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Hernando Today

We Don't Know Obama; We Know McCain

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 10, 2008

A few weeks ago I wrote a very sarcastic letter to Hernando Today. I stated my reasons, even though being a staunch Republican, for voting for Barack Obama, and all Democratic candidates. With tongue in cheek, I blamed every single problem in our country and the entire world, on the Republicans.

I now would like to make a serious plea to you, and give my reasons why I believe we need to elect John McCain as our next president. I will try not to make a negative remark against Barack Obama.

Frankly, I don't know him well enough to do that.

That is my whole point, we don't know Barack Obama.

Up until a few years ago, no one had even heard of him. He was a "community organizer" in the Chicago area, an Illinois state senator and has been a U.S. senator for several years. The most we know about him is that he has been running for president of the United States for the past 18 months! If you had said the name Barack Hussein Obama five years ago, people would have thought you were referring to an Islamic terrorist on our country's most wanted list. This man has done almost nothing, and we know almost nothing about him, yet he wants to be the president? As an example of how little we know about him, I quote a friend who said to me recently, "I can't vote for Obama, he's a Muslim." I had to correct my friend, saying that he wasn't a Muslim. That is my whole point -- most people don't know a lot about him.

And, please don't fall for his slogan that he will "change" things. Change things how? He says he will change things, but cites no plans.

Unless you count his plan to raise taxes to pay for all the government entitlements he plans to institute. Anyone can stand on a stage and say they will change things. But, as the old TV commercial goes, "where's the beef"? He professes change, yet who did he choose as his vice president? He chose Joe Biden, who's been in Washington, I believe, since Thomas Jefferson's time!

We know a lot about John McCain. He served in the U.S. Navy for more than 20 years. And, yes, he was a POW for 5 1/2 years in North Vietnam and was brutally tortured. I know the Democrats say he brings this up too often, but you know what? Too bad! He's earned the right to bring it up!

Then, he has served in the House of Representatives and has been a U.S. senator for more than 22 years, sponsoring much legislation and crossing party lines to do it. He is the real "maverick," he is the real reformer, not Obama.

Just look at his choice for vice president, Sarah Palin. That should tell you how serious McCain is about shaking up Washington, and the "politics as usual" crowd.

Obama may someday be ready to become the president, after he has proven himself, after he has done something to show he's earned it and after we know much more about him.

Right now, McCain is the man who should be our next president. If you don't think that McCain is a true American hero, if you don't think that he embodies that spirit we can admire, if you don't think that after all he's done and been through that he doesn't deserve to be our president, then I think this country is in a lot more trouble than just a recession.

Russ Colombo

Spring Hill

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