Why I am supporting John McCain

Lindsay has done a post about the debate, and she wanted a response. I had more to say than the comments would allow for.

I don't watch the debates. They really don't influence my vote. I am happy when my candidate does well, but that is not always the case.

Some of the reasons that I admire John McCain:

He was a prominent candidate in the 2000 election. He was the darling of the media. He won the New Hampshire Primary, and it was a big surprise. He set George W. on his heels. George W. had to win in South Carolina if he wanted to get his party's nomination. The Bush campaign played very dirty, and they won that primary. It was over for John McCain. He was a bitter man. He went through having melanoma, and having his wife's substance abuse made public at that time. The democrats wanted him on their side. I am sure it was a very difficult period for him. In 2004, John Kerry would have loved to have him as his vice-presidential candidate. They even had talks about it. John McCain stayed with the republicans because he believed in the same things that they stood for, and he couldn't turn his back on the principles that he believed to be true. He campaigned at the side of George W. Bush during the 2004 election, and he made a significant difference for him in that election. Without a doubt it had to be a very difficult thing for him to do. I have had a tremendous admiration for him since that election. He has had many disagreements with George W. and he has never been afraid to go public with them. Beliefs about torture and the surge come to mind. Sad to me that George W. is doing him harm again and this time it is unintentional. The idea that he would be a third Bush term is a very bitter pill. He has shown me to be a man that stands by what he believes in even when it seems his party did not stand by him.

The most important thing for me this year is to elect someone who will bring our country together. I believe that both candidates will say anything at this point to get elected. Therefore, the only way to judge them is to look at their records. So I have.
During the last two congresses, John McCain sponsored legislation with 55% of his cosponsors from the democratic side. For Barrack Obama it is 13% from the republican side. John McCain has sponsored legislation with democrats involving climate change, government spending, torture, patients' bill of rights, campaign finance reform, tax cuts, and gun control. John McCain voted with his party 85% of the time. Barrack Obama voted with his party 97% of the time. Which one will be more likely to "reach across the aisle"? In my opinion, it will be the one that has already done it.