Backing McCain

Debra Saunders:

In an age of craven politics, John McCain is not afraid to swim against the tide. When Americans soured on the Iraq War and had begun telling pollsters they wanted out, McCain pushed for a surge of U.S. troops in Iraq. Today, casualties are down dramatically and Iraqi troops are defending Iraqis. Now the outcome of this war need not be that more than 4,100 American troops fell for a failed effort, which only confirmed Osama bin Laden's belief that America, when faced with losses, would cut and run.

In a political primary that had most Republicans playing to the GOP base, McCain pushed for an immigration reform bill that infuriated those primary voters. The experts said it would kill his nomination. He pushed for a second vote. Only when that second try failed did McCain then acknowledge that the federal government has to do more to curb illegal immigration before extending the path to citizenship to those illegally in America today.

I disagreed with McCain on the amnesty aspects of his bill, but I had to respect that he was determined to honor the drive of those who, if not particularly concerned about obeying the laws of their new country, worked hard to claim a stake in this melting-pot nation.

McCain's image as a Republican maverick is attractive. That's why Barack Obama has spent millions of dollars tarnishing it. On big issues, McCain has bucked the GOP establishment. He opposed the pork-laden farm and energy bills supported by President Bush (and Obama). Ditto Dubya's under-funded Medicare prescription-drug program. That's because McCain has been the too-rare-in-Washington Republican who saw it as his job, not just to pay lip service to stopping unnecessary spending, but to stop it.

I know that if he is elected, McCain will drive me nuts. For one thing, he'll do a better job of working with Democrats than Republicans because he believes in compromise. He can be weak on policy issues. When he talks energy or climate change, he talks on the surface, not in detail.

Many fault his campaign for operating on an ad hoc basis, but that's what happens when you have more talent than money.

The Palin pick? It energized a group of voters who have felt marginalized -- and McCain has to win before he can govern.

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There is a lesson to be learned by Republicans in this campaign. Choosing a moderate will not get you any love and the Democrats will still paint him as a too conservative. The Democrats and the media will demonize whomever is selected by Republicans so there is nothing to be gained by going for the squishy middle. Like Saunders, I will back McCain, but virtually all of my enthusiasm is based on him not being Obama and his selection of Palin. I will not forget those Republicans who have rejected the ticket because of her selection. When it comes to intelligence and judgment she has shown far more than either of the Democrats running. Biden is a dufus and Obama is just slick.