Kansas City Star: Clinton, McCain Could Lead U.S. Well in the Years Ahead
 

By The Editor, Kansas City Star
January 18, 2008

Article Excerpt:

The nation and its next president can expect challenging times and difficult choices in the years ahead.

National security issues loom large. Frustrating conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan drag on. Our military forces are stretched thin, emboldening our adversaries in the Mideast and elsewhere.

The danger of large-scale terrorist attacks remains, yet much still needs to be done simply to secure our borders.

At home there are growing concerns about income disparities and a possible recession. The U.S. economy is hampered by a health-care system that costs too much and often delivers too little.

The federal government has been piling up more debt, and the huge Social Security and Medicare programs have yet to be put on sustainable financial paths.

We don't want to paint too dark a picture. The United States remains a world leader and an economic powerhouse. America has many friends around the world with shared interests and values.

But to successfully meet the challenges ahead, the nation will need someone with strength, energy, intelligence and determination in the White House.

Republican John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton each offer those essential qualities as well as extensive experience and proven responsibility in government. We recommend them to Missourians and Kansans who next month will help choose the party nominees.

Sen. John McCain

No one in the still-crowded Republican field has a better claim to the battle cry of "change" than Sen. McCain of Arizona.

He has a very long track record of denouncing business as usual in Washington, which led us to endorse him in the 2000 GOP primary as well. He has been a tireless advocate of campaign finance reform and better ethics in government.

Unlike most of his opponents in this year's GOP race, McCain has extensive foreign policy experience -- a critical difference.

McCain's common sense and moderately conservative voting record attract many Republicans. But this year, as in the past, he also holds considerable appeal to independent voters as well.

There are good reasons for this. McCain has repeatedly shown the ability to look past political differences, negotiate compromises and forge constructive agreements. He helped prevent a partisan meltdown in the Senate over judicial appointments, for example.

And when he thinks it is appropriate, he isn't afraid to challenge people in his own party.

McCain's strong opposition to wasteful pork-barrel spending has irritated colleagues on Capitol Hill, but it should impress taxpayers.

He's also been a voice of reason on immigration, where he has offered constructive proposals, and environmental protection, which he calls both a "sacred duty" and a "patriotic responsibility."

A Vietnam War hero who endured years of torture, McCain understands what military conflict involves for a country and its men and women in uniform.

We disagree with some of his current views on Iraq, where he seems to overestimate U.S. capabilities in a country seething with ethnic and religious hatred.

But McCain deserves credit for his focus on the welfare of U.S. troops and veterans. He has also upheld American values by challenging the White House over the mistreatment of prisoners.

The rest of the Republican field this year is far less impressive. For all the talk of change, McCain's rivals have spent much of their time looking back to the 1980s or suggesting a continuation of Bush administration policies.

McCain's opponents have also ignored many important subjects. Mitt Romney, for example, doesn't even include environmental concerns in the list of issues on his Web site.

Mike Huckabee's campaign rhetoric, meanwhile, seems sharply at odds both with his record as governor of Arkansas and his own policy proposals.

McCain clearly seems like the best option for the GOP. . . .

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