Why I will support McCain for President
By
Fr. Russell L. Carmichael, olb.
OSB
I have been a life long
Democrat, a union organizer, at the age of seventeen. My friend Fred MC
Laughlin taught me there was strength in joining with others for a just
cause; and you win even if you lose, because you stood tall. You went
forward without fear risking for your fellow man. Much like my Dad taught.
We attempted to unionize Pantos Canvas Company of Newton, Mass around 1961
or 62. We lost our jobs; we did not have the power of solid unity needed at
the time. Nevertheless it was a just cause, workers where being abused in a
low paying sweatshop.
We lost Freddy to the war
in Vietnam, his memory is in my mind and etched on the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Wall.
What does this have to do
with supporting John McCain? At this time in history I think allot about
where we are going and what is going to be left to my great grand children. I see no
unity in the Democratic Party anymore. I see infighting, backbiting, and
stabbing. A party of lies and false promises. The national scene is playing
out what I see here in New London Connecticut.
A party, with nothing but a
bunch of self-interested folks who are uncompromising in their
self-interest, have little or no concerns for the poor, and marginalized.
Their only concern is to benefit themselves and build their power base of
greed; the Democrats rule here in New London, Connecticut. They are killing
this community. It is being done through nepotism and long time ties of
ingrained power.
Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed
have nothing over the current Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee and
his gang. He is referred to in some circles as, the Godfather, a term he may
or may not like. When I told him of the title, he stated that perception is
funny, then he reminded me that I was the one that did the time, referring
to my youthful past prison terms.
I recognize that Anthony
Basilica is fast on his feet and good with his quick words. That may be an
understatement, he is a lawyer and words and the manipulation of them are
the tools of his trade. However, One only needs to read the names of who is
on the Town Committee, investigate the relationships and the process by
which one becomes a member.
Read the City Hall name
plagues of Past Mayors, even more investigate who have been past counselors
over these many years. Check the records see who gets city property at
bargain basement prices. Even without going out for bids, when it is a legal
requirement under our charter, last time I look.
Note how easily zoning
works with some developers and organization yet puts up major roadblocks for
other. Examine the education system, which is deplorable; who is benefiting
not the children of the parents of the poor. Surely, one can see there is
little justice here being doled out by this Democratic click. This is what
Democratic Rule is in New London Connecticut.
I say! Democrats look at what you
have done. Shame on you. Remember your history; if you are a member of the
click, many in our community are getting sick of what appears to be balten
corruption and favoritism. Even Boss Tweed was taken down. “Tweed’s downfall
came when one of the plunderers, dissatisfied with his share, gave The New
York Times evidence of embezzlement.” What is here in New London is now
being played out on a National Scale. I am ashamed of being a Democrat in
the City of New London Connecticut.
While John McCain
was in Memphis, speaking at the National
Civil Rights Museum (in what was the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was
shot.) McCain linked the anniversary to human rights,
reported the Associated Press:
McCain said King "was called
an agitator, a troublemaker, a malcontent, and a disturber of the peace.
These are often the terms applied to men and women of conscience who will
not endure cruelty, nor abide injustice. We hear them to this day -- in
Darfur, Zimbabwe,
Burma, Tibet, Iran
and other lands -- directed at every brave soul who dares to disturb the
peace of tyrants." We here those words here in New London.
Human rights continue to be a
major issue, and the nation's poverty rate has not significantly improved in
the 40 years since King's death. The national minimum wage has actually lost
ground, with the 1968 rate worth $9.71 in 2008 dollars compared to $5.85
today. Many voices seem ready now to make that an urgent moral concern and
commitment. Let us hope, pray, and work that it may be so.
As a lowly ex-convict in
Arizona some twenty-five years ago with a very sick wife, and no political
connection I reached out for government help. No democrat even nodded
assistance. I could not get the time of day from them, I was a Massachusetts
boy, then in a strange land, or might have well have been. I called on John
McCain’s office. Noting I never voted for him nor was a Republican. We got
help and he assigned his staff person Victor to assist in whatever way his
office could.
The reasons I am going to vote
McCain is because. 1.) He did not know me. 2.) He knew I was a lowly
ex-convict. 3.) He knew I had no political power. 4.) He knew we needed help
and could not afford a thing. Yet he helped me! Those are the reasons this man has my vote.
