A Case for John Sidney McCain
Open letter to Roman Catholics for Obama
by David G. Fago

(Please feel free to distribute!)

This letter is addressed to all the “Roman Catholics for Obama” groups out there.

I have read and heard many reasons why Roman Catholics are supporting Barack Hussein Obama for President this year, and on the surface…the arguments are compelling. Some of the issues that concern Roman Catholics that would compel them to vote for Obama are: Unemployment, High Gas Prices, The Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the failure of Wall Street, and a genuine hate for George W. Bush.

I am 36 years old so let’s take a look at the national political issues since I was a little baby. The average national unemployment rates since 1972 are as follows:

Year Unemployment Rate
1972 5.6
1973 4.9
1974 5.6
1975 8.5
1976 7.7
1977 7.1
1978 6.1
1979 5.8
1980 7.1
1981 7.6
1982 9.7
1983 9.6
1984 7.5
1985 7.2
1986 7.0
1987 6.2
1988 5.5
1989 5.3
1990 5.6
1991 6.8
1992 7.5
1993 6.9
1994 6.1
1995 5.6
1996 5.4
1997 4.9
1998 4.5
1999 4.2
2000 4.0
2001 4.7
2002 5.8
2003 6.0
2004 5.5
2005 5.1
2006 4.6
2007 4.6

So as you can see, over the last 36 years the unemployment rate has gone up and it has gone down. For many years people are working, and in many other years there is higher unemployment. These are trends that go up and down and these trends can be affected by any of our elected officials whether they are presidents or city council representatives. The above data can be referenced at the website for the United States Department of labor: http://www.bls.gov/cps/prev_yrs.htm.

The price for a barrel of crude oil has fluctuated over the last 35 years. Below is a chart describing the cost for a barrel of oil since 1973. This data is compiled from the website http://inflationdata.com/inflation/Inflation_Rate/Historical_Oil_Prices_Table.asp.

Year Price adj. for Inflation
1973 $ 4.75 $ 22.80
1974 $ 9.35 $ 40.67
1975 $ 12.21 $ 48.71
1976 $ 13.10 $ 49.46
1977 $ 14.40 $ 51.02
1978 $ 14.95 $ 49.27
1979 $ 25.10 $ 73.60
1980 $ 37.42 $ 97.68
1981 $ 35.75 $ 84.58
1982 $ 31.83 $ 70.91
1983 $ 29.08 $ 62.74
1984 $ 28.75 $ 59.47
1985 $ 26.92 $ 53.76
1986 $ 14.44 $ 28.29
1987 $ 17.75 $ 33.56
1988 $ 14.87 $ 27.05
1989 $ 18.33 $ 31.75
1990 $ 23.19 $ 38.02
1991 $ 20.20 $ 31.86
1992 $ 19.25 $ 29.47
1993 $ 16.75 $ 24.92
1994 $ 15.66 $ 22.69
1995 $ 16.75 $ 23.62
1996 $ 20.46 $ 28.01
1997 $ 18.64 $ 24.95
1998 $ 11.91 $ 15.70
1999 $ 16.56 $ 21.30
2000 $ 27.39 $ 34.16
2001 $ 23.00 $ 27.92
2002 $ 22.81 $ 27.22
2003 $ 27.69 $ 32.34
2004 $ 37.66 $ 42.80
2005 $ 50.04 $ 54.99
2006 $ 58.30 $ 62.11
2007 $ 64.20 $ 66.40
2008 $ 97.98 $ 98.66

An interesting note to point out is that if you look at the price of a barrel of oil adjusted for inflation in 1980, the average price was $97.68. This is very similar to the prices we are seeing today, and we survived those high oil prices back then.

