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Obama Versus McCain: What Is a Moderate To Do?

Posted by PATRICK EDABURN in Politics.
Oct 20th, 2008 | Comments

As a relatively-moderate Republican I have found myself facing something of a dilemma regarding my choices for President this November. Looking at the two major choices, I find that neither one is particularly appealing to me. Each one has things I like and each has things I dislike. Some of the things I like however are not particularly relevant to being President and, while admittedly some of the dislikes are unfair, the fact remains that they are there.

In the hopes of reaching out to fellow moderates and reviewing my own concerns I thought I’d discuss where I am regarding my choices.

Looking first to some of the things I like about the candidates I would say that I certainly admire Senator McCain for his long career of service to our nation. In this I think I am joined by most Americans, with the possible exception of the far-left fringe. But I am not sure that this is particularly relevant to his becoming President. There are many dedicated veterans out there and I deeply admire each one but that does not mean they should be President.

I also admire his integrity and his willingness to go against the grain and, certainly, that is one element I might like in a leader but it hardly makes him a lock for for being the next leader of the free world.

Similarly I admire Senator Obama for rising from humble origins to being nominated for President. I also respect the fact that, while he could have taken the big money route after law school, he chose to return to his home community to try and serve his fellow citizens. I also respect his ability to inspire and call on the best in our nation but, as with McCain, this is an element I like in a leader but it is not all I need to say he should be the next President.

On the negative side, there are things that concern me about both candidates – some fair and some unfair.

With regard to Senator McCain, I am concerned about his age. I realize that this is totally unfair and that many great leaders have served at later times in their lives. Winston Churchill was one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century and was well into his 70s. But nonetheless it is a concern.

On the more reasonable side, I am also concerned about his judgment as demonstrated by things like his choice of Governor Palin as his running mate. I do not think she is suited to be Vice President but my deeper concern is that he seems to have made the choice on something of a whim, almost as an afterthought, and that is deeply troubling.

Looking to Senator Obama, I have concerns as well, both fair and unfair. On the unfair side I am concerned about the trustworthiness issue. I know many people greatly admire him but for some reason I do not feel that way. When I look at him and listen to him speak there is something that I just don’t trust. I have no idea why I feel that way but I do. It is something that simply happens sometimes when you meet a person and he just doesn’t feel right.

I know this is unfair but I just can’t help feeling it.

On the more rational side I am concerned about his lack of experience as well as his fairly-liberal positions on the issues. I do think we need to have a balanced tax code and that we need to help those in need. But when I hear a candidate use terms like ’spread the wealth around’ it does give me pause.

At the same time I have concerns about Senator McCain following too many of the failed policies of the past eight years, so I am not sure that he is a good option either.

In short, when it comes to the issues I find Senator McCain too far to the right and too close to the Bush view while I find Senator Obama at least potentially too far to the left. When it comes to the candidates themselves, I have serious concerns about them both whether it be judgment or experience. Basically while there are good things about both men I can’t say that either meets the test for being my choice.

My frustration this year is perhaps exacerbated by the fact that, in my entire lifetime of voting, I am not sure I can point to any Presidential candidate that I truly admired and respected. I probably would have said that of Ronald Reagan but I was too young to vote for him. Since then it has largely been a choice between the lesser of two evils.

This year I have not made a decision but my inclination is to reject that Hobson’s choice this year and vote None of The Above, or in the case of the California ballot a pick a third party. Of course even there the choice is tough since at least two of the choices (McKinney and Keyes) are insane and the other two (Nader and Barr) are even more extreme than Obama and McCain.

I tend to wonder how many other voters out there feel the same way. Is the enthusiasm for Senator Obama truly sincere or is it something of a hope that maybe he is the real thing tinged with the fear that he probably is not. How many of us have talked ourselves into believing he is really different or truly moderate just because we need to do it?

I would love to think that we could combine the best of the two parties while dispensing with the worst. Imagine if this year we had had the option to support a Warner/Lieberman ticket ? Or if you wanted a truly inspired female governor for VP, how about Governor Jodi Rell of Connecticut ? Imagine Senate leaders like Richard Lugar and Ken Salazar or House leaders who move to the center instead of the left or right?

Perhaps someday we moderates will band together and form a new party that can nominate candidates worthy of our support. Until then I think many of us are faced with crossing our fingers and hoping for the best.

I, for one, am not hopeful this year.

