Hit me with your best shots...
But you can't have it both ways, Obama
It's inevitable. I'm a woman, I supported Hillary Clinton during the primary, so the first question to be thrown my way, when I announce my unwavering support for John McCain, is some variant of this: "But he will make sure abortions are illegal – what about Roe v. Wade?"
That's actually a rather nice way of putting it. For example, at a friend's house last week, a woman who supports Obama first asked me if I was afraid of change (actually yes, I'm afraid of his type of change, so in that sense I suppose I am), or if I was racist (no, but that's another attack typically used). After that she got to the Roe v. Wade argument and vehemently told me that, while she would never make that choice for herself, she wouldn't let anyone tell her what to do with her body.
Let me preface this by saying that I did, as I said, support Hillary Clinton – I was actually a delegate for her. But it was a tough choice, because I had decided eight years ago that if John McCain ever ran again, I would vote for him as I did in the 2000 primary. I'm Independent, and I have no loyalty to any party (certainly not the DNC, which I think is run by a bunch of clowns these days, although I did typically vote Democratic in the past).
I am, however, also pro choice, and like the woman I was speaking to, though it's not a decision I would make for myself, it's also not one I'm willing to take away from others – although I would never take it to the extent that Barack Obama has in his support of abortion.
But back to the debate I had with this woman. She got quite upset, while I was actually very mellow. It was July 4 and I had promised not to discuss politics, but she brought the topic up. I explained that I wasn't concerned about Roe v. Wade being overturned because McCain has vowed to appoint judges who will not legislate from the bench and I take him at his word.
"I don't believe him," she said.
I also said that Obama has come out in support of the death penalty, and not just in murder cases. She said she also supported the death penalty (actually she yelled it) and I said I do, too. I pointed out that if Obama is supporting the death penalty and plans to appoint judges who are in agreement with that, they won't be the same type of judges who are pro choice, especially to his extent. (You can't have it both ways, Obama).
She said he will appoint judges who won't make decisions from the bench (hmm, I wonder where she heard that?) and I said I disagreed – he has changed his mind so many times I can't take his word for anything, especially since I don't trust his character.
That led to a debate about the character of Obama (she didn't know who Rezco, Ayers, Farrakhan, or many of his other associates were and didn't care to listen). She said, instead, "McCain may say he'll appoint those judges but he'll bow to the Republicans because he's not strong enough."
Excuse me? McCain isn't strong enough? That's when I had to stop myself – wait a minute. This man withstood 5-1/2 years of torture as a POW and has been a maverick in the Senate. He has always been bipartisan. I pointed this out to her, as well as the fact that Obama has barely spent any time in the Senate.
"Well McCain is still living in the past, in the Vietnam era. And you know what else? I'm not proud of my country either! I won't put my hand over my heart during the pledge," she threw in.
I knew she was talking about his wife, but I said instead, "Isn't that ageism?" I was getting ready to talk about sexism, but didn't have a chance. "Well, I'm older than you so I can say that," she replied, "and I'm really disappointed in you that you aren't supporting Obama after supporting Hillary. I hope you just don't vote!" She's about seven or eight years older than me, by the way.
So, go ahead and hit me with your best shots: Roe v. Wade (doesn't fly, I DO believe McCain is strong enough and I take him at his word). Racism (it's rampant, but I think Obama is the racist; just because it's reverse racism doesn't mean it doesn't count). Iraq (Obama gave two press conferences last week to "clarify" his position; I don't think even he knows what it is, and I certainly trust McCain to do a better job). The economy: Take a look at Obama's district and how the people there live, after he entered into a partnership with a private company to "improve" conditions – slum lord is all I can say.
On top of all that, after all my research into Barack Obama, the damage he would do to our country would be so far reaching that I don't think Roe v. Wade would be our biggest concern. But that's another story, soon to come.
I've taken a good, long look at the candidates and done my homework. And I've chosen the only one qualified to lead our country: John McCain.
