McCain’s Lead, Despite Iraq, Explained - by Patrick Hynes

Ankle Biting Pundits

Is there anyone left in America who doesn’t know that Sen. John McCain supports the war in Iraq and plans to see our mission through to victory should he win the 2008 presidential election?

I doubt it.

And yet, the Democrats are making a fetish out of pointing out Sen. McCain’s position on the issue. For example, tomorrow the Dems are going to rehash the “100 years” storyline yet again.

Whatever.

While they are at it, they may want to smear Obama advisor Gen. Tony McPeak, who also believes that the U.S. should be in Iraq for “a century.”

Or perhaps they should hammer former Obama advisor Samantha Power, who recently stated of Sen. Obama’s withdrawal plan, “You can’t make a commitment in whatever month we’re in now, in March of 2008 about what circumstances are gonna be like in Jan. 2009. … [Obama] will of course not rely upon some plan that he’s crafted as a presidential candidate or as a US senator.”

Which brings us to the real reason why most Americans are comfortable with Sen. McCain as commander-in-chief, even if they disagree with his position on Iraq:

His position is clear and coherent. The Democrats’,
especially Sen. Obama’s, isn’t. Americans will abide a competent leader with
whom they disagree. They will not abide a politician whose position on a
transcendent issue is a confused jumble at best.

In Sen. Obama we have a presidential candidate with absolutely zero foreign policy experience who is selling a puerile solution to the situation in Iraq that is drastically at odds with the on-the-record remarks of his senior foreign policy advisors.

Is this someone you want at the helm in a time of war?

I didn’t think so.

As their increasingly ugly battle for the nomination sinks deeper into the mud, the Democrats’ numbers are beginning to fade. And one can sense a certain desperate unhinginess to their repeated, fruitless attacks on Sen. McCain.

Patrick Hynes is the founder and proprietor of Ankle Biting Pundits, which was formerly known as Crush Kerry. Patrick lives in New Hampshire with his wife Michelle, daughter Rose, and their unborn daughter Grace.

A long time Republican operative and consultant, Patrick has helped hundreds of Republicans win public office. National Journal described Patrick as “a hack with a pretty good record of electing Republicans.” The American Conservative called Patrick, “an expert on evangelical voting patterns.” And Campaigns & Elections named Patrick a “Rising Star in American Politics.”

Patrick is the author of the book In Defense of the Religious Right (Nelson Current). He is a regular contributor to the American Spectator, Town Hall, TCS Daily, and others. Patrick also blogs at the Channel Changer.

Patrick is a regular guest on several talk radio shows, including Allman & Smash in the Morning in St. Louis. He has been a guest on Fox News Channel’s Hannity & Colmes, ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, CNN Talk Back Live, and even E!.