The Obama gang is in hot pursuit of an ad tying the erstwhile candidate to William Ayers of the American Terrorist Group, Weather Underground, that during the ’60s bombed the US Capitol, Pentagon and police stations. Whereas Ayers is today a “respectable educator” who remains inpenitent, and was recently portrayed in Chicago Magazine standing on a U.S. Flag, in an alleyway, Obama’s connection to him is a “show stopper,” and should be.

Obama thought enough of Ayers to launch his political career in Ayers’ home, Obama served on two separate left wing boards with Ayers, and Obama has referred to Ayers as “mainstream.” If one adds that to Obama’s 20 year affiliation to Jeremiah Wright, the hate-filled, anti-American pastor who rails at the US, and about whom Obama said that he could no more disown him than he could his own grandmother (watch out grandma!), one begins to develop a picture of Obama, and it isn’t Presidential.

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That this campaign is historical is undeniable and I would be proud to have a black man as President of the U.S. But as much as I applaud Obama for vanquishing Rodham-Clinton, he is not that man. I would be proud of Obama if he had real world experience beyond 143 days as a U.S. Senator, Illinois State Senator, community organizer and book writer, but his fatal flaws are his not moderate, not centrist, but leftist politics. So far left in fact as to have the distinction of being the most left wing of all Democrats in the US Senate.

For those reasons, despite his likeability, despite his ability inspire through his teleprompter speeches, and despite his poise, all of which are the traits of a good actor, Barack Obama will not be President of the United States of America.

By stark contrast McCain has been tested in the most severe of crucibles and though he did not emerge unscathed, he survived and went on to a successful albeit not star-studded military career. His experience a Navy Liaison to the US Senate led to an abiding interest in politics. Has he been a politician for self? To an extent everything one does is in one’s self interest, but in McCain’s case he has done what he believes to be right.

Some have frozen perception of McCain’s youthful days as a Naval Academy Midshipman, his childishness in flight training and his reprehensible marital infidelity upon return from 5 years as a POW. Those are worthy of moral condemnation. But I believe in forgiveness, the kind of forgiveness that attaches to it the concept of not repeating the behavior; and, I believe that the John McCain of today is not the McCain of yesterday.

Now he is straight, principled, strong, determined and resolute. Has he changed his position on some issues? Without question, as circumstances “on the ground” have changed; and thus his position on drilling in the Gulf and development of alternate sources of energy have emerged. Although he is to the left of many conservatives, he is much closer to mainstream American politics than Obama or his camp has ever been; and while theirs is contrived for publicity purposes, McCain is the real thing.

I am an ardent admirer of Ron Paul, although he was/is wrong about Iraq, and I love Chuck Baldwin like a brother though he too is wrong about Iraq. Then there is Bob Barr who deserves unbounded gratitude and applause for his work in getting Bill Clinton impeached, and they are all conservatives, each of whom would deserve serious consideration if they had the national standing that could make a difference.

But, they do not, and the only difference they will make is to take votes away from McCain. I urge them to abandon their respective political ambitions and work to exercise influence over the coming McCain Administration. That way they can make a real difference.

John McCain is not my favorite person for a variety of reasons, but John McCain is a giant of a man compared to his mental, psychological, moral, empty suit of an opponent. McCain is a man of integrity, a man of valor, a man of experience that his eloquent but empty suited opponent cannot imagine, much less emulate.

He may not be an eloquent speaker, he may not have a charismatic personality, he has questionable political ideas; and, although John McCain has manifest his human failures along the way, I will support him, I will work for him, I will vote for him and I will salute him in victory!

As for Obama, adios, sayonara and goodbye!

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © August 29th, 2008, by Robert L. Pappas.