Friday, August 29, 2008

Dear Barack: Own this failure

Dear Barack Obama:

I am a pro-life, socially conservative New Deal liberal who tacks well to the left of your risk-avoidance politics on many issues.

Well, risk-avoidance on everything but sticking our nose in Russia's sphere of influence. In that, you're an ideological zealot who's just as willing as neocon toadie John McCain for the United States to cut off its nose to spite its face.

I COULD HAVE held my nose and voted for you if you had demonstrated some degree of judgment, instead of whoring for empire building in the name of "freedom." Avoiding a geopolitical calamity, in my mind, is a "proportionate reason" to vote for someone as pro-abortion as yourself.

You have removed that ethical dilemma for me, however. Thanks . . . I think.

This story on MSNBC cemented my decision. Call it the final straw, proof that your (and your party's) dedication to a "final solution" for "unwanted" children trumps all:
The refrain in many of the Democratic leaders’ responses to Sen. John McCain’s choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate: Roe v. Wade, Roe v. Wade.

The 1973 Supreme Court decision nationalizing a woman’s right to get an abortion was a top-of-mind issue for top Democrats.

Voters, beware, the Democrats' message seemed to be: Palin is not in favor of abortion rights.

The Democrats seemed to be concerned that some voters might be under the misapprehension that Palin was a pro-choice woman — or that because she is a woman, it might help McCain get the votes of pro-choice women.

The message echoed and re-echoed:

“Gov. Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton in a statement issued before McCain had stepped out on the stage in Dayton, Ohio, with Palin.

“She shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade,” agreed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi two hours later.

“Gov. Palin and John McCain are a good match because they both want to overturn Roe v. Wade,” chimed in Ellen Malcolm, a Hillary Clinton adviser and president of the Democratic group Emily’s List, which backs women abortion rights candidates.

“The last thing women need is a president — and vice president — who are prepared to turn back the clock on women's rights and repeal the protections of Roe v. Wade,” said Cecile Richards, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which backs mostly Democratic candidates.

If McCain were to win the election but not serve out his term, it would be Palin nominating justices for any Supreme Court vacancies.
YES, AS YOU SAID last night, we don't agree on abortion. Lots of people don't agree on lots of things.

But why is it, when it comes to our "disagreement" on abortion, it's my side that has to do all the "compromising"? And why does that almost always look a lot like unconditional surrender?

Pity, because it is time for the Republicans "to own their failure."

Instead, as far as I'm concerned, it's time for you -- and your party -- to "own" your failure. Your failure to win the vote of a liberal Democrat whose conscience is not for sale.

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