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Note to Senators McCain and Obama…Enough is Enough!!!

In the immortal words of John McCain….”my friends……” Enough is enough. How much longer are we going to listen to the utter BS that John McCain, Gov. Palin and the GOP are putting out? I am not talking about the personal attacks on Barack Obama, but the nonsense they have been spewing about the economy, health care, the war in Iraq and host of other issues facing real Americans in this election year. Then add the fact that when what they say does not resonate with most of us, they resort to scare tactics and smearing of their opponent. To a greater or lesser degree both campaigns have stooped to this level.

Too long have we been guided by the politics of fear. Too long have our elected leaders been telling us that Islamic Fascists are the largest threat to our way of life. Too long have we heard that Democrats will ruin the free market values that made our country great and open the metaphorical door and let all the bad guys in. It is time for real honest talk about the issues that the citizens of America are facing. Anyone with half a brain can see that either by direct or indirect influence, those that would seek our demise are gloating at the collapse of America’s economic system. How can you fight for freedom when you are in such financial straits? While I would enjoy discussing the pros and cons of our foreign policy stance it would require another article of much more depth and breadth than this one. Let’s just say that even though I am a Democrat, I am free thinking enough to acknowledge that both parties, Democrat and Republican, have contributed in many ways to the economic hardships that we, as tax payers, are now forced to take on. No one in their right mind could conclude otherwise. I also know that there are a number of extremist elements in the world that would like nothing more than to see us gone, out of the picture, wiped off the map...you can pick your own metaphor here. But the constant shifting of focus by the GOP away from the issues confronting their constitutes this year is unbelievable. Mr. McCain’s campaigns admission that by talking about the current economic crisis they increase their chance of losing says to me that they may have already lost and do not know it.

In all fairness, Sen. Obama should be candid and more open about his relationships with certain individuals who when compared against most of us in America would seem radical to say the least. Having said that, I do not believe in the notion that since he knew and worked or associated with Bill Ayers and Rev. Wright, that he shares or espouses their beliefs. In fact, if I were to apply that same logic to Sen. McCain, I would have to conclude that the Senator is OK with harming doctors in the United States associated with abortion clinics as one of his supporters, one well known to him, does and was criminally charged with doing. I would also have to conclude that he and Gov Palin both feel that Alaska withdrawing from the union is a good idea just as one of Gov and Mr. Palin’s past associates does. She felt strong enough about this organization that last year Gov. Palin told them to “keep up the good work” The point here is that, as a prominent Fox News commentator learned in front of a live national audience the other night, playing the guilt by association game can backfire on you pretty quickly if you have anything lurking in your past that is questionable in any way. It is backfiring on both candidates now.

Barack Obama has been using the tag line of “I’ve got news for the McCain Campaign” Well, from America’s heartland let me say “We’ve got news for all politicians” Start talking about the things that could or have already caused us to lose our jobs, our homes, our ability to provide for our families or you risk pushing the vast majority of us to place where you have never seen the electorate before. We are feed up, we are scared and we are running out of patience for the partisan bickering that we see night in and night out on the television. I actually saw someone on MSNBC arguing over whether a picture on the cover of Newsweek Magazine of Sarah Palin, was less than flattering when compared against pictures of Hilary Clinton, Cindy McCain or Michelle Obama…Are you freaking kidding me!!!

I do not care about William Ayers, I do not care about Charles Keating and the Keating 5, I do not care about most of these things that happened years ago. I can forgive someone for a past error in judgment if they have learned their lesson and I am willing to give you both the benefit of the doubt. I do, however, care about what you, as candidates, are going to do to try and help fix and improve the economy, the tax code, our healthcare system, our national defense capabilities and efforts including finding Bin Laden as well as the opportunities we need to provide everyone in the country especially those wishing to go to college.

If you cannot or will not answer these questions in a time of national crisis, then to me, that is the ultimate disqualification for holding the office of President of the United States.

Senator McCain is missing the point in many ways and this fact becomes clear when looking at the most recent polls and watching the actions of the McCain Campaign. He is being forced to battle in states that have been Republican strongholds for decades, with North Carolina and Virginia iimediately coming to mind. Look at the polls in states like Missouri and Colorado and even McCain’s favorite Northeastern state New Hampshire. You can clearly see that his message is not getting through. Senator Obama, shares this problem in that he has had difficulty until recently, connecting with the very voters any Democrat needs to win the election: Middle Class working Americans.

I, like millions of other Americans, have preferences and beliefs about who would best represent me and my interests in the government. I also believe that upon examination, both candidates have made questionable judgment calls in terms of associations and votes on critical national issues. That said, it is time to return to government of the people, by the people and for the people and focus on the things we care about. In nearly every poll conducted since the conventions, the economy has been ranked either at or near the top of concerns for all Americans (6 out of 10 voters in the most recent polls). That said, I beg you to please give us details about your plans to correct the mess that both parties created either through pushing for deregulation or forcing lending institutions to push home mortgages out to those not qualified in order to further Republican “ownership” agenda. The candidate who can effectively provide these solutions to me now will get my vote...even if it is McCain.

A recent movie about political oppression and unrest in a country, made famous the quote”

“People should not be afraid of their governments…governments should be afraid of their people.”

To be clear, I am not suggesting any type of violent or criminal reaction to our leadership’s inability to deal with or help to solve our most pressing challenges. I am saying that we have the greatest tool available to us as citizens of a free country. It is called a vote. “One man…one vote” was a guiding principle in the founding of our great land. While it did take us entirely to long to learn that this meant all men and all women, it is still the right and just path for all who wish to have an active role in where we go from here.

It is a right that I intend to exercise in this election because the stakes are too high and the consequences to dire to allow business as usual to dominate this political cycle. Stand up, cast your vote as you see fit even if our opinions differ and let us find a way to get back to the ideals we all hold so dearly of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If we don’t do this, the pursuit of happiness will be a dream for most, life will be filled with undue hardship for many and liberty will be a concept left to whoever ends up owning our country.

Ron Godier
RonGodier@hotmail.com