THE POLK COUNTY DEMOCRAT ENDORSES JOHN MCCAIN

"The Republicans have fielded a worthy group of candidates They all have conservative credentials, and most have some degree of leadership on their political resums. One stands out as having all of these plus strength of moral and political character that sets him apart in the group. John McCain." -- The Polk County Democrat

Excerpts From McCain Is GOP's Clear Choice; Democrats Don't Want Florida's Input
Editorial
The Polk County Democrat
January 24, 2008

... The Republicans have fielded a worthy group of candidates (and some who are not so worthy). They all have conservative credentials, and most have some degree of leadership on their political resums.
One stands out as having all of these plus strength of moral and political character that sets him apart in the group.
John McCain.
A decorated combat veteran and a former prisoner of war, McCain has an understanding of what is at stake in international relations and military affairs. He has served on Senatorial committees in both areas.
A decorated combat veteran and a former prisoner of war, McCain has an understanding of what is at stake in international relations and military affairs. He has served on Senatorial committees in both areas.
While the Democratic candidates speak only of pulling our troops out of Iraq, McCain adds that first we must win the war. We do not need another defeat like Vietnam, not even one wrapped in a Nixonian phrase like "peace with honor."
But McCain also calls "water boarding" what it is: torture. It is a tactic unworthy of America, and one that could be used by future enemies to justify their own mistreatment of our soldiers.
McCain had the political courage to support the "surge" in Iraq at a time when it had become politically popular to abandon our troops and write off their losses of life and limb.
McCain has shown himself not to be a Republican ideologue, but a thinking conservative who makes his own decisions without a pollster at one elbow and a spinmeister at the other.
We endorse John McCain's candidacy for the Republican nomination for president.

Read Polk County Democrat Editorial: "McCain Is GOP's Clear Choice; Democrats Don't Want Florida's Input"