The SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS ENDORSES JOHN MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT

"[McCain] is the strongest candidate on the Republican ballot on national security. While this issue has taken a backseat to the economy in recent months, it's still critically important to this nation's future. ... It's to his credit Mr. McCain supported the war in Iraq and the troop surge. ... He's a fierce anti-earmark hawk. ... [T]here's no questioning Mr. McCain's strong backbone: It doesn't flip-flop. ... Among the GOP candidates, Mr. McCain is the right choice for these difficult times. We recommend his candidacy to Georgia Republicans Tuesday." -- Savannah Morning News
Excerpts From "GOP Pick: McCain"
EditorialSavannah Morning News February 1, 2008
THIS YEAR'S race for president attracted a diverse group of candidates seeking the Republican Party's nomination. But only one has the right blend of knowledge, experience, integrity and leadership skills that the next president needs -- John McCain.
We recommend his candidacy to Republican voters in next Tuesday's Georgia GOP primary.
The veteran Arizona senator is the strongest candidate on the Republican ballot on national security. While this issue has taken a backseat to the economy in recent months, it's still critically important to this nation's future.
Mr. McCain has served on Senate committees overseeing the armed services and foreign affairs. He's also a true hero who brings his own experience to the table as a decorated war veteran. But his time spent as a prisoner-of-war in North Vietnam, while life-changing, is less important on his list of qualifications than the years he spent in Washington as an honest, independent and courageous voice for America's place in the world.
It's to his credit Mr. McCain supported the war in Iraq and the troop surge. While the war has grown unpopular, the senator didn't pander. His support has been consistent, even though it may cost him votes. That doesn't mean he's been a cheerleader for the Bush administration. Indeed, he's been a tough critic.
He was one of the first to complain about Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, comparing the secretary's strategy in Iraq to a game of whack-a-mole. Mr. McCain was right. As a victim of torture, he has accurately described the use of "water-boarding" to extract information from prisoners as torture.
The senator also understands how these and other mistakes have hurt the administration's credibility here and overseas. Yet he knows that waving the white flag of surrender is no solution and advocates other approaches.
As a lawmaker from a border state, Mr. McCain doesn't just know about illegal immigration, another pressing problem. He lives with it. He has taken a thoughtful, comprehensive stance on this complex issue, similar to the nuanced positions that Georgia Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson embraced.
For years, Mr. McCain has been one of the few lawmakers of both parties who has not bellied up to the spending trough. He's a fierce anti-earmark hawk. True, he opposed the Bush tax cuts. But his opposition was a matter of principle - President Bush wouldn't cut spending along with the tax reduction.
Today he supports making the tax cuts permanent. He also wants to repeal the alternative minimum tax, a looming scourge for middle-class families.
We have not always agreed with the senator, especially on campaign finance reform. But there's no questioning Mr. McCain's strong backbone: It doesn't flip-flop. He's also someone who has shown he can work with Democrats to solve problems, a leadership skill that a politically divided nation needs.
Among the GOP candidates, Mr. McCain is the right choice for these difficult times. We recommend his candidacy to Georgia Republicans Tuesday.
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