Subscribe to Breaking NewsI like John McCain.
That’s what I came away with after his speech last night.
I disagree with him about energy policy, taxes, the role of government and most strongly over social justice issues.
And I was angry that he took a swipe at gays and lesbians by saying that he would support judges “who dispense justice impartially and don’t legislate from the bench.” That was clearly a reference to “activist judges,” which is what social conservatives cry every time we win back our rights in court.
I’m not going to vote for him.
But he seems to have learned the right lessons from being a prisoner of war - that people need other people, that America is an idea that is worth fighting for; he seems to believe many things I do - that all people are created equal, that because we are so blessed to live in this country, it is our obligation to “fight for the rights of the oppressed,” that social justice is crucial to a free society.
Of course, with the choice of the very anti-gay Sarah Palin, he isn’t giving signals that he believes that those same rights, that same fight, applies to gays and lesbians. And Republican delegates are 93 percent white, so it’s not so clear other oppressed people are on board.
Even so. He gave a stem-winder of a speech. His honest exploration of his time as a prisoner, his humbleness and regret, was moving. His words about reaching out to all Americans, about committing to service, about the American ability to work hard and solve our nations challenges, about education being the “civil rights challenge of this century,” all these were good words.
That’s the America I believe in, too.
John McCain and I disagree on important issues. But he is a good candidate. He’s not my candidate, but a worthwhile challenger to Barack Obama.