It's inevitable. I'm a woman, I supported Hillary Clinton during the primary, so the first question to be thrown my way, when I announce my unwavering support for John McCain, is some variant of this: "But he will make sure abortions are illegal – what about Roe v. Wade?"
That's actually a rather nice way of putting it. For example, at a friend's house last week, a woman who supports Obama first asked me if I was afraid of change (actually yes, I'm afraid of his type of change, so in that sense I suppose I am), or if I was racist (no, but that's another attack typically used). After that she got to the Roe v. Wade argument and vehemently told me that, while she would never make that choice for herself, she wouldn't let anyone tell her what to do with her body.
Let me preface this by saying that I did, as I said, support Hillary Clinton – I was actually a delegate for her. But it was a tough choice, because I had decided eight years ago that if John McCain ever ran again, I would vote for him as I did in the 2000 primary. I'm Independent, and I have no loyalty to any party (certainly not the DNC, which I think is run by a bunch of clowns these days, although I did typically vote Democratic in the past).
I am, however, also pro choice, and like the woman I was speaking to, though it's not a decision I would make for myself, it's also not one I'm willing to take away from others – although I would never take it to the extent that Barack Obama has in his support of abortion.
But back to the debate I had with this woman. She got quite upset, while I was actually very mellow. It was July 4 and I had promised not to discuss politics, but she brought the topic up. I explained that I wasn't concerned about Roe v. Wade being overturned because McCain has vowed to appoint judges who will not legislate from the bench and I take him at his word.
"I don't believe him," she said.
I also said that Obama has come out in support of the death penalty, and not just in murder cases. She said she also supported the death penalty (actually she yelled it) and I said I do, too. I pointed out that if Obama is supporting the death penalty and plans to appoint judges who are in agreement with that, they won't be the same type of judges who are pro choice, especially to his extent. (You can't have it both ways, Obama).
She said he will appoint judges who won't make decisions from the bench (hmm, I wonder where she heard that?) and I said I disagreed – he has changed his mind so many times I can't take his word for anything, especially since I don't trust his character.
That led to a debate about the character of Obama (she didn't know who Rezco, Ayers, Farrakhan, or many of his other associates were and didn't care to listen). She said, instead, "McCain may say he'll appoint those judges but he'll bow to the Republicans because he's not strong enough."
Excuse me? McCain isn't strong enough? That's when I had to stop myself – wait a minute. This man withstood 5-1/2 years of torture as a POW and has been a maverick in the Senate. He has always been bipartisan. I pointed this out to her, as well as the fact that Obama has barely spent any time in the Senate.
"Well McCain is still living in the past, in the Vietnam era. And you know what else? I'm not proud of my country either! I won't put my hand over my heart during the pledge," she threw in.
I knew she was talking about his wife, but I said instead, "Isn't that ageism?" I was getting ready to talk about sexism, but didn't have a chance. "Well, I'm older than you so I can say that," she replied, "and I'm really disappointed in you that you aren't supporting Obama after supporting Hillary. I hope you just don't vote!" She's about seven or eight years older than me, by the way.
So, go ahead and hit me with your best shots: Roe v. Wade (doesn't fly, I DO believe McCain is strong enough and I take him at his word). Racism (it's rampant, but I think Obama is the racist; just because it's reverse racism doesn't mean it doesn't count). Iraq (Obama gave two press conferences last week to "clarify" his position; I don't think even he knows what it is, and I certainly trust McCain to do a better job). The economy: Take a look at Obama's district and how the people there live, after he entered into a partnership with a private company to "improve" conditions – slum lord is all I can say.
On top of all that, after all my research into Barack Obama, the damage he would do to our country would be so far reaching that I don't think Roe v. Wade would be our biggest concern. But that's another story, soon to come.
