A few questions for Americans about the elections?

Question

I'm British and would like to know about certain political trends in the US. I already asked one question today about Socialism, but I have a few more:
1. Why does McCain's history in the military mean he has more experience than Obama? I'm not saying McCain wasn't brave etc in the military, but I don't think that means he'll make a great President.
2. Why are American Christians generally right-wing? I'm Christian and left wing.
3. The US seems to have a strong patriotic/nationalistic element to the elections. In the UK, I don't think I've ever heard a British politician at elections say "the UK is the greatest nation on earth." And don't say it's because the US is the best country in the world; I don't believe this is true. I've lived in the UK and France, and have travelled widely, and I've found that countries are often different, but not better or worse.
4. Who are you voting for personally? (You don't have to say if you don't want to)
5. Any other comments you want to make.

Sorry to put so many questions in one thing, but they're all sort of related. I suppose the over-arching question is "what are the general political trends in the US and their reasons?"

Answer 1

1. i don't think it means he has more experience but i cannot speak for the rest of the country.

2. Republicans pander to the Christians because Republicans are generally against abortions and anti-gay. democrats are the opposite.

3. Why would someone vote for a president that did not think that their country is the best on earth? we like to be told nice things.

4. I am voting for Barack Obama.

5. Please don't stereotype Americans. I try to do the same for other foreign countries. (this was directed towards Lou down there.)



p.s. i apologize for the Americans on here who come across as total diks. we are not all like that.

Answer 2

Wow you really get to see a lot of bias and prejudice in these answers. I wonder if the people who claim all these horrible traits from the people who do not think like they do even realize how prejudiced and ignorant they are being. But on to answering your questions.

1.) Every president except Bill Clinton has been a military veteran. Because the president assumes the role of Commander-in-Chief of the military, military experience is relevant to the office. However Senator McCain is far more than just a naval officer. He has also been a member of congress for 26 years after his 22 years in the Navy. And he did have a command of his own. A fighter sqadron in Pensacola, which he commanded very well. Obama is a Junior senator who has spent most of his time in the senate campaigning to be president. He has no experience.

2.) The right wing is the conservative party. Conservative believe in preserving traditional values. In america, christian values are traditional, so most christians gravitate toward the conservative philosophy. That is all and there is nothing more to it. Its really shocking that so many people associate christianity with racism. But people are stupid.

3.) Yes patriotism is very big in the US. We live in a really great country and we are very proud of it. I have also done a bit of traveling and seen other countries and I think we have a good thing going here. We live in a country with complete freedom to believe say and become whatever you want. No country is perfect, but the American way is really good. And basically we don't want to elect someone to be president who doesn't like this country.

4.) You might have guessed that I'm voting for McCain. I like the guy because he is not a partisan. He is a moderate who will work with anyone. Obama is a fanatical liberal extremist. I can't see how that would be any better than a fanatical conservative extremist. The biggest problem with Bush is that he is an uncompromising idealogue. You don't fix that by putting in someone who is just as uncompromising about different ideals. Obama would just shift us from one wrong direction to another wrong direction. McCain would be the course correction we need. Someone who can represent democrats and republicans equally.

I'm glad you are taking an interest in American politics. As you can see from all the varying answers there is no real consensus on what these things mean. Everyone sees the world through their own political filter. And their own national filter as well.

Answer 3

1. McCain has been a senator for years more then Obama, that is his great experience. His military service only proves that he loves America and the fact that he voluntarily stayed in a POW camp for his troops proves that more, so that is why his military is an issue. We have issues here with illegal immigrants from Mexico which Europeans fail to recognize. It is a huge problem, and this is one reason nationalism is such a huge thing for us as most of them could care less about us, they just want our money. Many do not abide by our laws ans even flat out refuse to speak English. Its a big problem.



2. Right wingers are more conservative. They are generally more for the constitution, gun rights, and mostly they are against abortion. Things have changed a lot in the last fifty years with our political parties. Republicans never used to be so Christians based, it used to the Democrats, but things got weird after FDR.



3.If you remember, America was founded on a group of people who came here to get away from the government. We are very into our country because believe or not, we do have the most unique system in the world. 80% our our economy runs off of small business. We are a group of competitive people who are proud of this and know you cannot attain this anywhere else. We have to stick together, the rest of the world doesn't like us too much.



4. I am voting Libertarian because I hate both parties. Our government has become a very large entity that is totally removed from the average American. Most Americans are very angry about what has been happening here the last several years. However, some fail to realize that it has been progressing to this for decades and did not happen over night.



5. I think these questions are great. I have traveled all over the globe as well. I have lived all throughout the south pacific islands, all over the US, Mexico and Germany for two years. I can say that while many places are wonderful, there is truely no place like America. The freedoms we have here are amazing and to have them threatened is very scary. The people we have in our government is totally corrupt and Obama or McCain is not going to change that at all at this point.

