Character is arguably the most important quality for a commander-in-chief to possess.  The stresses of the presidency are extraordinary.  It is, after all, the toughest job in the world.  “Character” is a word that is thrown around quite often by politicians, but here’s what it means to me as I think about the upcoming election.  Character means always doing what is best for America over doing what is politically expedient. Often this requires supporting and/or enacting policies that are unpopular, though they may be in the best interest of the country.  One man running for president possesses this type of character:  Sen. John McCain.

You may not always agree with him, but you will always know where Sen. McCain stands.   Unfortunately, the same is not true for his opponent, Barack Obama.  This fall Americans have a very clear choice: realism versus idealism.  America’s national security is too important to be left in the hands of an inexperienced, liberal senator.

Sen. McCain possesses the character needed to confront the major national security challenges facing the United States.  He has the vision and resolve to secure favorable outcomes in both Iraq and Afghanistan, ensure that the United States remains on the offensive against Islamic extremists and to keep the homeland safe.  Sen. McCain views the world through the lens of realism:  he sees the world how it is, not how he wishes it were.  Obama does not.

If elected, Obama has committed to immediately withdraw combat forces from Iraq-no matter what the situation on the ground looks like at the time.  In his mind, the war is lost.  He has failed to acknowledge that the surge advocated by Sen. McCain has worked to increase security throughout Iraq.  The reality is, however, that a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq is not in the strategic interests of the United States.  In fact, the surge, which Sen. John McCain championed long before it was politically popular to do so, is working.  Frederick Kagan, the intellectual architect of the surge, recently wrote an insightful piece examining the two candidates’ policy differences on Iraq.  It provides a nuanced analysis of their opposing views. 

When asked about Iraq, Sen. Obama is quick to mention that he opposed Operation Iraqi Freedom from the onset in 2003 when he was in the Illinois state legislature.  The next president of the United States will be a war-time president.  That is simply a fact.  Recalling the past will not ensure a favorable outcome for the United States in Iraq.  The next president will face very tough decisions about questions of war and peace. Sen. Obama’s reliance on his 2003 speech will not solve the challenges in Iraq or elsewhere.  His failure to articulate a reasonable approach for achieving a satisfactory outcome in Iraq raises serious doubts about his ability to lead.  I have no doubt about Sen. McCain’s ability to lead:  John McCain Ad – Courage