I've taken a good, long look at the candidates and done my homework. And I've chosen the only one qualified to lead our country: John McCain.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brad Marston on -
I like the slogan "Securing America's Future". It can be a cohesive, unifying narrative of the campaign.
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Permalink Reply by Dana for McCain on -
Thanks Barbara! I won't bother you until I know the number. Thanks for helping out!
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Permalink Reply by Independents for McCain/Tracy Karol on -
I don't know if anyone can help, but I know A LOT of people who want to volunteer for the campaign but are getting anywhere with the staff when they call. We have a group who are doing TV interviews, etc. in support of McCain, but want to get involved directly with the campaign. Unfortunately, not getting any direction. Any ideas? Oh, and I wish we could use "Country First, Damn Straight!" But I know we can't...
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Permalink Reply by BarbaraT on -
I didn't get a lot of enthusiasm from the paid staffer at headquarters yesterday either. Did you catch my post on this site yesterday about it?
I'm doing a new site that I informed them about yesterday. I'm HOPING with a lot of support and cooperation we can make it THE place to check out the coming together of all of our individual groups so that our voices will be heard. If we can get enough members to the site, I think Fox News could be cruising us!
As I told "Caroline" at headquarters yesterday, the new blog section on the McCain site (which is what replaced this ning site - now abandoned by the campaign) is fine, great, wonderful. But it only allows comments on posted select blogs, and invites no discussion or interaction with supporters, volunteers, and groups.
Please go over and join the group, and spread it around to ALL of your online supporters and volunteers. Now that I have someone's attention (I lectured her for almost half an hour), maybe I can start to make some waves for all of us. It can't happen without support, though. I told them yesterday that one core discussion site should have 200,000 members - not 200. There are small, confusing McCain efforts all over the internet that are getting nowhere. We need a MEGA SITE. Please come try to help the effort!
http://presidentjohnmccain.ning.com/
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Permalink Reply by Red Wing on -
Wow, unfortunately that has been my experience too!
No person at the campaign headquarters knows whats going on!
Scary!
I called and wanted to talk with whoever is running the internet aspects of the campaign and no one knew who that is/was?
They just opened a western regional office in Van Nuys CA, but no one answers the phones yet?
Lets face it, the campaign is not being managed very well!
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Permalink Reply by Independents for McCain/Tracy Karol on
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That's what scares me. Obummer beat Hillary in the primaries simply because his campaign was better managed. I am working with several groups -- very diverse ones -- and we are trying to BE the media. We are all over the internet, but not connected with the campaign. He needs a good PR person! I would love to help out in that aspect since that's my background, but don't know where to go or what to do. Is the site above the new one you were talking about? By the way, I have a new article I wrote I'm about to post...
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Permalink Reply by BarbaraT on
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Yes, IFM, the site above is the new one. A ning site like this one, but not that much. Red Wing, please, both of you go join and start to participate.
It's my opinion, that to BE the media (and I have some experience in this, too), your best bet is to ATTRACT the media. PUMA has accomplished this, and we can, too.
I would like to grow the new site with republicans - conservatives and moderates, Reagan Democrats, Independents, Hillary democrats, all of them. Bring PUMA and women and all of the groups together (not abandoning their own efforts, but adding their efforts to ours as well) into one big melting pot of strength in numbers. Only then are we going to able to rival Obama's internet presence.
There is no longer any moderation on this site, according to campaign headquarters, and that's a problem, too.
Please come over and join and help make the new site the mega site we need!
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Permalink Reply by Independents for McCain/Tracy Karol on
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Okay then, I will join. Also, if you can comment on my off-site blog and get it moved up in Google, that would help. If you have one to share, I'll put it on my blog list as a fave and comment on yours too. We need to keep his name out there as much as possible! I just had an article published in the Canada Free Press. Going to try to get it published in some national papers, but with the bias toward Obummer, who knows?
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Permalink Reply by BarbaraT on
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I'll be glad to. Also, when you join, I have set up groups on the new site that are strictly for advertising and announcements. The "Straight talk Bloggers" group is for listing your profile with links to your off site blogs. Be sure and do that.
