ACT for America

The researchwe did on the positions of John McCain and Barack Obama regarding the causes ofIslamic terrorism and how we should deal with alleged terrorists uncoveredsignificant differences between the two candidates. These differences haveeither been ignored by most in the media or have been lost in theunderstandable wall-to-wall coverage of the economic calamity facing us.

For thisreason we want to make sure that every ACT! for America member has had a chanceto read and forward this research to everyone you know. What you will findbelow is posted on the ACT! for America voter guide section of our website,which you can access by clickinghere.

The Views and Positions of JohnMcCain and Barack Obama

http://www.actforamerica.org/index.php/learn/voter-guide/350

Both the John McCain and Barack Obama campaignsrefused to respond to the ACT! for America candidate questionnaire. In lieu ofthat, ACT! for America has conducted extensive research that has enabled us todetermine the views and positions of both candidates on the broad issue of“terrorism.”

The ACT! for America research on the broadissue of terrorism focused on the two candidates’ positions on the causes ofterrorism and how to define the threat. This is very important because how oneviews and defines the threat is fundamental to how one will handle and respondto the threat. The ACT! for America research uncovered some strikingdifferences between Senator Obama and Senator McCain on this.

The research for each candidate is comprised ofquotes sourced from various published reports and ACT! for America comments.

John McCain

NewYork Post column 9/11/2008

“The divide starts with the question: Why wasAmerica attacked?

McCain's answer is simple (or, as Obama mightsuggest, simplistic): The United States was attacked because a resurgentIslam has produced a radicalism that dreams of world conquest and sees Americaas the enemy. [Emphasis added]

McCain doesn't hesitate to acknowledge that hiscountry is engaged in a Global War on Terror. He doesn't believe that 9/11might've been prompted by some wrong America did to others. To him, the nationwas an innocent victim of "Islamic terrorism."

McCain asserts, "America faces a dedicated,focused and intelligent foe in the War on Terrorism. This enemy will probe tofind America's weaknesses and strike against them. The United States cannotafford to be complacent about the threat, naive about terrorist intentions,unrealistic about their capabilities, or ignorant to our nationalvulnerabilities."

ACT! for America Comment

While John McCain has at times expressed hisconcern for America’s national image due to allegations of torture of suspectedterrorist detainees, the column above is consistent with McCain’s statedposition on the root cause of terrorism. For instance, McCain labels theprincipal terrorist threat to the world as “radical Islamic terrorism.” See thefollowing article.

WashingtonTimes, April 21, 2008

“A coalition of American Muslim groups isdemanding that Sen. John McCain stop using the adjective "Islamic" todescribe terrorists and extremist enemies of the United States.

Muneer Fareed, who heads the Islamic Society ofNorth America (ISNA), told The Washington Times that his group is beginning acampaign to persuade Mr. McCain to rephrase his descriptions of the enemy.

"We've tried to contact his office, contacthis spokesperson to have them rethink word usage that is more acceptable to theMuslim community," Mr. Fareed said. "If it's not our intent to painteveryone with the same brush, then certainly we should think seriously aboutjust characterizing them as criminals, because that is what they are."

An aide to Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republicanpresidential nominee who is counting on his pro-Iraq war stance to attractconservative voters, said the senator from Arizona will not drop the word.

Steve Schmidt, a former Bush White House aide whois now a McCain media strategist, told The Times that the use of the word isappropriate and that the candidate will continue to define the enemy that way…

… Mr. McCain, an ex-Navy fighter pilot and leadinghawk on the Iraq war, regularly uses the term "Islamic" in majorforeign-policy speeches and in news conferences.

In a speech last month to the Los Angeles WorldAffairs Council, Mr. McCain said the formation of an international coalition"will strengthen us to confront the transcendent challenge of our time:the threat of radical Islamic terrorism." [Emphasis added]