“Lefty” posted a comment to another post, stating that Obama’s “unity” thing is all a bunch of hooey, and that no one really appeals to the middle-of-the-road voter. This is what I posted in reply:

In my office I still keep a “McCain 2000″ cap and I have my “Raising McCain for Mass” pin from that time, too. I know you guys think I’m some screeching liberal, but I’m pretty middle-of-the-road.

I care about taxes being lowered, I care about public money being spent wisely and conservatively. I care that government be competent when spending that money and administering services.

I am aghast that the United States has sanctioned torture, appalled at the failures and poor planning and execution of the Iraq war, disgusted that it was premised on falsehoods, and shocked that we’ve dropped the ball in Afghanistan. I am worried that future action against Iran or Pakistan or North Korea or some other rogue state might be undertaken in a catastrophic, hasty way.

But on the other hand, I don’t like politicians who sermonize and try to impose their values on me. I am pro-choice, pro-gay-marriage, want there to be universal health care coverage for all people, want there to be a minimum wage that keeps pace with inflation, want schools to train kids to be able to compete in a global 21st century economy, and think that there are some things that are well worth a massive investment of public money for the greater good and big future payoff. I think people should be treated fairly and properly by government and by other people.

I am that swing voter, and I don’t have a problem voting across party lines if I like a candidate and what he/she stands for.

When I look at the political field, I see the guy I once volunteered for 8 long years ago, and he has succumbed to that fundamentalist Christian wing of the Republican Party that led me to quit. He stood up to Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell in 2000, and it was music to my ears to hear this maverick run against those idiots, rather than into their arms. I was first attracted to McCain when he said at a debate that his most influential political philosopher was Teddy Roosevelt. Everyone else on that stage said “Jesus Christ”.

But he’s not that guy anymore. In order to win in 2008, he had to embrace and run to that crazy wing of the party, and there’s no way I can support him for that. I can’t support teaching creationism in schools or shutting down sex ed or banning abortion or segregating gay people as degenerates.

On the other hand, Obama shares the ideals quite closely as I’ve set them forth above. He sees the America I see - one that is fair, inclusive, just, and strong.

So, I’m that middle-of-the-road guy, and I’m afraid that without big-time change, the petrification and further lazy bureacratization of Washington will continue apace. While I appreciate McCain’s appeal as an agent of earmark reform, he loses me on the social issues. Palin’s selection merely reinforced that for me, as she is even farther to the right than he is on the social issues.

Will Obama unite the nation? Maybe not, as you say. But at least he’s talking about it. McCain hasn’t bothered, and has instead further gone down the path of division and identity politics.

But thanks for reading, even though you think I’m a leftist with blinders on.

Check here to see Buffalo Geek’s comments that come from a similar place.

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