· McCain being pro-life is NOT an issue to me.
o With a Democratically controlled congress, it would be nearly impossible for McCain to get confirmation of a far right justice nomination. (Per my opinion)
o He isn't radically pro-life. Evidence of this is that he wanted to pick a pro-choice running mate (Lieberman) (he didn't because the republican party rejected it). See info on V.P. pick at http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/501jawxk.asp (a conservative publication) Also see http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/John_McCain_Abortion.htm
o Its highly unlikely that abortion will ever be outlawed altogether (maybe moving up the trimester guidelines). (Per my opinion)
o There is zero chance of a constitutional amendment. (Per my opinion) See http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/constitution/
o I personally would like to see partial-birth-abortions outlawed & I feel confident that McCain would not veto a law against partial-birth-abortions, however, with a Democratically controlled congress, a bill such as this is unlikely to come across the presidents desk for signing. (Per my opinion) Note that "partial birth abortion" is sometimes called "intact dilation and extraction" by the medical community. See http://www.answers.com/topic/partial-birth-abortion-ban-act
· The fact that McCain voted with Bush 95% of the time last year is NOT an issue to me. This number used by the Obama campaign, is misleading.
o Its 90% on average. His support of President Bush's position has been as low as 77 percent (in 2005), and his support for his party's position has been as low as 67 percent (2001). Obama's votes were in line with the president's position 40 percent of the time in 2007. Per http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/is_it_true_john_mccain_voted_with.html
· McCain "shooting from the hip" is not an accurate characterization.
o Upon close examination, the V.P. pick was pretty carefully thought out in advance per the following evidence:
§ Note that Palin was being discussed as a V.P. picks by people outside (not inside?) the republican party as early as Feb (see http://nicedeb.wordpress.com/2008/02/27/alaskas-governor-sarah-palin-on-mccains-vp-list/)
§ More on V.P. pick at http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/501jawxk.asp (a conservative publication)
o His temper doesn't seem to be a likely source of a major decision error (he seems to be very self-aware of his faults per public statements & acceptance speech). (Per my opinion) See MINIMAL ISSUES TO ME regarding McCain's temper.
· That former lobbyists are working in the Obama campaign is NOT an issue to me. Per http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/us/politics/20mccain.html
o "Obama's campaign is not without its own members of the lobbyist family. Daniel Shapiro, an Obama foreign policy advisor has registered to lobby for the American Petroleum Institute, and another unpaid advisor Broderick Johnson has represented clients including Verizon and Shell Oil." Per CNN's Truth Squad piece 9/20/08. (could not find any web references for this CNN piece)
o The conclusion of a CNN Fact Check piece from 9/9/08 is "But the bottom line is, both sides have ties to lobbyists, meaning whomever wins will have a hard time backing up the rhetoric about change and shaking up Washington." Per http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/09/mccain.lobbying/
· That former lobbyists are working in the McCain campaign is NOT an issue to me.
o The Obama campaign could only point to a few former lobbyists in the McCain campaign. Also, as of May, the McCain camp had a no conflict-of-interest policy, i.e. no one working for the campaign could be a currently registered lobbyist. There are now former lobbyists in the campaign. Per http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/not_pictured_here.html
o Obama's campaign staff also includes lobbyists. Per http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/us/politics/20mccain.html
o The public watchdog group Public Citizen has praised McCain's record for trying to curb lobbyist influence in the senate. Per CNN "Truth Squad" piece, 9/20/08. (could not find any web references for this CNN piece)
o The conclusion of a CNN Fact Check piece from 9/9/08 is "But the bottom line is, both sides have ties to lobbyists, meaning whomever wins will have a hard time backing up the rhetoric about change and shaking up Washington." Per http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/09/mccain.lobbying/
· Sarah Palin supposedly saying that 'Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God.' (this is what Charlie Gibson quoted her as saying in the Palin interview).
o That is an incorrect and misleading quote. The exact quote is “Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God. That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan.” See the unedited full transcript with underlined text showing the sections that were edited out of the interview that was broadcast at http://marklevinshow.com/gibson-interview/
· Sarah Palin supposedly making rape victims pay for forensic rape kits.
o www.politifact.com gave this analysis: Although Wasilla had such a “rape kit” policy while Palin was mayor, there is no evidence that she explicitly endorsed the policy. But nor have we found any evidence that she opposed it. The policy sought to have rape victims’ health insurance companies reimburse the city for the $500 to $1,200 cost of a forensic exam that is conducted after a sexual assault. Presumably, some of the cost might have been passed along to the victim through requirements for deductibles or co-payments, although victim advocates say they don’t know of anyone in the small town who had to pay such a fee. Per http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/sep/22/palin-rape-kit-controversy/
· Obama having some minor Muslim upbringing in (1st-3rd grade) with his stepfather in Indonesia is NOT an issue to me.
o The blog http://www.meforum.org/article/pipes/5354 is biased against Obama, but the references in it to the New York Times and other articles are useful in clearing Obama of the "Muslim" charge.
o See also http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/237/
· Palin's expenses while governor of Alaska. There does not seem to be any impropriety there. Per http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/09/mccain-reacts-to-washington-post-story/
· The claim that McCain doesn't know how to e-mail or use a computer (per an Obama TV ad) is NOT an issue to me.
o McCain does use a computer & accesses the internet and email, however, he is not proficient by his own admission. A Forbes article from May 2000 indicates that McCain's nightly ritual is to read his email together with his wife, Cindy. The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type. Instead, he dictates responses that his wife types on a laptop. "She's a whiz on the keyboard, and I'm so laborious," McCain admits. Per http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/is_mccain_unable_to_use_a_computer.html
· John McCain's joking statement about being superstitious & having a lucky penny. (Per some piece about McCain I saw on TV) (need citation)
o Note that Obama also said (in the second debate with McCain?) that he was superstitious. (need citation)