Next time we talk, we'll talk over there!
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Permalink Reply by Brad Marston on
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To Barbara, Tracy, Dana and Red Wing,
I just wanted to make sure that you are aware of some of what we are doing online in support of John McCain. I started the "Straight Talkin' Bloggers for McCain" roughly a year ago and wrote a Guest Blog post for the official campaign blog entitled Bloggers Support McCain. The Straight Talkin Bloggers morphed into the McCain Victory 08 bloggers and now number 180+ affiliated pro-McCain bloggers. We communicate at least weekly and monitor the blogs so that if anyone stops blogging they get dropped from the blogroll. You can find the blogroll at www.mccainvictory08.com
Understanding that we would need a more powerful platform than a blogger site we created McCainNow and if you go to the links page there you can see links to all the sites we created and or control. We also created this ning site and McCainGoogleGroupswhich also links to many of our McCain State Facebook groups. (They are being added to daily which means we don't have them all updated to the state group site yet.
McCain Now isn't everything we want it to be yet but we are continuing to work on it. We have pulled all the sites in under the umbrella of www.LetsGetThisRight.com
and across all of our platforms we have roughly 18,000 members/contacts/supporters.
FYI...the National Volunteer Director for the McCain Campaign is Bill Bloomfield and he can be contacted at bbloomfield@mccain08hq.com. Use my name if you e-mail him as he has been very responsive to my suggesting high level volunteers. The e-campaign Manager for the McCain Campaign is Michael Palmer and he can be contacted at mpalmer@mccain08hq.com and his chief assistant is Ben Olson bolson@mccain08hq.com.
You will find that the McCain Campaign is very leery of anything it does not control and so is very slow to accept help from or support the grassroots/netroots efforts which is also why they will never compete effectively with the Obama Campaign.
As you both say that you have backgrounds in PR I would invite you to contact either Sheridan Folger who created this site on behalf of the campaign or me who created McCainVictory08, McCainNow and along with Sheridan, LetsGetThisRight as we are looking for someone to run our Media Relations efforts.
Barbara, I applaud your efforts with your new ning site and hope you are very successful. I would also invite you all to work with Sheridan (aka MadIrishman) and I who have been spearheading the grassroots effort for McCain for over a year.
Regards,
Brad
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Permalink Reply by Dana for McCain on
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Brad,
Thank you very much!
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Permalink Reply by BarbaraT on
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Brad, I would be glad to work with anyone who is making any progress. In fact, a few weeks ago I posted that here and Sheridan (aka MadIrishman) emailed me and said that...l believe it was you that would be contacting me with a follow up email on placing me in some capacity. Well, that email never came, and I am still attempting to do whatever I can. I have over 12 years of internet experience in many areas, and it's frustrating to be brushed off by the campaign, and as I saw it, the grassroots effort. I'm familiar with your websites, I'm on your blog list. But I share a lot of other people's frustration when it comes to sifting through it all, it's presented in a very confusing manner. My goal with the new ning site is to be a melting pot of supporters, whether they be PUMA, grassroots, conservatives, or anything else. There HAS to be a central meeting place that people will participate in as a united group of supporters. I'm open to any suggestions, as well as deferring to anyone with a better plan. As I said, I made an effort to join and work for your group, there was just no follow up on the groups part and I kept on plodding. You're still welcome to send me that email, barbarat54@bellsouth.net
PS - Here's a copy of the email I received July 16th. It was the last I heard from anyone:
Greetings and Salutations....
Again I am sorry for the delay it has been an absolutely crazy week.
In any event I will update all of your email with all of our various
efforts and include several updates regarding the official campaign
site as well.
I have several 'long' meeting tonight...however myself or Brad Marston
will be in touch with the details via email ....very late tonight or
at some point tomorrow.
Slainte'
Sheridan
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