I am a pro-lifer who voted for Bush in 2000 due to the possibility of Bush appointing justices to overturn Roe v. Wade. (I voted in Georgia, however, so my net effect on the final outcome was slight.) My views on the landmark case alone will probably turn off most capital L liberals, but I urge you to keep reading. There are many of us out there, angered by how Bush has taken the vote of Christians and used it to accomplish all matter of nastiness. I have been used and though I still abhor abortion, I cannot with good conscience select McCain for the presidency.
I have been having a discussion with family and friends on Facebook concerning McCain and Palin and I wanted to share some of my thoughts from that conversation.
I'm also a pro-life voter who's voting Obama. It pains me that abortion exists on the massive scale that it does and that Obama won't do much to curtail it. Although how much McCain will do, we can agree is also in question.
I think the act of normalizing torture and the doctrine of pre-emptive warfare should be anathema to those who support a culture of life. I also want to live in a nation where health care is not a privilege but a right and children are protected after they leave the womb. I don't see the GOP as the party that shares these values with me.
I think the Bush White House has been destructive for this nation and horrible for civil liberties. Financial deregulation has allowed for even greater predatory lending and is creating a worldwide financial crisis. (Granted, there are lots of factors at play in the current financial crisis, but the irresponsible lending practiced by banks is at the heart of it.) I think the unitary executive is insane and given my belief in original sin, the idea of consolidating that much power in the hands of one person is terrifying.
I think Obama is necessary if for no other reason than as a corrective to the dangerous policies of the Bush White House which McCain seems ready to continue.
The Palin selection pains me because it seems to be a very cynical means to collect the pro-life vote. I think she is painfully under qualified and is clearly an attempt to shore up and pacify Conservative voters. I don't think praying and being against abortion qualify one to be president.