This is an E-mail that I received.

Dear Friends:

My name is Joe Porter. I live in Champaign , Illinois . I'm 46 years old, a born-again Christian, a husband, a father, a small business owner, a veteran, and a homeowner. I don't consider myself to be either conservative or liberal, and I vote for the person, not Republican or Democrat. I don't believe there are 'two Americas ' but that every person in this country can be whomever and whatever they want to be if they'll just work to get there and nowhere else on earth can they find such opportunities. I believe our government should help those who are legitimately downtrodden, and should always put the interests of America first.

The purpose of this message is that I'm concerned about the future of this great nation. I'm worried that the silent majority of honest, hard-working, tax-paying people in this country have been passive for too long. Most folks I know choose not to involve themselves in politics. They go about their daily lives, paying their bills, raising their kids, and doing what they can to maintain the good life. They vote and consider doing so to be a sacred trust. They shake their heads at the political pundits and so-called 'news', thinking that what they hear is always spun by whomever is reporting it. They can't understand how elected officials can regularly violate the public trust with pork barrel spending. They don't want government handouts. They want the government to protect them, not raise their taxes for more government programs.

We are in the unique position in this country of electing our leaders. It's a privilege to do so. I've never found a candidate in any election with whom I agreed on everything. I'll wager that most of us don't even agree with our families or spouses 100% of the time. So when I step into that voting booth, I always try to look at the big picture and cast my vote for the man or woman who is best qualified for the job. I've hired a lot of people in my lifetime, and essentially that's what an election is - a hiring process. Who has the credentials? Whom do I want working for me? Whom can I trust to do the job right?

I'm concerned that a growing number of voters in this country simply don't get it. They are caught up in a fervor they can't explain, and calling it 'change'.

'Change what?', I ask.

'Well, we're going to change America ', they say.

'In what way?', I query.

'We want someone new and fresh in= the White House', they exclaim.

'So, someone who's not a politician?', I say.

'Uh, well, no, we just want a lot of stuff changed, so we're voting for Obama', they state.

'So the current system, the system of freedom and democracy that has enabled a man to grow up in this great country, get a fine education, raise incredible amounts of money and dominate the news, and win his party's nomination for the White House that system's all wrong?'

'No, no, that part of the system's okay we just need a lot of change.'

And so it goes. 'Change we can believe in.'

Quite frankly, I don't believe that vague proclamations of change hold any promise for me. In recent months, I've been asking virtually everyone I encounter how they're voting. I live in Illinois , so most folks tell me they're voting for Barack Obama. But no one can really tell me why only that he's going to change a lot of stuff 'Change, change, change.' I have yet to find one single person who can tell me distinctly and convincingly why this man is qualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on earth other than the fact that he claims he's going to implement a lot of change.

We've all seen the emails about Obama's genealogy, his upbringing, his Muslim background, and his church affiliations. Let's ignore this for a moment. Put it all aside. Then ask yourself, 'What qualifies this man to be my president? That he's a brilliant orator and talks about change?'

CHANGE WHAT?

Friends, I'll be forthright with you I believe the American voters who are supporting Barack Obama don't have a clue what they're doing, as evidenced by the fact that not one of them - NOT ONE of them I've spoken to can spell out his qualifications. Not even the most liberal media can explain why he should be elected. Political experience? Negligible. Foreign relations? Non-existent. Achievements? Name one. Someone who wants to unite the country? If you haven't read his wife's thesis fromPrinceton , look it up on the web. This is who's lining up to be our next First Lady? The only thing I can glean from Obama's constant harping about change is that we're in for a lot of new taxes.

For me, the choice is clear. I've looked carefully at the two leading applicants for the job, and I've made my choice.

Here's a question - 'Where were you five and a half years ago? Around Christmas, 2002. You've had five or six birthdays in that time. My son has grown from a sixth grade child to a high school graduate. Five and a half years is a good chunk of time. About 2,000 days. 2,000 nights of sleep. 6, 000 meals, give= or take.'

John McCain spent that amount of time, from 1967 to 1973, in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp.

When offered early release, he refused it. He considered this offer to be a public relations stunt by his captors, and insisted that those held longer than he should be released first. Did you get that part? He was offered his freedom, and he turned it down. A regimen of beatings and torture began.

Do you possess such strength of character? Locked in a filthy cell in a foreign country, would you turn down your own freedom in favor of your fellow man? I submit that's a quality of character that is rarely found, and for me, this singular act defines John McCain.

Unlike several presidential candidates in recent years whose military service is questionable or non-existent, you will not find anyone to denigrate the integrity and moral courage of this man. A graduate of Annapolis, during his Naval service he received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. His own son is now serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq . Barack Obama is fond of saying 'We honor John McCain's service...BUT...', which to me is condescending and offensive - because what I hear is, 'Let's forget this man's sacrifice for his country, and his proven leadership abilities, and talk some more about change.'

I don't agree with John McCain on everything - but I am utterly convinced that he is qualified to be our next President, and I trust him to do what's right. I know in my heart that he has the best interests of our country in mind. He doesn't simply want to be President - he wants to lead America , and there's a huge difference. Factually, there is simply no comparison between the two candidates. A man of questionable background and motives who prattles on about change, can't hold a candle to a man who has devoted his life in public service to this nation, retiring from the Navy in1981 and elected to the Senate in1982.

Perhaps Obama's supporters are taking a stance between old and new. Maybe they don't care about McCain's service or his strength of character, or his unblemished qualifications to be President. Maybe 'likeability' is a higher priority for them than 'trust'. Being a prisoner of war is not what qualifies John McCain to be President of the United States of America - but his demonstrated leadership certainly DOES.

