Nathaniel

Shockey

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August 25, 2008

Conservatives Refusing to Support McCain: Here’s What You’ll Get

There has been plenty of whining from conservatives concerning whether John McCain would select a pro-choice vice president. I just hope whining is all it is. As my colleague Dan Calabrese pointed out on August 21, the political leanings of the VP concerning abortion are largely irrelevant. The only way to meaningfully decrease the number of abortions is to convince people that abortion is a bad idea, not to legislate.

But this conservative whining must be starting to concern McCain and his political strategists at least a little. Maybe these people who keep complaining that McCain isn’t conservative enough are actually considering the possibility of not voting.

On one hand, Barack Obama simply isn’t popular enough to be truly threatening. He’s inexperienced, doesn’t understand the issues very well, doesn’t exude patriotism and has some horrendous relationship baggage. When you tally it up, it amounts to a major risk. And as past elections have shown, it’s been risks like these that have ultimately pushed people past the summer excitement and back into the autumn safety of conservative candidates who, if nothing else, seem more or less transparent.

But on the other hand, the support of the conservative base is an important element of this seasonal routine. So even if the swing voters play their role perfectly, as I suspect they will, it probably won’t be enough if a significant portion of the conservative base doesn’t vote.

So I must pose a question to the whining conservatives who are threatening to stay home on November 4, sitting in their La-Z-Boys with arms crossed, puffed up blood-tinted cheeks, and brows furrowed like a toddler who doesn’t want to take a nap. Are you prepared to deal with the consequences of an Obama presidency?

Realize that the average age on the U.S. Supreme Court is currently 68. John Paul Stevens is 88 and Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 75. Obama would select at least one, probably two new justices.

Bills that put crushing new requirements and taxes on businesses would almost certainly pass a Democratic Congress, and be signed by a president who has never run a lemonade stand in his life, much less a business. Don’t expect him to start vetoing bills just because they would drive our country’s deficit beyond anything prior.

Realize that Obama would not be aggressive on terrorism, that Islamofascists are probably licking their lips at the prospect of a passive American president who would be content to play defense, and would even take seriously the lip-service of radicals like the Iranian president. With an appeaser as our commander in chief, terrorist networks would inevitably regain strength, and more innocent people will die. Call it a scare tactic or anything you like. It’s completely logical.

Realize that 3 percent of Americans pay about half of America’s taxes. If we elect Obama, those numbers will be even more lopsided. Obama has pledged to increase taxes on the wealthy, who would, in turn, hide their money. That’s a brilliant plan if your goal is to completely stifle an economy.

Realize that Obama probably won’t allow America to drill for its own oil. Have you enjoyed watching our Congress take a vacation when we need them the most? With Obama at the helm, there will be even less pressure on them to do their jobs and get Americans the oil they desperately need. Expect more of the same naïve lip service that describes local oil-drilling as the problem, and not as the obvious solution it is.

Realize that when Obama talks about creating jobs, he means he will be building even more government agencies. He is not talking about letting the economy naturally flourish and creating jobs by getting the government out of the way. If you are ready for an even bigger government than our current one, Obama is your man.

Of course, Obama would not be without an upside. The evening news would be much more upbeat when the media’s biggest crush becomes the most powerful man in the world for four years. There would be no more of the incessantly grim ramblings to which we’ve become so accustomed.

Finally, realize that Obama has good intentions. I respect that he is an idealist, even if I disagree with his ideals. And if we do elect him, I don’t think America will crumble. I just think he would leave it in even worse condition than the one in which he found it.

So to conservative boneheads out there, standing in the corner, pouting because your first choice isn’t the Republican nominee, it’s time you got over it.

© 2008 North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.

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