Answer 4

1. It doesn't. But they like to point it out for some reason. I respect his service, but has nothing to do with the job



2.There are left wing US Christians - the right wing people are just loud and a bit bossy about it. They act as if they speak for everyone - they don't



3.All countries are nationalistic to a fault during elections. These are just typical US political speech type phrases - they mean little - like saying "God Save the Queen" - it's almost traditional, but really shouldn't be taken so seriously. It is also to reassure the audience.



Each country rings the bell of nationalism in a different way - the UK has a few politicians (PM Brown for one) who is a bit of a revisionist as far as the British Empire goes, highlighting the good it brought to the world - that is pure nationalism, said to stir up patriotic feeling. Same thing as "the greatest nation," etc...It is just political.



4. Actually I find that to be a bit personal. A persons vote is private unless they wish to discuss politics amongst friends. Thank you for respecting my privacy :)



5.Don't take everything you hear in the media (especially the UK media) about the US to heart. There are many many inaccuracies and broad generalisations/stereotypes that standard UK news/media relies on. I find most UK news to be very biased in regard to the US as a whole. The hyperbole gets ramped up even more every 4 years when it is time to pick a US president. To read some of it you would think we all had horns and tails.



"what are the general political trends in the US and their reasons?" - no idea. The economy has trumped everything. We'll all have to wait and see.

Answer 5

1. Americans have usually translated the military ability to lead men to lead a country. The reality is that with two exceptions (Washington and Taylor) every President who was a general has been a disaster.



2. It is more a matter of right-wing American Christians being more vocal and the easy platform of "traditional values" especially when something threatens the status quo. Sen Joseph McCarthy-R and the political witch hunt that bears his name was a prime example this(never mind that he and those who supported him basically used the 1st Amendment as toilet paper)



3. This is not just a US thing. There was a time when the UK said "The sun will never set on the British Empire." and were as full of it as the US is now. The same is true of France during the Napoleonic Era.



4. Obama. From a practical point McCain is just too old. When taken seriously the Presidency ages a person rapidly (compare Jimmy Carter of 1976 to the one of 1981)

Answer 6

In the old days most who were elected served in the military as that was almost a requirement, In addition, during WW II there were very few who did not serve.



We now have a voluntary army and the rich don't enlist! There used to be a draft during Vietnam!



Unless a person was a high ranking officer with much command experience, or even enlisted with a lot of combat experience, it means little. McCain flew from a carrier and got shot down. He has no command experience!



I don't know why, other than they have issues with people who believe other than they do and want them to conform with their beliefs! For many religions you really have to be a Kool-Aid drinker to buy their ideology, which makes no sense essentially and they are the most judgemental people you will meet. They are not God and I don't particularly care what they think! Whatever it is, pursuant to the US Constitution, their religious beliefs do not belong in US Government!



Many of them are throw-backs to the way they treat women and blacks as inferior, though some have gotten away from the black part! Mormons are a good example.



Like some Fundamentalist believe, life begins at conception and ends at birth!



I don't think I am better than anyone else, and I love some of the foreign countries I have visited! My ancestors are from England and Germany!



I think for a long time, and probably still, are probably the most powerful nation on Earth. Lately we misused that power, and have paid dearly! I think right wingers, or conservative Republicans feel that way. Not the majority of the US!



I am voting for Obama. The other Choice is no choice at all!



I hope Obama wins as peoples views of economics and the use of preemptive military invasions are not how most of America thinks. Unfortunately, we took our eye off the ball and let too few and really have started a Class war! We are tired of the few stealing from the rest of us, and when we ask for some to give it back they cry "Redistribution of Wealth"! How can you redistribute what you have stolen!



We have a lot of issues that will only get worse with a continuation of Bush and his policies, a man who belongs in jail!

Answer 7

I think Christians will say someone who has been in the military has more experience than someone who did not go for whatever reason. I, personally, would vote for a draft dodger.



Someone who has joined the military is not someone I would support.



I will not be voting for Democrat or Republican. I will be voting Green. And where there are no Green party candidates on the ballot, I will be writing people in.



I see right wing, or Republican, as being pro life and pro military. Many Christians are very much in support of the military and very against abortions. The abortion part makes sens eto me but not the military part. I think that most people raised as Christian, don't really think about it. It's just the way they all believe. In many of their families, they are all Chrisitan, all go to church, they are all pro life and are what my mom calls military families. My whole family, except for her and me are this way. We are the rebels. And it is this way on my mother's side and my father's side.



And I have a question for you. Do you think that there is a lot of interest from the British in our election here in the US? I have seen questions like this a lot. In fact, I used to talk with a guy in England, who was very interested in our politics and how it had an effect on the rest of the world. And if you do agree that there is a lot of British interest in our elections, do you think this is greater or just as much and our interest in British elections?



