Why I'm Not a John McCain Voter

John McCain is pro-life, according to his website. He does not support using federal dollars on stem cell research and voted to ban "fetal farming," i.e., the creation of human embryos for use in research. He is a true American hero who was once a P.O.W. in Vietnam, and he is a moderate maverick on many issues. I believe that he has largely Christian values and that he acts on his conscience, as opposed to what is expedient. The one reason I am not a John McCain voter at this point is the war in Iraq. McCain supports the war, and his trip to Baghdad and pronouncement that the place is safe, or safer, since the surge hurt him badly in the initial polls that set the stage for the Republican race. If he somehow manages to win the Republican nomination, I would probably vote for him over Hillary. If Obama wins the Democratic nomination, I would probably vote for him over McCain. Call me a swing voter if you must, but that's how I feel at the moment. The war in Iraq is the most important issue in the election, and the need to signal a clear change in strategy makes Obama the most attractive candidate to me. McCain could conceivably make significant changes in Iraq policy, but he is courageously indicating that he supports MORE troops, rather than less. I think this policy could do more harm than good, as McCain almost acknowledges in the following quote:

"Increasing U.S. troop levels will expose more brave Americans to danger and increase the number of American casualties. When Congress authorized this war, we committed America to a mission that entails the greatest sacrifice a country can make, one that falls disproportionately on those Americans who love their country so much that they volunteer to risk their lives to accomplish that mission. And when we authorized this war, we accepted the responsibility to make sure those men and women could prevail. Extending combat tours and accelerating the deployment of additional troops is a terrible sacrifice to impose on the best patriots among us, and they will understandably be disappointed when they are given that order. Then they will shoulder their weapons and do everything they can to protect our country's vital interests in Iraq."