Posted by
Northern Pilot on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 3:21:17 PM
McCain appears to be doing a bit better after the New Hampshire primary "bump". Unfortuate if you are a pilot-- McCain has long credentials as an "anti-General Aviation" senator, and has long been a big proponent of user fees going back to the 1990s and a particular enemy of AOPA (Airplane Owners and Pilots Association).
Read this McCain interview from 2001 and this reply from Phil Boyer of AOPA. I remember some of my feelings at the time of the original McCain/Boyer "debate" in which several things McCain said struck me as unusually arrogant; he left me with a clear impression he believed only his opinion mattered and once his mind was made up that's all that mattered, no further discussion. This whole issue just seemed to show a very unpleasant side to McCain that left a lasting impression on me. It is rare to see through the public persona of one of the folks on Capitol Hill to the real person underneath, and during user fee discussions I think you got to see the "real McCain" shine through-- and it wasn't pretty.
I bring this up because that attribute is exactly what I don't want to see in a president. A president who thinks he is always right, and that nobody else's opinion has any merit, is a dangerous man.
If you are a pilot then you should consider very carefully before voting for McCain. Even if you aren't, I would say the personality expressed during all of the debates between Boyer and McCain should at the very least give you some pause about what sort of personality you would want in the Oval Office.
I can't say there is no possible scenario that would compel me to vote for McCain during the general election, but I can say the alternative I would be voting against would have to be particularly frightening (enough to vote against McCain's opponent rather than not vote at all). He convinced me many years ago during this debate what sort of man he is, and it's not one I want in the highest position of power.