Palin energizes campaign

Tom Underwood
Published: September 5, 2008

This November, for the first time in our history, voters will elect a president/vice president ticket that includes either a woman or an African-American.

Furthermore, both national party tickets are running to change the direction that has been pursued by our current administration.

Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic Party’s nominee, has run a historic campaign, energizing a populace that believes our government is not working and one that does not like the politics of the last several years.

Obama has successfully battled the powerful in the Democratic Party and wrested the nomination from Sen. Hillary Clinton.

I agree with Obama that Washington is failing us, and this system must be fundamentally altered.

He inspires me to work harder for change in our local government.

However, while Obama inspires me, I am concerned about his faith in government to fix problems.

I think Obama earnestly believes that more laws and a more complex tax code that even further slices and dices the electorate can fix our problems, but I believe he’s wrong.

Our country needs more freedom and more opportunity. With freedom and opportunity, it will be Americans who resurrect our economy, not government.

Sen. John McCain, the Republican Party’s candidate, recognizes the flaws in Washington, and he has worked to fix them.

While Mr. McCain is an inspirational patriot, his campaign did not inspire me until he made his vice presidential pick.

By choosing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Mr. McCain has demonstrated that he is sincere in his efforts at reform.

Further, he recognizes that an earnest, intelligent, freedom-loving and moral lady would be a great choice to lead our country.

Mrs. Palin became governor of Alaska by first challenging an incumbent Republican governor and winning a primary.

She then defeated the popular former Democratic governor to win office.

As governor, Mrs. Palin currently has the highest approval rating in Alaska at more than 85 percent.

She is not hamstrung by the ties of career bureaucrats, and she is unafraid to do what is right.

Mrs. Palin’s constituents in both parties appreciate how well she performs her job.

Some opponents will now argue that Palin is unready to be vice president, with the potential of being president if something were to happen to Mr. McCain.

The same arguments were made prior to her success as governor.

I believe that our government has to change.

We must govern with a faith in the potential of the free individual, and we must govern to maximize the freedoms and opportunities for all citizens.

We must recognize that good stewardship of the environment and our natural resources is important in preserving opportunities for future generations.

Sarah Palin shares these beliefs and has the qualities necessary to serve as president should the need arise.

And as vice president, Mrs. Palin will have the opportunity to become even more effective in restoring a great, limited and freedom-loving government in the years to come.

I am proud of Mr. McCain’s first major decision as a presidential candidate.

I support his campaign because I believe he is the better of the two candidates to lead us to solutions for the problems facing our federal government.

Culpeper County Supervisor Tom Underwood represents the Salem District. E-mail: