Ezra Levant: I would vote for John McCain
Former Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant says that if he were an American, he would be voting for John McCain.
Ezra Levant - November 3, 2008
If I were an American, I'd vote for John McCain. An election is the practical application of political philosophy. Obviously, McCain is very flawed. He is often ideologically incoherent; for example, his law limiting political finance is a form of censorship.
But that's not the point. The point is to choose the best -- or the least worst -- of the available options. John McCain is right about the big thing: World War IV. He scares America's (and thus the Western world's) enemies, and that in itself will make the West safer. And, if trouble does come -- whether from an imperialistic Russia, a belligerent China, or from the Iran/Syria/terrorist nexus, he'll act with experience and leadership.
By contrast, Barack Obama is not only completely inexperienced in foreign affairs, his judgment is poor, as well -- as was demonstrated with his stumbling response to the Russian invasion of Georgia. His weakness will invite aggression, as Jimmy Carter's did. And it's not just inexperience. It's his avowed philosophy of trying to get "the world" to love America again. That doesn't work.
Domestically, he's a Marxist. He's a suave Marxist, but a Marxist nonetheless, with the most left-wing record in the U.S. Senate. And his unsavoury, Chicago-style of politics -- race-baiting; dallying with terrorists; and taking money from crooks like Antoin "Tony" Rezko -- are a giant step back for the U.S.
McCain isn't great. But Obama would be awful -- for the U.S., for those who love the U.S., and for the West in general.
Discuss this piece online here.
Ezra Levant, a lawyer and free speech activist, was the publisher of the Western Standard. He blogs at ezralevant.com.