Dear friends, it is time for us to stand. It is time for thinking Americans to say, 'Enough.' It is time for people of all parties to stop following the party line. It is time for anyone who wants to keep America first, who wants the right man leading their nation, to start a dialogue with all their friends and neighbors and ask who they're voting for, and why.

There's a lot of evil in this world. That should be readily apparent to all of us by now. And when faced with that evil as we are now, I want a man who knows the cost of war on his troops and on his citizens. I want a man who puts my family's interests before any foreign country.

I want a President who's qualified to lead.

key word u used was business owner, and small business owners don't hire lots of people as u stated u do. what people need to start thinking about is who would help keep our jobs over here instead of the thing that we can control in our homes like gays and guns. democrats want the fully auto guns off the street not the ones we hunt with and people r to stupid to see that, and i can keep the gays out my house, but i can't control when they do away with all the jobs like has been happening lately, there again most business owners don't have to worry about that.

lots of small business owners hire "lots of people" if they have alot of turnover.

Bob:

You need to study up a little on the facts.

Small business owners have hired almost all of the new jobs for the last several years.

I heard the numbers yesterday, but I can't remember them and I don't have time to google it now.

But sommon sense tells you that with all of the big guys closing up, moving overseas or cutting back on jobs, that is no longer the future.

As for guns, please hit this link. It will knock your hat off and if you go to the bottom of the page, you will see that all of this is documented by either the actual voting record or other docs.

http://www.gunbanobama.com/Default.aspx?NavGuid=530ecfa4-ae4e-4819-97e6-892463d99f08&SiteGuid=c63367a2-996a-422c-9afd-0d6f49a0ca86
CSSJR

Excellent post! Thanks for sharing it!

HEY BOB, democrates did ban fully automatic guns, still didnt get them off the streets, wake up if they banned automatic weapons what are they trying to ban now?? Our weapons! Im sure you are the same class of people that says its ok for rev wright and bill ayers to be around Obama they are two differen people huh?

well guess im out numbered. lets worry about gays and guns, who cares about having jobs.

Bob:

I asked you whether you have a job and a few other questions.

Also, what do you hunt and where?

Inside, outside?

Field trials?

CSSJR

i work at international paper. i hunt inside and out. right here in my county they just shut down a plant laid off four hundred people, maybe when it happens more it will open eyes.

Were you part of a labor Union?

oh yeah i run field trials to

if you all aren't sick of the way things have been going put another repub in office

People say that the republicans are the ones for jobs over seas and loss of work...Bill Clinton sold the U.S. out to Naftec and sent all the jobs over seas, thats where the problem began with the democrats, so thank your gay loving, gun hating democrats for that

Bon - If you actually believe Obama Hussien can get this country back on track, then I have some oceanfront property here in Spotsylvania I will make you a great deal on.....

I understand you are upset by job losses in your area, but they are everywhere. Look back at when the "downfall" started and look forward to where you think this country would be headed under each administration.

Bb:

Were you one of the guys laid off?

If so, you are probably going to have to look for a job with one of the small companies we have been talking about.

Most IP plants I am familiar with are in small towns where they are the only large employer.

So you should be pulling for the plumbing contractor, the electrical contractor, the garage..the size company that has 5 to maybe 20 employees.

Think about it.

And remember that is the kind of business that does not go overseas.

The international corporation has no national pride or loyalty. They go where ever they get the best tax break, environmental breaks, etc. Mexico a few years ago, the Phillipines, now China...Vietnam next.

I remeber an old saying " You can push a mountain only as far as his front porch. You push him then and he will fight."

The international corporation has no front porch. They don't stand and fight. They take the path of least resistance.

I will bet that your plant is shutting down as much for EPA reasons, OPA, OSHA local complaints and harrassment as anything else.

I will bet that they are being told that they can't burn coal anymore unless they spend a sinful amount of money on scrubbers, that they can't let board fiber escape into the air, on and on and on.

And who pushed all of that EPA and OSHA stuff?

Wake up.

CSSJR



CSSJR

Supposed to be you can only push a mountain man...

Bob...

bob...you should just stop trying...these ppl cant be helped....but they are republicans so they do have an excuse i guess

bob do you think they will hire you back when their taxes increase do you think they will hire anyone at all?? after all Obama wants to tax anything over $250,000, Do you think IP makes more than 250,000 in a year?? Where is the extra tax dollars they have to pay in gonna come from? Maybe the workers raises or christmas bonus or maybe they will lay off a few more people. you of all people should want to vote republican and support american business not tax american business? Did you get an official pink slip from president Bush or something is that why you are upset? Give me a break, you are correct I cant stand gays and I love my guns so F OBAMA!

Folks:

Note that Greg has never answered my question as to where he hunts, what state, inside or out.

No reply.

I think he is a troll.

CSSJR

Sounds like a typical liberal. No backbone! I asked the same thing a week ago, same thing, Greg didn't reply.

i didn;t get laid off it was a georgia paciffic company in the county i live in. hey i love to hunt in and out the wire as good as any body. but i have to look out for my family to. if i ain;t got a job we dont eat and neither does the dogs, and to be honest with you all i don;t think we have a real good choice in the president race i would like to see a indpendent get in as president.

I am confused.

You said that it was an IP plant.

Now you say GP.

Which one do you work for?

Which one laid off people?

By the way, BO's idea of jobs is putting you to work on the roads. I am old enough that I remember WPA.

Rolling wheelbarrows. Not my idea of a very good job.

Worse than that, public works jobs building roads does not really create wealth.

In that case, government collects taxes, spends it on roads, collects taxes back from the workers and the concrete companies, spends it again on the roads...same money going around and around without creating any new industries.

Do you want to spend the rest of your life being a flag man on a road project?

Doesn't sound like much fun to me.

CSSJR