by Rita Chaney

Created on: November 08, 2008   Last Updated: November 18, 2008

Although I consider John McCain to be an intelligent man, an interested senator, and a proud countryman he wasn't my choice to be the next U.S. President. Here are my ten reasons for not voting for John McCain.

1. Even die-hard Republicans recognized that John McCain missed his window of opportunity. It's just too scary to think about electing someone to be our President at the age of 72 years. Not to mention the even more terrifying thought that Sarah Palin could possibly become the president, should McCain meet his demise.

2. One of John McCain's favorite admissions was that he is a "maverick." Well, I think there are many of us out here who might agree that he used to be a maverick, but that of late, he seemed more like a good ole Republican.

3. A continued focus and praise of how the war in Iraq is going just isn't a popular position for many of us. Yes, we do support the troops, but that doesn't mean we are willing to delude ourselves into thinking we are "winning" the war or that it should continue.

4. McCain's proud admission that he is not familiar with the internet and has no interest in it is another reason for not voting for him. After all, how can he become a leader in the free world without having at least a basic understanding of what the internet is and what can be done with it? I suspect he's pretty sorry he made that statement as it clearly indicates to the younger generation that he has no capacity to think progressively.

5. Quite frankly, I'm downright angry at anyone who has a strong connection to anyone in the oil industry due to their recent profit margins being in the trillions of dollars. I think that John McCain's interests are in big business, like oil companies.

6. If you can't keep track of how many houses you own, I don't think you ought to be trying to keep track of what's going on in an entire country with millions of people.

7. I don't believe he can even get close to grasping the problems that I as a member of the middle class experience, in terms of finances, taxes, and employment.

8. He hasn't seemed to have been all that interested in establishing national healthcare for people in the U.S. I know, he had a scant plan right at the end of the campaign of providing a bit of funds for people toward the purchase of healthcare but the amount he was offering would not even cover 6 months' cost of a healthcare policy, plus it provided a tax break to insurance companies rather than for "the people."

9. McCain's own words of voting with President Bush 90% of the time were the kiss of death for his campaign. I mean, how many people really wanted more of what took place during the last 8 years? I sure didn't.

10. Many U.S. citizens still have great hope for the future, and I am one of them. I want to live to see the establishment of national healthcare for everyone. I want the infrastructure of our country to be re-vamped to allow alternative forms of energy to be harnessed and used. I hope to see those new jobs related to re-doing the infrastructure infuse our country with purpose and excitement about the future. In essence, John McCain did not instill hope and confidence about the future direction of the U.S., so he didn't get my vote.

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