And regarding Jessie's statement, it is never wrong to be interested in other country's affairs. This is only natural. I only ask if you think there is more of a British interest in our politics than the other way around. Yes, you should be interested. We all have an effect on each other.



And I agree with Hamper. ;)



Take care.

Answer 8

1.McCain has proven he will work with anyone for the betterment of our country. McCain has never said he was the smartest or even the best candidate he has always said he is here to serve the American people. He has more experience than Obama because he has been in the Senate longer, he warned about the housing crisis, and he also has supported the Surge when many claimed it would not work.

Compare this to Obama who: Has never went against his party on anything, has voted against lowering taxes over 94 times, has claimed present over 130 times, has almost a million dollars a day in earmarks for each day he was in the Senate. Voted 2 times to raise taxes on people making $42,000. The second his receipent of Fannie Mae and Freedie Mac donations only behind fellow Democrat Chris Dodd.

2. It really does not matter what they are, it has nothing to do with the truth and the truth is Obama:

...Was part of a racist hate filled church lead by Rev. Wright for over 20 years. He gave money and time to this church and that is a fact.

...He sat on several boards and worked with a known terroris William Ayers as an adult and this man help shaped hid career in politics.

...He voted to let babies who survived abortion die, without any care. he was the only ILL. to vote for the deaths, this is a cold trute fact.

Knowing these facts and believing in God, no matter what type of Christian you are. You know this is wrong and sad,so it really has nothing to do with religion or party...it is really about right and wrong. Obama is wrong and he has a cold uncaring heartl

3. It is not about which nation is the best on Earth, it is about making good reasoned choices no matter where you are. If Obama was running in the UK he would be a bad choice there too. People should make decisions on facts and morals, not popularity contests. I know the UK think our election is funny, but if they had a radical like Obama running for office over there they would not be happy at all.

4. I have already voted for McCain/Palin and I felt so good after doing so I felt like I had truly done something positive. Now, I will work to get as many votes for McCain as possible.

5. I think you need to take a good look at Obama and investigate the facts about him. If you really look at his record and lies, within a short period of time you will see he is not a honest man.

Answer 9

1. You are right, although mccain served in the army, he finished 5th from last place in his class



2. christian values are generally more appearant in republican values for example: republicans are pro-life and against gay marriage



3. Campaigning for presidency is a huge deal for our country this year. We have had an awful president for the last 8 years and its definitely time for a change. Also, with our economic crisis at the moment, we want someone who will have our best interests in mind. This is why it seems as though americans are putting alot of pride into this election, but usually, we live normal lives.

I know what you mean though, I think the U.S is the worst at exploiting third world countries.



4. I am voting for Obama! I can relate to his community organizing experience and I know that he is politicized enough to make good decisions for our country.



5. I am appalled at all the racist and rude comments that people have made about Obama's skin color, "religion" and social company. I expected better from the American people to be more mature and be adults about this situation. It just shows how much further we need to go to achieve this "liberty and justice for all"

Answer 10

okay question one. it doesn't but because we are at war and the president is commander in chief it help but only in an election because you can always have counselors to help if you have no war experience. Also people just relate well to soldiers saying they are ultimate americans. Most people don't vote on issues or whether the candidate is capable, they vote for silly reason. ( the reason bush served a second term, and is and was incompetent on every level)

2. the right wing's platform is primarly based on moral conservatism but in actuality the thing that right wing claims they are for, seems to me ,like an act to take votes from the left. Because as i discussed in a previous question republicans really aren't against abortion the only argument is to have is when to kill the baby. so by twisting facts they try to make christians feel immoral if they vote left. Also the issue of gay marriage. which neither candidate supports. but yet some repubs ( mc cain) supports civil unions.. same thing..but okay.moving on

3. I didn't quite understand this question, I think your asking why are the elections so patriotic. American is a country that is fueld on pariotism we are very patriotic in nature and proud of our country, even though who say they are ashamed still have a sense of patriotism this dates back to the early formation of our country. the election has taken this turn because of the war on " terror" (lol, to say that is just too funny, as if you can war against ideology but any who). when americans feel treat we got back to the roots . Ptriotism and not to mention most retoric is based on this as well

4. I will either write in a candidate ROn paul or not vote at all I'm disgusted with this election. I don't like mc cain at all. I think Obama is a great leader but I disagree with a few policies he has that I feel will restrict religious freedom ( i'm a christian) neither candidate appeals to my beliefs in any way form or fashion I feel they are both too extreme

5. I inserted my extra comments in the other question I hope this answered your question. Sorry that other attacked you this election has become very personal for a lot of americans and when emotions get involved , you know how that can be! In addition people in y! answers politics section can be really nasty. what it all boils down to is that american politics in this day make no sense. the way we choose a leader makes no sense the parties platforms contradict themselves and I can go on for every. Do you have a room to rent in the UK...hahah just kidding..there may be a few typos I didn't have time to proof read sorry!