Since the early 1970’s the United has fought in or supported allies in a variety of conflicts. Let’s have a look at some of these conflicts over the years since the early 1970’s. The Vietnam War ended in the mid-1970’s with the United States withdrawing from Vietnam. 58,000 US troops died in this conflict. 20 US troops were killed in support of the El Salvador Civil War. 266 US troops were killed during the Beirut deployment 1982-1984. 39 US personnel were killed during the escorting of allied Oil Tankers in the Persian Gulf 1987-1988. 19 US troops were killed during the Liberation of Grenada in 1983. 40 US troops were killed during the invasion of Panama in 1989. 299 US troops were killed during the first Gulf War in 1990-1991. 43 US troops were killed in 1992-1993 Somalia. 4 US troops were killed in Haiti in 1994-1995. From 1995-2004, 12 US troops were killed in Bosnia. 20 US troops were killed in Kosovo from 1999 to the present day. In Afghanistan, we have lost 573 US troops. The Iraq War (2003-Present) over 4,000 US troops have died for the defense of country.

War is a terrible act. Throughout the history of the United States, we have always served as the liberator and re-builder. I fully feel the pain of Roman Catholics who are standing firm and voting for Obama because of the War on Terror. However in 2001, Iraq was led by a dictatorial regime under Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein was an enemy who protected, funded, sheltered, and trained terrorists. Today, in 2008, Iraq is an ally of the United States. We cannot turn our back on them now like Barack Hussein Obama would like us to do.

Since 1973, the United States government performed several bailouts. Here is a listing:
1974 – Franklin National Bank – US Government cost $7.7 Billion.
1975 – City of New York – US Government cost $9.4 Billion.
1980 – Chrysler – US Government cost $3.9 Billion.
1984 – Illinois Bank & Trust - US Government cost $9.5 Billion.
1989 – Savings & Loans - US Government cost $293.8 Billion.
2001 – Airline Industry - US Government cost $18.6 Billion.
2008 – Bear Stearns - US Government cost $30 Billion.
2008 – Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac - US Government cost $200 Billion.
2008 – Latest Bailout - US Government cost $700 Billion.

(Source: http://www.propublica.org/special/government-bailouts/)

Let’s have a look at the issues of our day and our recent past. Sometimes bad economic times happen in the United States. Sometimes, we lose our job, prices skyrocket, wars are fought, and things seem gloomy. Throughout our history, the United States has always rebounded. We have bolstered our economy. We have liberated oppressed people. We have defeated evil. The one thing that has remained constant since 1973 is Roe vs. Wade. 43 million children have been murdered in this country alone. Roe vs. Wade has made our society numb to the fact that an unborn child is nothing more than a lumpy mass to be thrown away.

Since 1973, with all the high gas prices, all the wars and battles, all the bailouts, and all the economic issues…we as a people have rebounded. We did this regardless of which party was in power. The rebound will happen. Whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House, our economic situation will improve. The history of our great country has proven this. However, with Barack Hussein Obama in the White House, our country will continue this genocide against unborn children. This is what you have to think about when you pull that ballot this November. You must think about this as a Roman Catholic. We are at an impasse in our history where we as Roman Catholics and Christians can truly make a difference in defending the unborn children in our country. This is what you must think of when voting for president. Electing Barack Hussein Obama will continue this genocide for 30 more years. Electing John Sidney McCain will give us an opportunity to defend these most innocent of lives.

Roman Catholics must remember this: We celebrate the Immaculate Conception. We have a feast day and a Holy Day of Obligation for the Immaculate Conception on December 8. This day alone tells us that life begins at conception. This day is not called the “Immaculate Fetus Date of a Potential Baby That Might Become Someone Special”. It is called the Immaculate Conception because at the very instance of conception, this baby, this person, this human being with potential IS going to be someone special. (I don’t think we need Bill Clinton to tell what the definition of IS is on this one!)

If you vote a straight Democratic ticket for Congress and Senate and state and local offices…that is OK. But for a vote for President of the United States…as a Roman Catholic…you must vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin to reverse this terrible genocide and call for the protection of the most innocent human life.

David G. Fago
Roman Catholic