" Here is my comment regarding an opinion letter to the Tomah Journal claiming that McCain is not a conservative. I think many of the points made at that time apply to this discussion...

Refute...

1. Yes, McCain did oppose the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. However, the real story is that he opposed them due to out-of-control spending, and if you look at the deficit now, you can be assured that the deficit would be much less, if not for the tax cuts. He now opposes the repeal of the Bush tax cut, because that repeal would amount to a tax increase during a recession.

2. Refusing to sign a tax pledge...So, I wouldn't sign anything that tied my hands against any unforeseen problems. You never know what may happen within the next four years. It's called integrity Mr. Jones!

3. Regarding the Federal Marriage Amendment...As most of you may guess, I agree that marriage should be between 1 man and 1 woman. McCain does not support the Federal ban on gay marriage simply based on the idea that he feels it should be left up to the states to decide. In fact, McCain did work to pass a marriage amendment in Arizona, and he has stated that he would support a Federal amendment, if individual judges continued to legislate for gay marriage from the bench.

4. Regarding abortion, Mr. Jones you are simply outright wrong. John McCain is pro-life, he supports the idea of overturning roe v wade, and his record verifies that stance!

5. Regarding Guantanamo and waterboarding...Mr. McCain is a former prisoner of war, and he has experienced these issues first hand. I will agree with a noble man that has actually faced the issues first hand on these matters. Furthermore, Guantanamo is an interesting situation. I don't know a great deal about the situation, but from what I do know, there does seem to be some human rights issues there. As for water boarding, I don't have a problem with a national PUBLIC stance that outlaws any type of torture. It's all about how our nation is perceived on this issue. I don't care if the policy says no torture, if there is a real "24" moment any President will do what is necessary to stop a tragedy! There is a difference between the PUBLIC stance on this issue and what the reality would be.

6. It would appear that our nation has a vast amount of oil within our own boarders, but congress and the Presidents as a whole have failed on the issue of opening up these areas for drilling. I do agree with Mr. Jones on this issue. We should drill our own, while developing alternative sources and uses of our energy. However, I can guarantee that Clinton and Obama aren't any more conservative on this issue.

7. The issue on climate change is challenging. It would appear that the jury is still out on this one. I do believe in the literal 6-day creation of the earth, and I do believe that man is to have dominion over the earth and it's resources. However, that control of the Earth does not mean that we should pollute it or not take good care of it. So, on the global warming issue I am a moderate, and so is McCain.

Overall, Mr. Jones, do you really think cutting down McCain is going to help this situation? I have supported McCain since he first ran in 2000. I know he is not the poster child of the Christian Right, but to say that he is not conservative is completely false! Besides, compared to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, McCain is as conservative as you can get during this election and still have a chance of actually winning this election! " "

" per usual the editorial staff of this news group continues to amaze me for their stupidity "

" NO what you forget is as soon as McCain became the Rep. nomination he doesn't think for himself anymore. WHy does he back the bush tax breaks now but not before he was nominated. He is a puppet of the Right wing so called conservatives and he is firmly attached the strings. As usual if you dont say the right things then you dont get the money to help with your election. He runs on how he does not want ANY earmarks but photo opts with people that benefited from those same earmarks. Then mr flip flop says WELL SOME EARMARKS are good. He is a product of the Trickle down let the rich take over republican party and to play he has to pay and say anything they want. Maybe his name is not Bush but It has a REP. in the front of his name and it is all the same. He's going down big on NOV. "

" Politicians are politicians. I think the questions about a candidates affiliations are valid. I doubt any of the Obama supporters would defend a David Duke who's affiliations with the KKK and neo-nazis were brought into question a few years back. Stop and smell the "stuff" you're shoveling. "

" Nice attempt by the Dems to paint a McCain Presidency as a third Bush term. This is ridiculous! Have you ever actually paid any attention to politics when there isn't an election happening. Bush and McCain are not anything alike! Just because they think we should finish the job in Iraq doesn't mean that they are the same people. That is one, granted large, issue, but on most other issues they are quite different. The Democrats will work to paint any Republican as a yes man to Bush. The fact is that McCain has stood up to Bush on numerous issues, and McCain will say what he means rather than exploit voters that are passionate about certain issues!

As for the accusation of McCain mudslinging...Well, again pay attention kids. McCain has said repeatedly said that he will run a clean campaign. Unfortunately, he will not be able to control the PACs, but have you heard about the millions of dollars other PACs have raised to attempt to slash and burn McCain?

I repeat, Barack Obama will win the nomination because the Democratic party is CONTROLLED by left wing extremists and kids that don't know any better and think it's the Federal government's job to fix all of their problems! However, in the general election, those same kids will not show up in the numbers needed to win, and America will see Obama for the unprepared, American hating, lying, left of Kennedy, socialist politician that he is. "

" McCain doesn't have a chance in h*ll to win the election no matter what the outcome on the Dems side. After the dust settles and the real election starts all of his McBush statements of 100 years in iraq and his flip flop on taxes will destroy him. The democratic party has grown by over 1/3 with new young voters and gulp african american voters that will not let an old white male of the Republican party give us 4 or 8 more years of the same garbage. He wants to continue on the path of Bush and that is 8 years of the worst administration in history. Its so rediculous all of the republicans lining up to back him and these same so called republicans have stated they do not back the current president. His is not our type of republican. McCain is going to lose and lose large. The Dems will have control over all three houses and get this country back to where it belongs. Compationate conservatives what a joke. The only thing that McCain will win is the mud slinging award since that is the only ammo he will have to fight with. "

" Do you work? "

" So whether a major Presidential candidate adheres to anti-American sentiment is not important? I agree that the issues you mention are important, but that doesn't mean that the questions posed during the debate are unimportant. I think it's about time that Barack Obama is exposed for the far, far left, anti-American, racist, bold faced lying politician that he is! I think the recent interview with Jeremiah Wright was incredibly revealing of Obama's character. Wright said that when Obama condemned his controversial statements Obama was simply being a politician and doing what politicians do. Translation...Obama was doing what was politically expedient! In other words, a man (Wright) that has known Obama for 20+ years recognizes that Obama will make statements not based on his conviction, but simply based on what is politically advantageous! For a man (Obama) that speaks of integrity, hope, and change, I find it discomforting that his Pastor of twenty years knows that Obama is just another politician that will say anything to get elected!

I used to fear Obama in the general election against McCain. Now, I say bring it on. No way will the American people elect someone that is so completely out of touch with the values of this nation. "