions should not be construed as long-term cynicism across the board.
ReplyDeleteOne final point I would like to make is that I am perfectly happy paying my fair share of taxes, but I'm not supportive of having one income bracket pay exponentially higher taxes while others get tax breaks, especially in our current economic situation. Obama's "spread the wealth" philosophy is what is at issue here and hopefully will never be implemented within America. As you mention in your blog, since we have a deficit, shouldn't all Americans be responsible for digging us out of debt, not just those that happen to make over $250K?