Let me first say I respect Barack Obama for his accomplishments. He has lived the American Dream. But he is the wrong candidate to lead America.
As a conservative, there are three basic things I believe in: fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense and the possession of moral values. Yes, the Republican Party aligns best with most of my views, but let me make this clear: I am a conservative before I am a Republican.
Regarding fiscal responsibility, Obama doesn't realize Americans cannot increase spending in Washington. He has proposed billions in new spending, which would occur during one White House term. That is not being smart with our money. He also likes to rake in the earmarks, which is also wasteful spending. As a senator, Obama has requested 330 projects totaling almost $1 billion.
In the 2006 fiscal year, Obama requested 79 projects to get $197.5 million. In 2007, he requested 139 projects totaling $334 million. And finally, in 2008, he requested 112 projects totaling $399.8 million. That totals $931.3 million since he has been a senator.
John McCain on the other hand has never asked for or received a pork-barrel project. Instead of almost $1 billion in earmarks, I would bet the citizens of Illinois would rather have their tax dollars back in their pockets via a rebate or tax cut. When citizens have more of their hard-earned money in their own pockets, they spend it the way they want to - not the way the government wants to.
On national defense, Obama's judgment is dangerous for this nation's safety and its prosperity. Obama announced in a 2007 debate that he would personally meet with leaders of Iran, North Korea and other hostile nations without preconditions. This is ludicrous. He wants to meet with someone like President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, who has said Israel must be "wiped off the map." Ahmadinejad also said " ... They have created a myth in the name of Holocaust .... Wanting to meet with someone like this without conditions is ridiculous and threatens America's safety.
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Another way Obama's judgment is questionable for America is he voted against providing $94.4 billion in critical funding for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Regardless of whether you supported the war, Americans have to deal with the fact that we are out there and we must protect and support our military. A vote against critical funding would leave U.S. troops without the necessary funds to get the items required to ensure success. I have a personal interest in this matter, as I have family who have taken several tours of duty to the Middle East and have more coming in 2009. The thought of a president not providing the military with critical funds required to do their job is depressing and irresponsible.
I conclude with a final key reason why Obama is not right for America: moral values. One of the main issues is abortion. I respect everyone's right to have his or her opinion about being abortion rights or anti-abortion. But there is one vote, or lack thereof, in which Obama took this issue to a whole different level. Abortions during the late second to early third trimester were occurring, a process that involves giving the pregnant mom drugs to induce violent labor. In most cases, the babies die during the contractions, but approximately 20 percent are born alive. The Born-Alive Infants Protection Act was aimed at lawfully identifying the products of these late-term abortions as people. Obama was the only senator to speak against this act. There is something extremely questionable about bringing a fully formed human into the world and sucking its brain out or letting it suffocate and die. And what was Obama's reason for supporting this insanity? He thinks if the act were passed, it would affect the right to an abortion down the road. His judgment is lacking, especially considering one has nothing to do with the other. I believe we all can say an abortion like the ones described above are sickening. When the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act came to the Illinois legislature for voting, Obama voted present, which amounts to voting against it. Obama's views on human life are disgraceful.
It's policy positions and judgments like the ones above that will win or lose this election. Where do you stand?
Stephen C. Dinkel is the president of Lobo Conservatives and host of the Stephen Dinkel Program, which airs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 to 9 a.m. on BlogTalkRadio.com/stations/headingright/stephen-dinkel.
