Dear Senator McCain,

I saw your spech at VMI yesterday and am writing to let you know that you’ve lost a voter. As an Arizona citizen I’ve voted for you as a Senator, each and every election. Now that you’re running for President, I had hoped you would be a voice of rationality, strength and truth for America in a time when we have, in my opinion, a President guided apparently by agendas hidden from the people he fervently claims to serve.

After hearing your speech, I’ve lost that hope.

I understand that you need the support of your party to reach the White House. I can’t imagine your speech being anything but attempt to reel in support from any doubtful elements of the GOP.

We can win? For who, America? Did you forget Senator McCain, it is primarily the Iraqi people that are suffering and dying as a result of our decision to invade Iraq? Many tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi’s have died, and their blood is on the hands of we Americans as the result of what is at best an idiotic blunder, or at worst an imperialist geo-political chess move. Senator McCain, Iraq IS already a wild-west for terrorists, thanks to us.

The Iraqi invasion is not a just war as you claim. A country acting anti-dependently is not acting in it’s own highest interest. In other words, our President can’t act out like a rebellious teenager without consequence- even if he is  “The Decider”. Our “coalition of the willing” does not constitute even the slightest acknowledgment that we live together on a small planet(Remember the cold war?) and must find ways to coexist without destroying each other–that military force must be used judiciously and solely to protect our blessed country from direct harm.

Are you aware, Senator McCain, that there are many voters, like me, who no longer feel an affiliation to any political party? People like me realize whether Deomocrat or Republican, we live in a world completely unlike any time in history, a time when information is readily accessible to anyone that wants to look, a time when spinning truth only adds to the chaos. Today, we live a world when the ability to make clear observations about what is happening is vital to our survival, not just as a nation, but as a species.

I thought you were the man to lead us forward into a more rational, compassionate and safe world, but I was wrong. You may have gained some fence-sitting GOP votes, but you’ve definitely lost this one.

Sincerely,

Mark Schultz
Sedona, Arizona

P.S. I felt a deeply heartfelt support of our troops behind your words, and an acknowledgment of the pain so many soldiers must feel being eye-witnesses to the travesty in Iraq. I share that pain, and pray we can find a way through this debacle that will preserve life, stabilize that ravaged country, restore respect for the United States in the world, and strengthen the security and economic future of the United States.