One of the lead news stories that popped up on my internet home page this morning talks about whether a certain vice presidential nominee would kill John McCain's chances in this November's election. The following is an excerpt from that story:
"...McCain’s comments Wednesday to the Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge’s pro-abortion rights views wouldn’t necessarily rule him out quickly found their way into the in-boxes of Christian conservatives. For those who have been anxiously awaiting McCain’s pick as a signal of his ideological intentions, there was deep concern that their worst fears about the Arizona senator may be realized..."
Their worst fears? Are you kidding me? Is this what we're doing? AGAIN?!?
There is no bigger waste of time and energy in American politics than the abortion debate. Is it interesting to talk about? Yes. Is it really important to individuals who are or who could be faced with an unwanted pregnancy? No doubt. Is it it the most pressing issue that our next President will address? Absolutely not. Should it be? Absolutely not.
That so many people across the political spectrum have bought into the idea that this issue is so much more important than all others is incredible to me. We are at war. We are very likely in a recession. Social Security is in serious trouble. Health care is beyond the means of many in an aging population that will, increasingly, require access to it. These are just a few of the actual, everyday issues that legitimately affect citizens and the continued well-being of this nation. The idea that many vote (or don't vote) based solely on where candidates stand on abortion rights is absolutely appalling* to me.
Forget about it! Or at least put it into perspective. Look at the candidates and decide who might make the best leader for our country and our citizens, and for ALL of the issues that we do and will face. If you are passionate about the abortion issue, that's fine. Admirable, even. Just don't let it blind you to the real jobs of our elected officials, the real questions we need to answer, and the real tasks that await us.
I'll never forget the day I was campaigning at a local polling place for a candidate for Shelby County Commissioner (a member of the board of commissioners that vote on county budget, land use issues, etc.) and a woman stopped to talk with me. She was concerned because she had heard that my candidate was pro-choice. It took every ounce of restraint that I could muster to refrain from (1) raucously laughing in her face, and/or (2) grabbing her, shaking her, and yelling at her to use her brain as I explained to her that the county commission isn't - during this 4 years or any other - going to be deciding the abortion issue!
I'll say it again: There is no bigger waste of time and energy in American politics than the abortion debate. Think what you will about it, consider it amongst many issues, discuss it with your friends every now and then, but use your brain and open your eyes to what we really need... in our leaders and in our lives.
*appalling = appalling
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