Letter Series: My Letter to John McCain

Dear Senator McCain,

I saw you in California at the Saddleback Church, and I must say you did a good job answering questions directly and honestly. Thank you for that. Many of us at home watched with bated breath to see what things you and Senator Obama would say to explain yourselves to us, and why we should or should not vote for you.

Many, many of us are truly are on the fence right now. I vehemently supported Hillary Clinton in our Democratic primary and typically consider myself a Democrat in my core beliefs. However, my distaste for Senator Obama and some of the missteps of my party have led me to strongly question my allegiance to it. That being said, I have followed your career since 2000, when I hoped you would beat George Bush to become the Republican nominee. Instead, you returned to the Senate to continue working across both sides of the aisle on progress for our country. I appreciate that as an American.

Senator, you are a strong leader with a proven record of working across the aisle to accomplish goals that benefit our country and our people as a whole, and that is no small feat. You have often given us straight talk at your own political peril, yet you stand strong today. For those things, you deserve great credit. You pass the 'Commander in Chief' test with flying colors, and you appeal to many of us who don't want to take a chance on a rookie with the missle launch codes. Still, I must convey to you that I have concerns over your candidacy.

I'm looking for a president that can get us out of Iraq in victory, not in defeat. But I also want a Commander in Chief that understands how much our military suffers from Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I need someone at the helm that won't tax my generation broke, but I also require a leader that won't let Wall Street tank my Social Security fund when I'm old. I couldn't agree more that Socialism isn't American, but when my family is sick, I can't choose between the better of several horrible, expensive options. I want to cast my vote for someone who will secure our borders to protect our country, but what about protecting us from McCarthyism and spying? I'm happy that you vocally stand up for the rights of the unborn fetus, but what about my basic human right to the same marriage you have? These needs tear me in two different directions at once, and I'm not alone.

To be sure, you are leaps and bounds more appealing to me than most Republicans. And Barack makes me want to toss my cookies. But is that good enough? Do I trust you to appoint fair Supreme Court justices? Protect Social Security? Fix our sick healthcare system?

You promise to work with Democrats as you have always done to come to collaborative solutions to our nation's huge problems. But my strongest fear is that your campaign and your administration would be hijacked by the religous right and the radical right. If there is anything you could do to assuage my fears, now is the time to speak up. Please don't forget that these elections are won and lost in the middle - not the far left, not the far right. Be the pragmatic maverick that we know and love, and I will help you to become the 44th president of the United States.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Stone

Voter, FL 20th