Week 1 Election Post

At first, I wasn't really sure whether I could call myself a liberal or conservative. My parents are registered Republicans and they have never forced their views on me. As the weeks have gone by, and I have been keeping up with the campaigns, I find myself leaning more towards Team McCain than Obama. As much as I found Obama's campaign speech to be magnificant at the end of the convention, I find McCain to be better fit and experienced to run our country, not to mention the fact that he's also Pro-Life, a huge issue of which I am strongly in favor of. Yet, I also find many issues that Obama stands for totally justified including his beliefs on getting independence from getting oil from the Middle East, as well as making education accessible to people in all classes.

 In regards to issues concerning Iraq, McCain believes that the US needs to help the people of Iraq establish a sound government and be able to safeguard their people. This includes defeating the horrible terrorist group, Al Qaeda. Obama, on the other hand, wishes to withdraw troops as soon as possible, and leave behind a "strike force" to take on the terrorists. Even though he doesn't want to finish the war, he claim that leaving is moral and right for our national security. He claims that although we have spent trillions of dollars, we are still less safe. Both views are questionable. It's with plans dealing with important issues such as this that one wishes they could see into the future and tell which one would succeed. For now though, people have to use their best opinion. As much as I would like to see this whole war over with and our troops able to come home, I believe that we started something, so now we must finish it. It's something especially hard for me to say because I have an older sister who is in the Army and stationed right now in El Paso, Texas. Although I don't think she'll be sent to Iraq, there's always the possibility. Still, she and I both now that we can't leave a job unfinished. It's like when you turn in homework and you only did half because you didn't know the rest, thus getting a bad grade. If you at least finish it though, you'll get a better grade. This is how the war may be. As long as it's ended respectfully and properly, we'll get better results than if we just quit.

For the issue of same-sex marraige, both men oppose the idea. Obama, though, is a supporter for civil unions as well as domestic partnerships. McCain has the truly opposite view. He has high opposition towards same-sex marriage as well as civil unions. He believe that America should be as it has normally been with marriage between a man and a woman. Recently, McCain showed support towards the California Marriage Protection Act, which would undo the recent decision of the California Supreme Court that allows same-sex couples to marry. Another difficult issue for me because although personally I oppose same-sex unions, I believe that people should be free to live the way they want. Also, just because they aren't husband and wife doesn't mean that they shouldn't receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples. The government can't decide what's love. For this issue, I have to side with Obama.

What will probably make my final decision on which candidate I stand for will probably the upcoming debates. Until then, though, I'm still undecided...