I'm Not Voting for Mitt Romney Because He's Mormon

That's right. I'm not voting for Mitt Romney because he's Mormon.

I've been going through an edit for my latest book and I think I should punctuate that sentence like this: I'm not voting for Mitt Romney, because he's Mormon. But that feels like it gives my intention a different meaning.

What I mean is that I'm not voting for him just because he's Mormon. I'm voting for him, because I think he is the best man for the job. Period.

He most closely represents my values and what I believe needs to be fixed in this economy. He's said his emphasis will be on jobs. He plans to create jobs through stimulating small business growth. I think that's key. I don't want more government jobs created, I want to see small businesses thrive and grow and hire more workers. I want to see the public sector shrink and the private sector grow.

I also think he understands that we can't spend out way out of debt and we have to rein in the out-of-control spending. I can't have something just because I want it. I have to be able to pay for it and if I write a check that has no money to back it, I go to jail. Why is our government exempt from this? Why do we keep borrowing money from China? At this rate, China will never have to invade us, they'll own us outright.

I don't like Obamacare. I don't think the government should be running, or even be involved in, our healthcare. In my experience, anything run by the government is inefficient and costly. Have you ever had to ask the IRS a question, or worse, deal with the IRS on an issue? It's a nightmare. And everyone has a different answer. The IRS is a perfect example of the government's inability to run an efficient organization. And we want to let it run our healthcare? Make decisions about our health? No thanks. Obamacare will run us into even more debt--how much is a trillion anyway?

Welfare and unemployment are other examples of inefficient and costly programs. I have an extended family member who took advantage of welfare for years. Perfectly healthy and able-bodied, but lived off welfare and spent the money on drugs. As did all of his friends. And unemployment? I know a young man who lost his job then collected unemployment so he could stay home and play video games. He took advantage of the system. these are not isolated cases, either.

I agree that people sometimes need help. But the way the government does it is wrong. If someone needs money to pay bills, let them work in exchange for that help. And make that help temporary, not a way of life. Give people a hand up, not a handout. I love the saying, "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime." We need to teach people to fish!

And, here's something that irks me. I see people accuse republicans of being greedy and having no compassion. That blanket statement is wrong. First of all, anyone can be greedy, and greed isn't limited to money. People can be just as greedy with their time. I think there's greed in both parties. I also believe there's compassion in both parties. Some of the most compassionate people I know, are also conservative republicans. People who consistently donate time and money to help others. People who throw together a dinner at a moment's notice or donate clothing to a needy family or share garden vegetable or who will just sit and spend time with someone who needs it.

Mitt Romney has been accused of being greedy, of only being interested in making money. And yet he's donated millions and millions of dollars to charity, not to mention the time he's spent over his lifetime serving others. I'd venture to say that Mitt Romney had donated more money than many, if not most, president and even celebrities (people whose monthly earning are more than most people's yearly earnings). I don't think he can be accused of being greedy or not being compassionate.

I also like that he can work with opposing viewpoints. He understands how to balance a budget, how to run a successful business (you can't spend your way out of debt), and he embraces the Constitution.

So, yes, I'm not voting for Mitt Romney because he's Mormon, I'm voting for him because he is the best man for the job.

McCain Rally in Durango

John McCain made a campaign stop in my area of Colorado on Friday evening. I was surprised to hear he was visiting Durango, especially since the last presidential candidate to visit Durango was John F. Kennedy (before I was even born). It was exciting to hear McCain speak and a great experience for my kids.
I took photos and even a movie of his visit.

He spoke about ending the war and bringing our troops home, strengthening the country by offering tax cuts, including raising the child care tax credit (a great thing at my house since I have 1 million kids--or maybe it just feels that way some days :)) and cutting government spending.

I was disappointed, though, in the Obama supporters that came to protest the rally. Not only did some hold posters with profanity, but they shouted vulgar words at us simply because we chose to attend a rally for the candidate we support. It's always interesting to me that those who demand tolerance seem to be the least tolerant.

I was also disappointed with a young woman who came into the rally with a sign that read, "Just because I have a vagina doesn't mean I have to vote for Palin." (Well, duh). She had that hidden behind a sign of support for McCain and planned to show it to protest. Fortunately, volunteers confiscated her sign. She was with a group of students who bad-mouthed McCain and the Republican party during the rally and complained about how they hated America. I also noticed that many of them didn't cover their hearts or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I say, if they hate America that much, get out. Go somewhere else. It's always amazing to me that the very people who say they hate America are protected in their right to free speech by people who gave their lives to preserve that right. I'd have to say it was very disappointing to see these high school students act so disrespectfully and childish.

All in all, it was a great experience and my family enjoyed it