'All-out' support goes to Barack Obama

As I write this letter, reports of an unexpectedly sharp increase in unemployment dominate the media.

This is the year we have to choose a President who can begin to solve the social and economic issues that are plaguing this nation. I have to state up front, that from the beginning, I was under-whelmed by the prospect of John McCain as president, and that was before I started following the media coverage of his campaign.

It has been widely reported that McCain now supports making permanent the Bush tax cuts for the rich, opposes expansion of the GI Bill for veterans, and voted against extending children's health care.

Although he was on record as opposing torture, McCain voted against the bill that would outlaw water-boarding. He has also expressed support for keeping troops in Iraq for many years to come. His suggestion for families facing foreclosures was said to be 'Get a second job.' I see nothing in his program that would reverse unemployment or lead to improved health care.

Despite efforts to paint McCain as a maverick, his top advisors through the campaign have largely been lobbyists.

But, for me, the scariest thing about the prospect of McCain as President is the fact that some time in the next few years there is almost certainly going to be a vacancy on the Supreme Court. McCain has stated that he would favor a Supreme Court Justice in the mold of John Roberts or Samuel Alito.

This is the Supreme Court, that with the help of these Bush appointees, recently upheld the right of Indiana to require voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot. This measure was designed to make voting difficult for minorities, the poor and elderly, and could skew our election process.

For those who are happy with the results of eight years of Bush presidency, John McCain is a good choice. I will give my all-out support to Barack Obama.

Grace Siler

Bonners Ferry