Character questions for Sen. McCain

The John McCain phenomenon is fascinating. McCain has energized
millions of Americans in a way that we haven't seen before. Sure there
was the "Ross is the Boss" phenomenon, but McCain is different. McCain
is not an outsider. He has spent decades as an elected official.
McCain is not trying to buy the presidency. McCain has attracted a
coalition of dissimilar voters who want to join his "crusade" to change
Washington, D.C.

Isn't it fascinating is that an inside-the-beltway regular has tapped
into a vein of discontent that traditional Republicans and Democrats
can't touch? Nevertheless, there are a number of things about John McCain
that are troubling.

McCain is a "conservative" Republican who declared war on
conservative Republicans. McCain is a "conservative" Republican whose
campaign appealed to Democrats, moderates and liberal Republicans.
McCain is a "conservative" Republican who called Jerry Falwell and Pat
Robertson agents of evil. He equated them to Al Sharpton and Louis
Farrakhan.

I've seen all four men in action, senator, and that dog doesn't
hunt. What these false charges do, however, are raise serious questions
about what you really believe, what you really want and who you really
are.

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On Thursday, McCain "suspended" his campaign for the Republican
nomination for president. What he didn't do is end his campaign for
president. He did not end his "crusade." He did not endorse Gov.
George W. Bush. So that means that he is still in the race.

My friends, we haven't seen the last of presidential candidate
McCain. It would not surprise me if he resurfaces as the Reform Party's
candidate or creates his own third party. Just don't count him out.

John McCain is many things. The one thing he is not is dumb. He has
exposed blaring weaknesses in both the Republican and Democrat parties.
Neither party represents a majority of Americans anymore. McCain's
attacks on the left and the right were not accidental. The $64 million
dollar question is why did he do it and what does he want?

As we wait for Sen. McCain to drop the next shoe, let's see if he will
answer key character questions that the press have posed.

John McCain is the most charismatic candidate that we have seen since
... Bill Clinton. Is the senator for real, or is he as phony as a
three-dollar Bill? John McCain says that he is a man of impeccable
character. As we learn more about him, however, he has some troubling
character issues to address.

McCain's best-selling book, Faith of My Fathers, ends with his
release from the Hanoi Hilton. As a result, McCain didn't have to
explain why he pursued a younger woman while he was still married to the
woman who raised his kids while he was a prisoner of war.

I am sure that the senator has a good explanation for this, but I
haven't heard it.

Some of the senator's detractors say that he selected his current
wife as much for the money that her father had as for what she brought
to the table. Again, I don't know if it is true or not. Nevertheless,
the New York Times made a compelling argument that becoming the
son-in-law of the richest beer distributor in Arizona was the catapult
that turned a Naval officer into a U.S. congressman and then a U.S.
senator.

I want to know what really happened, senator. Because I believe that
what a man does to his wife says a lot about what he will do to his
country.

These are legitimate issues, senator, and I haven't seen a
satisfactory response. These are important issues because we don't want
more surprises. We don't want another
"cheating-on-my-wife-is-no-one's-business" national leader. Before you
"un-suspend" your campaign, honor us with the truth about these issues.

You've enriched America by exposing weaknesses of both political
parties. Clear the air now, senator, before you take another move.
Give us the data that we need so we can judge for ourselves what type of
man you really are.