‘John McCain’s President’

I couldn’t help but pause when I read Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) latest barb aimed at his presumptive opponent for president, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). After appearing at a mega-church together in California over the weekend to discuss issues of faith, Obama wasted precious little time attacking his opponent — so much for a day of rest for healing and reflection.

To wit, Sen. Obama attributed the disastrous state of the American economy to “Sen. McCain’s president, George W. Bush.” Really? I will not address the underlying comment about the state of the American economy, except to say that even one with a rudimentary understanding of American civics would understand that the Congress passes laws that the president either signs or vetoes.

No, I’m more interested in Obama’s “Sen. McCain’s president, George W. Bush” statement. Haven’t we heard an incessant drumbeat from the senator himself that his election would represent change and a new tone in Washington? Haven’t we heard Obama say time and time again that he would reach across the aisle to work with Republicans and Democrats alike to solve our nation’s problems? The problem with the junior senator from Illinois, yet again, is that his rhetoric doesn’t match up to his actions. As we all know, actions speak louder than words.

I am hard-pressed to identify one piece of legislation Obama has sponsored that has been signed into law with strong bipartisan support. Can you? Moreover, George W. Bush is the 43rd president of the United States, not solely the Republican president of America. I respected Presidents Clinton and Carter and the office they held — I didn’t have to agree with their policy positions hook, line and sinker.

And yet the man who would be president of all of the United States continues his shrill partisan attacks while he promises to unite rather than divide the country. Actions speak louder than words, and Sen. Obama’s actions and deeds speak volumes about the partisan presidency he would enact if elected in November.