Bitter? Da**** Right I'm Bitter -- Sending A Message To John McCain

by David Hinz

The Problem:

Famously, Winston Churchill once said, "Democracy is a very bad form of government. Unfortunately all the others are so much worse." And so it is for Conservatives with the 2008 Presidential election. John McCain is a very bad choice for President, but all the others are so very much worse.

Each and every time that the good Senator from Arizona begins to re-earn the trust he has lost from the Conservative base, he does or says something to once again alienate that base. The two most recent demonstrations of this, of course, is his denunciation of the North Carolina Republican Party for running ads tying Barack Obama and the Rev Wright to two North Carolina Democrat Governor candidates; and his pandering in Louisiana in which he blamed the Bush Administration for the failures of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath while failing to mention the monumental failures of the local and state units of government (both of which, by the way, were totally Democrat.)

But, as mind-numbingly angry as this makes Conservatives, the alternatives, either a President Obama or President Clinton, are so much worse. Senator McCain appears unconcerned with the Republican base in his pursuit of independents and moderate Democrats, knowing full well that the base has no place else to go. It is time to send the good senator a message; a message that he cannot miss, and that will proclaim loud and clear our dissatisfaction with the candidate.

The Message:

I propose that each and every Conservative demonstrate his or her support for Senator McCain for President by purchasing a "McCain for President," bumper sticker, or better still, two. Then we should all affix those bumper stickers upside down -- as a clear message to the senator. As a former Navy flier, Sen McCain will understand that message only too well. As explained below, displaying an ensign or the American flag upside down is a message of danger. It means, "...a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

Respect for flag Respect for flag is the title given to Section 8 of the U.S. Flag Code, and it addresses this very issue. In fact, this issue is so important that it is the first article written in the Respect for Flag section. Here is the introduction and article (a) in Section 8 of the U.S. Flag Code.

No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor. (a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

A signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property! I cannot think of a better description of the situation we face in this election. The issues facing this nation, and the next occupant of the Oval Office, are among the most important we have ever faced.

Radical Islamic terrorism, energy independence, Socialized National Healthcare, Carbon Credits to offset Global Warming fears and massive tax increases all threaten to change the American way of life. The answers proposed by both Obama and Clinton will destroy our freedoms. We cannot contemplate what damage a Democrat President, along with a Democrat controlled Congress can inflict on this nation.

We must do all that we can do to achieve a McCain victory in November. But, we must make it clear to this candidate that we WILL be heard, that he WILL listen to the base -- or else.

IF enough Conservatives display their McCain stickers in the distress manner, eventually it will be noticed. First, one would hope, by the MSM, who would naturally draw attention to any form of protest against the senator. They would naturally perceive it as a challenge to the senator. We could explain, when asked, that we support the senator, to a point, but want to draw attention to the fact that our nation is in peril.

If enough of us take up this challenge, to send a message to the candidate, we might be able to breath new life into the conservative movement. If we can get his attention, he might see the wisdom in recognizing the importance of his conservative base.