Cross Posted from The Square Deal

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saintixe56

The dilemna - though I accept its terms - is solved quite easily by the Veep question.
Q. If Obama dies, is Biden fit - A: Yes
Q. if McCain dis, is Palin fit. - A: No.
I don`t doubt the new Pres will be surrounded by wise knowledgable advisors , but whereas I know Sen.Biden has in him to understand, grasp , make the decisions however unpleasant for him, I somehow doubt very much Palin has the ability, wisdom, humility to face the challenge.
When McCain chose her, he gave himself the Kiss of Death.

adelinesdad

I agree with most of your points (with the except of the "unfair" ones, to be honest). I too am facing a dilemma this year, and have not decided who I will vote for, although I am leaning toward McCain. I think your main question about whether Obama is "real" applies to both candidates. For McCain, will he be the "maverick" and really shake up washington, or will he be the typical republican that we've seen lately? For Obama, will he be the uniter, or will he be a leftist puppet in the hands of Pelosi/Reed?

Either way I vote, I'm definitely not going to feel good about it, since there will be many things that I don't like about whoever I vote for.

I've posted more thoughts on being undecided on my blog, and I'll probably be posting a follow-up soon.

kritt11

adelinesdad

Its hard to still see McCain as a maverick-- he is running his campaign in a very similar way to Bush in 2004- using the politics of fear, distortion and defamation. Also after claiming he will not be influenced by Washington insiders and lobbyists, he has surrounded himself by insiders and lobbyists.

- Ask if he has acted like a maverick or caved into the right wing of his party by choosing Palin (when he wanted Lieberman) and going after Obama using the washed up Ayers story (which the right wing advocated) to try to taint him as a terrorist sympathizer.

yetanothermoderatevoice

These are indeed strange times, and rather than help you, all I can offer is more confusion. McCain's health care plan owes its key ideas to Obama's advisor, Jason Furman (http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2008/09/post-par...). Moreover, Obama says that his health care plan explicitly acknowledges the pragmatic view that the employer system works for the people who already have it, so he doesn't want to change it.

In other words, the conservative is advocating a radical change based on the ideas of the liberal's policy advisor. The liberal, meanwhile, is advocating a conservative, incremental approach. It's no wonder you're confused.

elrod

Interesting and honest analysis. I was speaking to a conservative Republican friend of mine the other day and we were marveling over the fact that there are still undecided voters. I'm solidly for Obama and she is solidly for McCain. Neither of us have EVER approached a general election undecided. She confesses that she "likes" Obama but she cannot get past the abortion issue (she is evangelical and pro-life). I like the McCain I saw at the Al Smith dinner and admire his actions in the past. But still, there was no question about this election.

I do think that the Palin selection was critical. As is temperament. Also, look at the advisers surrounding the candidates. McCain's inner circle includes neocons like Randy Scheunemann and hard deregulators like Phil Gramm. Obama works with Gen. James Jones, Paul Voelker, Warren Buffet and Robert Rubin. If the economists surrounding Obama were right out of Mother Jones and the Nation then I could see the concern over Obama being too economically liberal. But that's just not who he has around him.

Hisui

I find it interesting that you get that feeling that you can't fully trust Obama. I understand where that could be coming from; I mean, when you watch his interview with Joe the Plumber, his roundabout answer throws me off. Like, you're waiting on your toes for him to say what he really means, but he almost doesn't.
I would say, however, that in terms of trust, I would definitely choose Obama over McCain. His campaign has shown me that he cannot be trusted to take care of government and foreign affairs (i.e., meeting with other countries. Wouldn't you rather have a friend who will listen to your story than one who blows it off and tells you what to do instead?).

Actually, Obama makes me want to meet him. I want to know what he's like when not using his talking points. He seems like the kind of person you could sit down for dinner with and bounce ideas off.

In terms of health, McCains NEEDS to be looked at. Not just because he could die in office, but if the cancer resurfaces, he will surely be out for days with surgery and recovery, meaning Palin actually has a chance of holding the office while he is being taken care of.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/us/politics/2...

Marlowecan

Patrick, I understand your dilemma. I have had many discussions with my partner about this (she being from a very left party-line Democratic family going back to FDR - and accordingly suspects Obama of being a closet conservative.)

I would offer you one thought for consideration that commentators above have not noted:
"With no power comes no responsibility."

