A McCain Contract?
by Dan Calabria
Issue 104 - March 26, 2008

Regarding your editorial, "Support McCain?", is it possible for principled conservatives to support, work and vote for John McCain in November? Of course it is. But first he has to treat conservatives as serious people interested in principle rather than an interest group to be appeased. He needs their votes; they don't need his.

Everyone has heard the old line, fool me once, etc., and conservatives understand that John McCain now has to step up, but not with mere "trust me" rhetoric. He needs to make some firm commitments in writing - in blood if necessary. In doing so he has to pledge to treat all conservatives, many of which are independent voters, as voters - not pesky nuisances. He has to recognize that he is where he is because of them and not because of his fair-weather media friends few, if any, of whom will ever vote for him.

McCain has to offer his version of a "President's Contract with America" that would include:

1. Pledge that his first act as president will be to sign an Executive Order accelerating construction of a form of fence or electronic barrier on our southern border to stop the flow of illegal aliens. Then he must commit to focusing on organizing a real national effort to make it possible for illegal immigrants to come out of the shadows and voluntarily enter a program to qualify to become U. S. citizens by proving that they are legally employed and proficient in English. Those who do not wish to become citizens must apply and register as guest workers, subject to finger printing and photo IDs. Those unwilling to abide by this process will be ordered to voluntarily leave the country. Any illegals who ignore these requirements will be deported as they are identified.

2. Sign a pledge to NOT raise taxes and commit to fight to make the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, including abolishing the federal estate tax.

3. Appoint a bipartisan commission to develop a program to permanently rescind the Alternative Minimum tax over a 5 year period.

4. Pledge to find a way to strengthen and save the Social Security program without raising taxes and make it possible for all workers under 40 the option of having a voluntary personal social security account.

5. No later than 6 months after his inauguration, send a bill to Congress to permit oil offshore oil drilling and in ANWAR, including tax incentives for industry to encourage building new oil refineries and nuclear energy plants in order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

6. Commit to amending McCain Feingold to remove any restrictions whatsoever on our constitutional right to free speech - 24/7/365 - eliminating any 60 day "silent" periods.

7. Send a bill to Congress to eliminate all capital gains taxes over a period of not more than 5 years in order to promote a huge increase in investments by business and industry which would be limited to U. S. based projects only that will create jobs and encourage investments in American companies.

8. Send a bill to Congress that makes "earmarking" for any purpose illegal and pledge to NOT sign any earmarks that reach his desk.

9. Commit to continue military operations in GITMO and support its purposes in the fight against terrorism, and not allow captured non-combatants access to the American legal system simply because they are not citizens and seek to destroy the system that we have fought to protect.

10. Pledge that on or before June 30 he will identify at least 3 possible candidates for his vice presidential running mate from among proven, principled conservatives which might include: Governor Mark Sanford, South Carolina, Senator Jim DeMint, South Carolina, Representative Mike Pence, Indiana, Representative Paul Ryan, Wisconsin, or other potential candidates with impeccable credentials as honest, reliable politicians who will help lead the country in meeting the challenges we face.

This is the kind of "Contract" McCain needs to offer to win the votes of all Republicans, conservatives and thinking independent voters, including "Reagan" Democrats. Failure to adopt this bold approach will result in failure to convince voters that he has earned their votes and he's likely to fall short of winning the presidency because concerned Americans will simply not vote in November. He must understand that this is not a matter of "his turn", and he must earn the support of these concerned voters whose patience has been exhausted, and cannot vote for a "trust me" candidate, or be treated as pesky nuisances or mushrooms.

Senator McCain, this is your ticket to the White House in November - ignore this opportunity at your own peril.

Dan Calabria writes at www.realitychecktimes.com