If Obama wins the nomination (and it looks like he will now), everyone who voted for Hillary in the primary needs to vote for John McCain in November. It makes perfect sense. Hillary, as we all know, is a policy wonk. She has a firm grasp and is well versed on all the issues that matter most to Americans. That is the appeal of the Hillary candidacy. It has nothing to do with the symbolism or historical significance of a woman president; it's not a white person thing; it has nothing to do with her husband's presidency. It's all about policy.
So let's examine the issues and the stances taken by all three candidates. Afterwards you will all understand very clearly why Hillary supporters could never vote for Barack Obama and must defect to John McCain in November:
All data gathered from
OnTheIssues.org, except where otherwise linked. All
Boldface print indicates where the candidates agree.
ABORTION
Hillary Clinton: Strong Pro-Choice
- Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
- Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
- Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
Barack Obama: Strong Pro-Choice
- Voted against banning partial birth abortion. (Oct 2007)
- Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
- Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
John McCain: Strong to Moderate Pro-Life
- Supports repealing Roe v. Wade. (May 2007)
- Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
- Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines.
(Apr 2007)
BUDGET & ECONOMY
Hillary Clinton: Supports Federally Funded Programs and Government Intervention to Regulate Markets
- Help people facing foreclosure; don't just bail-out banks. (Aug 2007)
- Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
- Voted NO on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
Barack Obama: Supports Federally Funded Programs and Government Intervention to Regulate Markets
- Regulate financial instruments to protect home mortgages. (Aug 2007)
- Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
- Voted NO on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
John McCain: Free Market Capitalist - Generally Opposes Federally Funded Government Programs
- "it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers" (March 2007)
- Voted YES on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
- "Congress spends money like a drunken sailor." (May 2007)
EDUCATION
Hillary Clinton: Supports Federal Funding of National Education Initiatives- Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
- Supports Universal pre-kindergarten (Aug 2007)
- Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
Barack Obama: Supports Federal Funding of National Education Initiatives- Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
- Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
- Nationwide program to reconstruct crumbling school buildings. (Sep 2007)
John McCain: Favors "School Choice" and Vouchers Over Federal Programs; Does Not Oppose Teaching Creationism in Public Schools
- Charters, homeschooling, & vouchers are key to success. (Dec 2007)
- Teaching creationism should be decided by school districts. (Jun 2007)
- Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies.
(Oct 2005)
HEALTH CARE
Hillary Clinton: Supports a Government Sponsored National Health Care Program with Mandates
- Universal health care coverage by the end of second term. (Feb 2007)
- American Health Choices Plan: keep yours or pick Congress'. (Sep 2007)
- Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
Barack Obama: Supports a Government Sponsored National Health Care Program with Limited Mandates
- Mandates Advocates mandates for health coverage of all children under the age of 18
- Proposes a federally funded healthcare like members of Congress have. (Sep 2007)
- Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
John McCain: Opposes any form of Universal or Large-Scale Federally Funded Health Care
- No mandated universal system; no mandated insurance coverage. (Jun 2006)
- Supports tax-free medical savings accounts & tax credits. (Nov 2004)
- Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. (Feb 2006)
IRAQ WAR
Hillary Clinton: Advocates Ending the War in Iraq and Withdrawing Troops
- Absolutely oppose the war in Iraq. (Oct 2007)
- Deauthorize Iraq war, and don't grant new war authority. (Jun 2007)
- Goal to remove all troops from Iraq by 2013, but no pledge. (Sep 2007)
Barack Obama: Advocates Ending the War in Iraq and Withdrawing Troops
- Opposed the resolution authorizing the President to go to war. (Jul 2004)
- Surge has not succeeded because it ignores political issues. (Sep 2007)
- Hopes to remove all troops from Iraq by 2013, but no pledge. (Sep 2007)
John McCain: Favors Remaining in Iraq Until "The Mission is Finished" (i.e., 100 Years)
- Democrats proposing failure in Iraq by withdrawing. (Sep 2007)
- Surge is working; let it continue until it succeeds. (Sep 2007)
- The Iraqi war was necessary, achievable and noble. (Aug 2004)
Now do you understand? Now is it clear? Hillary supporters are a natural fit for John McCain. As you can see in this brief sample of five major issues, Hillary and McCain are in complete agreement in... ummm....nevermind. Whatever. The point is that we are unswayed by the petty rhetorical nastiness of a hard fought primary. We are serious voters, and we understand the high stakes for this country in the next four years. We want a president who is on the right side of all the issues, and if it can't be Hillary then that president will be....uh.....John McCain.
[UPDATE: End of Snark]
I'd like to address two things:
First, I am encouraged by how many Hillary supporters have responded to this post positively and in good spirits. This diary was cross-posted and hit the Recommended List on Daily Kos as well, but only remained on the Rec list for appx 8 hours there and never hit the top. Here, at MyDD, it hit the top of the rec list quickly and has remained rec'd for over 24 hours now. This could not have happened if many Hillary supporters were not sympathetic to the message conveyed through this snark.
Second, I want to apologize to any Hillary supporter who found this diary to be offensive. My intention in writing this was not to offend or to hurt anyone's feelings. When I said, "[Hillary's candidacy] has nothing to do with the symbolism or historical significance of a woman president; it's not a white person thing; it has nothing to do with her husband's presidency. It's all about policy," I was using this as an assumption that most reasonably minded people can agree on. It was not meant as an ironic or backhanded way of inferring that the appeal of Hillary's candidacy is actually insubstantial or trivial.
This diary was aimed at those of us who base our voting habits upon reason, i.e., upon the positions a candidate takes on the issues. It is to these people that this diary was addressed. Some (probably not many) former Hillary supporters will back McCain because they actually do agree with McCain on many issues against Obama. I completely respect that. For those of you whose voting habits are primarily influenced by emotional attachments, symbolism, campaign rhetoric,
or any other non-issue oriented factor that will have no bearing on what direction this country takes in the next four years, nothing anyone says will influence whether or not you vote for your party's ultimate nominee. If you are eventually swayed it will likely be the result of some other emotional impulse or non-substantive reason.
Thanks to everyone who rec'd this diary, and also to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts in the comments below.