The Democrats have been shut out of operational power in government for 8 years, and out of effective power for perhaps a generation. The centre has gradually shifted right in this time period . . . but has atrophied in the chattering classes and officialdom. The Tip O'Neil era when Dems. and Repubs. could castigate each other on the floor, and then go out for drinks afterward respecting each other's differences, has sadly long past.

We have witnessed extraordinary irresponsibility on the part of many Democrats and their supporters in the past years, as they have been marginalized in power.

Hence numerous leaks on intelligence matters from Democrats in the intelligence community (the CIA leaks stopping when the Democratic-connected Mary McCarthy was dismissed).

Of course, the classic example is the NYT exposure of the totally legal Swift financial monitoring program, that proved effective in catching the mastermind of the Bali resort bombing.
http://www.patterico.com/2006/06/22/new-york-ti...

Barack Obama, seeing the possibility of power, understands that there will be responsibilities he will have to uphold as President. Hence his vote for FISA. Hence, also, Obama's refusal to go along with impeachment howlings . . . noting that this will only continue the cycle of partisan viciousness.

If McCain wins, many Democrats will give up all hope in government. The culture of irresponsibility will increase.

If Obama wins, the Democrats will have effective control of the executive and the legislative branches. They will have responsibility for power . . . and will have to act accordingly.

Keller at the NYT pissed on the Bush admin. for asking they not release the story on the totally legal Swift program. Presumably, the Democratic Times would give more credence to listening to an Obama administration pleas that it not release stories on . . . say . . . an Obama plan to send Special Forces into Pakistan - a violation of international law - to kidnap bin Laden and bring him to justice.

A vote for Obama is a vote for Democratic responsibility. (Plus, if he acts irresponsibly, he will have a record to be tossed out on in 4 years.)

Jim_Satterfield

Patrick,

Why would a moderate be interested in McCain? In most areas McCain has abandoned moderation. In his campaign McCain has abandoned moderates. For evidence of the latter I present Sarah Palin, the Ayers meme and swearing that he will support people like Roberts, Scalia and Thomas to the Supreme Court. The whole bit of bragging how he's voted with GWB over 90% of the time doesn't help either.

adelinesdad

kritt11,

Agreed, but it takes an equally large suspension of disbelief to think that Obama will be a uniter and will defend moderate positions against Pelosi and Reed, given his liberal voting record.

DaveA

I would disagree about Obama being anyone's tool. Obama has a huge list of supporters who give not only money, but also volinteer time, and that = power... Pure and simple. i would find it more credible to say reid/pelosi will be drawn into Obama/Biden's orbit instead.

Nor is he really that far left. Fisa vote, keeping troops in Afghanistan, going into Pakistan. These are fairly clear rightist positions.

PJBFan

Patrick,

You and I could not be farther from each other on this issue. The day the Democrat Party made its decision, I made mine, and I have not been unhappy about that decision to support McCain. Yes, he shows questionable judgement (Palin, Ayers, Keating 5 come to mind), but to me, the Democrat Party has shown its desire to swing the country in a hard leftist position, as detailed by the Obama Campaign's platform. The man is as much of an empty suit into whom the Democrats have poured their own hopes, dreams and ideas as Sarah Palin.

I cannot imagine doing anything that would even potentially give a vote to a party committed to forcing people to unionize; raise the minimum wage beyond a competitive level; sit down and talk with terrorist governments like the Hamas one in the Gaza Strip, the Iranian Government, and Hugo Chavez; raising taxes in a time of economic crisis; and finally, as Obama said himself that he would do, rob Peter to pay Paul.

I am sorry, but I can see no contest here, there never was one.

crossn81

I've been really struggling over this too. I find myself defending Obama more and more. I wish I could honestly say that McCain is doing what ever it takes to get elected so that he can govern from the center, but that seems harder and harder to believe. I'm ready for the election to be over and then maybe we can have civil discussions again.

Michael Merritt

"how about Governor Jodi Rell of Connecticut"

If McCain had picked her, Connecticut would have turned red for the first time since 1988, no doubt about it. She still enjoys pretty high approval ratings since coming into office.

And yes, I'm struggling in my decision, too. After the Ayers/Obama attackfest, I decided to protest vote for Barr. My issue is that McCain is too socially conservative for me and Obama too economically liberal. Yet, Barr represents a position that's too economically conservative for me.

Go figure.

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