CR Nation

I can’t vote for John McCain because I don’t trust John McCain.

John McCain has been an outstanding supporter of the war in Iraq, and I will not contest that McCain’s strategy is succeeding today. McCain has been a strong conservative on issues like earmarks and abortion. And I am grateful for McCain’s sacrifices for this country.

But I can’t vote for John McCain because I never know what his position will be on any issue.

My caution is born of experience.

John McCain co-sponsored campaign finance reform with Democrat Russ Feingold, an assault upon freedom of speech. Rather than remove the influence of money from the political process, campaign finance reform has simply transferred it to independent groups that have no accountability with voters.

John McCain co-sponsored an immigration plan with Democrat Ted Kennedy that would grant amnesty to illegal immigrants. McCain and his trusty sidekick Lindsey Graham then attacked opponents of the bill as racists.

John McCain co-sponsored a bill to fight global warming with then-Democrat Joe Lieberman, even though scientists disagree on the phenomenon’s existence. Businesses will be hurt and the real pollution problems, like China, will never clean up their act.

John McCain sponsored a bill restricting the military’s ability to gather intelligence. Although terrorists do not abide by the Geneva Conventions themselves, McCain believes that they should be afforded all rights and privileges, even if they hold information of an imminent attack and thousands, maybe millions, of lives hang in the balance.

John McCain compromised with Democrats to prevent the “constitutional option” from being exercised in the Senate. Partisan filibusters of judicial nominees can continue, thanks to John McCain and his “Gang of 14.”

When an important issue comes before John McCain, I am not certain that he will side with his own party. And that is not the person that we need leading our party.

I will not be voting for John McCain.