Answer 11

Obama is going to be our new President.

The days for the republicans are over, people have smartened up.

We want change, we want Obama who has ran his campaign with a steady hand and a head of reason. The republicans have ran their campaign with hate, smearing Obama at every turn. They have tried every dirty trick but it backfired because the republicans have all the racists in their rallies so the average intelligent educated voter are saying NO we cannot back a racist party. We want a country that can see a better way towards peace, towards a more solid economy and through a man that will also bring all cultures together, instead of McCain who seperated the cultures due to all the hate and racist attitudes within their party.

So you will see a great man win his reward as he has put his heart and soul in his campaign.

Obama for President..For Change

Answer 12

Being a victimized P.O.W. does not ensure that someone will be a great candidate for President. Many people who are not comfortable making their own decisions grab onto the 'popular', safe, right, conservative, Christian, point of view as typified by the fans of the late, 'Jerry Falwell'. Many are claiming the right wing views in order to hide their racist attitudes. Politics, economy and international relations in the U.S. are a mess. I don't think McCain has the ability to fix it. I hope that Obama has. His v.p. has terrible habit of opening his mouth and saying the wrong thing. We need all the good will that we can get.

Answer 13

my view as an american:



1. america loves to be the biggest baddest guy on the block. the ultimate test and be-all, end-all in life SEEMS to be if you can kick the other person's a s s. in any argument thats all it boils down to. "you're smarter? richer? prettier? well i can kick your a s s!" this is why america values their military so much. it validates their need to feel superior. also it helps them feel secure (safe). we are paranoid, anticipatory for war. and who would you trust to lead you into a fight? a well-trained boxer or someone who has never fought a day in their life?



2. because the right-wing most reflect their own very conservative values



3. a wise man once told me extreme nationalism is for the stupid who have nothing else they can be proud of lol.



4. im not voting but lean more towards preferring obama. i live in a state that is all but guaranteed to be mccain



5. hello lol

Answer 14

a million) The President is likewise the Commander In chief of the military. military journey helps in the journey that they are to understand the comments from Generals and Admirals, and to make judgements in preserving with their recommendations. Its not continuously a ought to, even though it would want to be an asset to a candidate. 2) I agree. Secular skills count number more advantageous to me that non secular options, see you later as its not someone radical. 3) Many social guidelines and practices are in conflict with the structure, that's the backbone and cornerstone of our variety of authorities. loose commerce and competition artwork properly with our own freedoms that are legally possibility-free. many human beings sense that the authorities could not administration or make judgements on issues not defined in our structure. the liberty to stay as we see in good structure is on the very root of our lifestyle, society, and authorities. Freedom of determination is amazingly major to thousands and thousands of human beings, and some social classes shrink those freedoms. i do not recognize how established you're with the progressive conflict, yet when you're literally not, it may help to verify up on it slightly. many of the flaws that were fought for are nonetheless our foundations at the second one, and issues that maximum persons fiercly take care of. Edit: honestly, social guidelines are what were given us into our cutting-edge disaster. 2 guidelines were handed years in the past requiring banks to lend to below qualified human beings. As they began defaulting en masse, the banks got here up short. Had the authorities by no capacity dictated that banks decrease their criteria, it by no capacity might want to have got here about. I say they're social guidelines because the point replaced into to make houses and mortgages low cost to larger human beings, and enable each and every body own a house, no matter if or not they could arise with the money for it or not. i for my section evaluate this to be an exact celebration of why the authorities could stay out of commerce. Oh, and thanks for posting an highly large question... its fresh to work out one which calls for some idea.

Answer 15

i agree jessie your answer is rude. sashmead is just asking questions not telling you what to do.we here have choices (usa) and our choices have ramifications.every ones does.

i don't think serving in the military makes him able to run this country.i don't think the USA is the greatest we are just one of many country's that have to get along.i myself do not know what gives the USA the right to tell others how to live or run their country.first i don't believe in killing unborn children but what gives out courts the right to tell women what they can do to their body's.the women need to use protection or adoption not kill.i am thank-full we have the right to believe as we want and in who we want many don't have this freedom.

Answer 16

Aha makes me proud to be European and British that we don't have the crazy anti-socialist views of the Americans - hard to get your head round isn't it!!??



And we thought we were alike - chalk and cheese my friend.

Answer 17

We generally like to try and solve our own problems Internally! You are not a citizen here and as far as most of us are concerned, you are Nosy! As far as the UK is concerned, Hey, take care of it! I never tell you what to do! We don't need any advice from any of you in the UK!

Answer 18

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