Today Americans go to the polls to cast their ballots for the next leaders of our country in the White House and in the U.S. Congress. As we face an economic crisis and continue to fight two wars, we need steady leadership and a new direction. John McCain and John Sununu provide just that.
McCain is the only qualified presidential candidate fielded by a major party in this election. His 25 years of service in the U.S. Congress have been marked by great challenges and remarkable bipartisan leadership. As a member of the Gang of 14, he helped craft a last-minute deal to preserve the power of the filibuster in the Senate while allowing qualified judges the opportunity to get a fair up or down vote. With Senator Joe Lieberman, he introduced climate-change legislation in 2002, 2005 and 2007. He believes in an approach to energy independence including clean coal, nuclear energy, hydrogen, ethanol, solar and wind power.
New Hampshire Senator John Sununu is also a champion of the environment. He fought repeatedly to block watered-down bills on clean air standards because they did not go far enough to protect our planet. He has increased protected wilderness in New Hampshire, led the Senate in passing the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act and has led the way on cleaning up New Hampshire water and reducing mercury emissions.
His opponent, Jeanne Shaheen, is far from an environmentalist. When asked about her proudest moment of standing up to her party, she cited her opposition to the Clinton administration's push to put more of the White Mountain National Forest off-limits for logging. Senator Sununu is a conservationist, an outdoor enthusiast and a tireless advocate for New Hampshire residents and the natural beauty that surrounds them.
This country is facing enormous challenges, but McCain has the experience and the vision to lead us in the right direction. Two years ago, McCain and Sununu sounded the alarm about the banking crisis, but their concerns were ignored by the Democrat-controlled Congress. They have consistently demonstrated this good judgment as they fought against irresponsible pork-barrel spending. Senator Sununu in particular is noted for his economic experience, serving on the Finance and Joint Economic Committees. He has the expertise we need when facing this financial crisis.
McCain and Sununu know that the best way to get an economy moving again is not to raise taxes. Senator Obama's refundable tax credit plan is nothing more than a disguised welfare plan. While he claims to have plans to lower taxes on 95 percent of Americans, he fails to explain that 40 percent of Americans pay no federal income tax. His tax plan then relies on middle and upper- middle classes to fund tax credits for people who never paid taxes in the first place.
While working diligently at home, we must not forget the dangers facing us abroad. Against public opinion, McCain stood up and called for a surge in Iraq. This surge was tremendously successful, resulting in a 90 percent drop in sectarian and ethnic violence. That is the leadership we need to bring about victory in Iraq and to ensure stability in the region.
As a veteran of our military and a former prisoner of war, McCain's priority will always be the wellbeing of our troops and their families. He understands that sending troops into battle is one of the most difficult decisions a president can make. That is why he works tirelessly in the diplomatic arena, forging contacts with world leaders to ensure open lines of communication.
When Russia invaded Georgia this August, threatening its democratically elected government, it was McCain who spoke directly to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, assuring him of American support. Senator Obama was, as usual, nowhere to be found. Obama's leading foreign policy advisor, Joe Biden, has also made significant errors in judgment on international affairs, most spectacularly when he suggested the partitioning of Iraq along ethnic lines and when he vocally opposed the successful surge.
Barack Obama and Joe Biden are simply not prepared to lead this country as it faces such critical foreign policy and economic crises. A College Democrat recently suggested to me that Barack Obama has the sense of urgency needed to address our problems today -- yet in his four years of Congressional service he has not one legislative accomplishment to his name. John McCain and John Sununu have hundreds. They are the kind of experienced, independent voices we need leading our country, and I ask you all to cast your ballots for them today.
