When Pigs (With Lipstick) Fly

The 2008 presidential election is the most pivotal election in my lifetime. Each candidate has a vision for this country based on ideals and beliefs. In most cases, these ideals and plans (or lack thereof) are in stark contrast of one another. Since the DNC and RNC have concluded, things have been heating up and each candidate has become more negative towards his opponent. For the longest time, I felt that both candidates had been running respectable campaigns devoted to the issues, but now I am disheartened by the attacks and distortions of the truth.

I feel that the Republicans have been the instigator and that the Democrats are now fighting back. I can't blame Barack Obama for sticking up for himself after being slandered across every media outlet. There is only one way to beat the bully, after all, and that is to punch him in the nose and see what happens. Sometimes the bully backs down and sometimes you get beat up, but it's better to fight and cry then it is to cry alone and wonder what could have been.

The Republicans have had a long history of opponent bashing and fear mongering; it has achieved success in the past two presidential campaigns, so it is not unprecedented to try to emulate those past triumphs. However, the outright boldness of falsehood in these attacks is truly reprehensible. The Republicnas have recently accused Barack Obama of supporting sex education for kindergarten students and of calling the potential vice president a pig. Really? I know politics is dirty, but did it have to go this low?

When John McCain was challenged on these lies on (of all places) The View, he answered that Barack Obama did in fact do these things. Even though he was saying the words of Karl Rove (maybe not directly, but certainly in spirit) you could see in his eyes that he was actually questioning his own character. Whether he wins the election or not, he will need to ask himself at the end of this elction if the presidency, or simply a run at the presidency, was really worth it.

I am a Libertarian who normally supports the Republican Party. I believe that people are ultimately responsible for their lives. If they find themselves in an unfavorable situation, they should simply change it. America is filled with opportunity. America loves a comeback. America has always helped those who are willing to help themselves. As a Libertarian, John McCain was one of the Republican senators that I always admired; in fact, he was the man I supported for President of the United States in 2000. He was always his own man. He voted on issues based on his personal beliefs and the beliefs of his constituents and not along party lines. He stood up for himself in Washington, D.C. despite the consequences. And now, he's turned into just another flunky of his party. His vicious attacks, out-and-out lies and pathetic choice for a runing mate have proven that he is not a steward of the people any longer. His "maverick" claim is no longer valid or believable.

Even if this is all a ploy by McCain to secure the election, he has sacrificed his principles and his character to achieve the goal. How can we ever trust him? I know that I cannot, in good conscience, respect a man who will sell his soul to get what he wants. There are more important things in life than winning, and one of them is fighting the good fight. Will I vote for McCain in November? When pigs (with lipstick) fly!